View Vacancy - CGZ - Senior Communications Officer, EO

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Communications, Press and Media

Main purpose of job:

This is an exciting opportunity to join a professional, creative and high-performing Communications Team at the British Consulate-General Guangzhou. We are looking for an innovative, energetic and flexible Senior Communications Officer who thrives in a dynamic environment and is passionate about making a real difference through communications.

The jobholder will play a key role in shaping and protecting the British Consulate's public profile across South China regions, delivering high-impact public diplomacy that advances UK interests and promotes our soft power priorities. You will manage media relationships, lead impactful campaigns and events, support high-profile visits, and contribute to digital content creation - all while being a positive, collaborative and supportive presence within the comms team.

You will bring strong event management experience, sound media judgement, and a creative approach to identifying comms opportunities across traditional and social media. Above all, you will have a genuine commitment to teamwork, a can-do attitude, and the flexibility to adapt quickly to shifting priorities.  This is a role that offers true variety, where your energy, creativity, initiative, flexibility and adaptability will not only be welcomed and recognised, but actively put to use.

The Communications Team is fast paced but deeply supportive and collaborative. We champion learning and development, encourage creative thinking, and provide real opportunities to grow - both within the team and across the wider China Network.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve:

This role supports the British Consulate’s overarching communications objectives and contributes to strategic public diplomacy across South China. Below responsibilities and weighting of different parts of the job will evolve over time in response to organisational priorities, and the jobholder is expected to remain adaptable, collaborative and responsive to shifting needs.

30% — Delivering Public-facing Campaigns and Events:

  • Lead the end-to-end planning, delivery and evaluation of public diplomacy campaigns and events, bringing strong project management skills and a hands-on approach to every stage.
  • Support the Head of Communications in delivering campaigns across thematic priorities — including trade and investment, science and innovation, climate, culture and education — using both traditional and digital channels.
  • Manage the production of campaign materials including venue branding, backdrops, promotional assets and digital content, maintaining consistently high quality and alignment with HMG brand standards.
  • Produce timely, insightful evaluation reports that measure campaign outcomes, capture key insights and feed into continuous improvement.

20% — General Support and Cross-Team Coordination

  • Act as a proactive and positive coordination point between Comms team and other Teams/Departments — including Policy, DBT, Visa and Science — to ensure consistent messaging and smooth delivery of joint priorities.
  • Deputise for Head of Comms and other team members during absences to ensure continuity of operations and maintain a high standard of delivery.
  • Track cross‑team business activities and identify opportunities where comms can add value or amplify impact, while providing flexible support during busy or unexpected periods — whether that involves logistics, briefings, events or troubleshooting — with a calm, solutions‑focused approach.
  • Champion a supportive, inclusive and collaborative team culture by sharing knowledge, contributing to consulate activities, and helping maintain a positive, healthy working environment.

20% — Media Engagement and Media Relations

  • Build and maintain a strong, varied network of journalists, editors and media professionals across print, broadcast, online and social platforms in South China.
  • Develop a sound understanding of the local media landscape to proactively pitch stories and secure impactful, accurate coverage for the Consul-General and senior UK officials.
  • Draft press releases, interview lines and media briefs that are sharp, well-targeted and aligned with FCDO campaign objectives and key messages.
  • Monitor media coverage, identify emerging narratives and provide timely analysis to keep senior leadership informed and communications strategy responsive.

20% — Digital Content

  • Create digital content for WeChat, Weibo, and other social media that aligns with HMG branding and campaign messaging.
  • Assist the Digital Communications Officer on video projects featuring the Consul-General, HMA and visiting senior UK officials, supporting both creative development and practical delivery.
  • Identify opportunities for collaboration with digital influencers and online platforms to extend the reach of key UK messages to target audiences.
  • Contribute to social media monitoring and performance analysis, using data to support content improvement and reporting.

10% — Internal Communications and Reporting

  • Lead the GZ Staff Newsletter, ensuring Consulate colleagues are regularly informed, engaged and connected with key updates, events and priorities.
  • Contribute content and updates to the FCDO China Communications Network, supporting a joined-up approach across the China network.
  • Draft internal reporting products — including event summaries, dashboards and media evaluation reports — to a high standard and to agreed timelines.
  • Support the wider team with ad hoc internal communications tasks, bringing the same positive and flexible approach that defines this role throughout.

  • Proficient English and Chinese language skills: outstanding written and verbal communication skills in both languages. The jobholder must be capable of producing clear, accurate, and engaging content tailored to diverse audiences and formats.
  • Event management: Proven hands-on experience on planning, delivering and evaluating public-facing events, with the ability to manage logistics, production materials and multiple stakeholders to a high standard.
  • Media knowledge: Solid understanding of the Chinese media landscape, with demonstrable experience building journalist relationships, pitching media stories, and drafting press releases, interview lines and other media materials.
  • Communications and marketing experience: Practical experience working in a media, communications or government environment, with a good understanding of how strategic communications supports wider organisational objectives.
  • Collaboration and flexibility: A proven ability to work positively and effectively across teams, adapt quickly to changing priorities, and provide willing, solutions-focused support in a fast-paced environment.
  • Digital and social media: Experience managing content across digital platforms — ideally including WeChat and Weibo — with an understanding of audience engagement, analytics and content optimisation.
  • Photography and videography skills: good sense of aesthetic; good photography expertise; basic skills in video shooting and editing, along with confidence in assisting video projects for use on digital platforms.
  • Knowledge of the UK: Good knowledge of UK institutions, culture, foreign policy or trade priorities, and an enthusiasm for promoting the UK's strengths and soft power internationally.
  • Cross-cultural communication: Experience working in a multicultural environment, with the sensitivity and awareness to communicate effectively across different cultural contexts.

Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together
12 April 2026
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
35
Asia Pacific
China
Guangzhou
British Embassy
1
CNY
RMB 19, 955 for CB Chinese l RMB 27,633 for CB Expat
monthly
27 May 2026

This is a fixed-term role for 24 months with possibility of renewal. 

Learning and Development Opportunities:

Access to a broad range of learning and development opportunities, including structured training in sector-specific knowledge and soft skills, mentoring and coaching, as well as on-the-job learning to support your professional growth and career progression. 

Working Patterns:

    35 hours of work per week from Monday to Friday, 09:30-17:30. There may be occasions that may require you to work outside normal hours.

    Other Information:

    The Jobholder will be asked to travel to work on visits, events and media engagements in our Consular districts in South China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hunan, Fujian and Jiangxi), if there is a business need.

    No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit. Any costs related to obtaining or renewing permits and visas are the responsibility of the successful applicant.

    The FCDO also operates an agile workforce. To facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require.

    Please ensure that your application is authentically written based on your own experiences. If AI tools are used, their usage must only be limited to specific tasks such as ensuring formatting consistency and keyword relevance. The core content, personal narratives, and responses to behaviour and skill-based questions must genuinely reflect your professional journey, experiences, and achievements. We place great importance on originality and individual effort throughout the application process. Any form of plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.

    Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”. 

    Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen. We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered. 

    Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

    Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

    To ensure a successful application it is important that you explain how you demonstrate these behaviours, including through your experience. You are strongly advised to read the Success Profiles Civil Service Behaviours Framework, which provides detailed guidance on how the behaviours are defined. Applicants are encouraged to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format to prepare specific examples of when they have demonstrated these behaviours in their application. Using the STAR format to provide evidence of your skills and experience in your application and at interview helps to give a structure. You briefly describe the situation in which you showed the behaviour, and then explain your task in addressing the situation, what action you took and the result of this. For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender and nationality. The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.

    Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

    This opportunity is closed to applications.