View Vacancy - Strategic Communications Manager (Living Bridge), Grade- HEO, New Delhi

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment and educational details, experience segment and the behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only for all the required details. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

Main purpose of job:

We are looking for a dynamic communications professional who will work with colleagues across the UK in India to bring greater coherence and structure to our communications. They will lead on strategic communications and campaigns focusing on the theme of the “Living Bridge” – the uniquely strong people-to-people relationships between the UK and India. 

This will mean working with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders across the UK in India Network to promote the Living Bridge along with being the communications business partner to the Political Department and internal stakeholders under the Living Bridge pillar.

Your job will be to explain what the living bridge is and why it is important to targeted Indian audiences – capturing examples of this living partnership and finding innovative ways of bringing them to life.

You will be part of the Communications team at the British High Commission New Delhi, which provides a fast-paced and engaging work environment. The role requires exceptional interpersonal skills and a proven ability to influence others to achieve positive outcomes.

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

The role

This is an exciting role sitting at the heart of the UKinIndia network communications team. 

As Strategic Communications Manager (Living Bridge), you will be responsible for being the “go-to” person on your area. This will mean collaborating closely with policy leads in the Political department and working with a 

wide range of colleagues across the India Network to promote the Living Bridge that exists across culture, education, collaboration, research, technology, and business. 

Your job will be to explain what this is and why it is important – capturing examples of this living partnership and finding innovative ways of bringing them to life. You will:

• Develop and then deliver a strategic communications plan for Living Bridge and People focused pillars.  This includes working with key stakeholders, develop and maintain a set of key messages and a forward look plan of key activity.
• Be the communications point of contact and maintain a virtual network of colleagues, to ensure a clear understanding of relevant activities, find stories, create up-to-date and compelling content, and maintain an awareness of potential sensitivities. Support colleagues on presentation, and identifying sensitives and opportunities.
• Advise colleagues and partners, developing written communication materials to showcase the UK’s work, and helping to manage media issues.
• Plan content and stories linked to your theme working closely with the News and Digital team, on the links between India and Britain, to place both on
• UKinIndia digital channels, and in mainstream media.
• Establish processes to gather audience insight and key perceptions to create a baseline against which to measure the effectiveness of your plan and conduct regular evaluation.
• Maintain flexibility, supporting colleagues working on other themes, and take on additional responsibilities as required (for example during ministerial visits, or responding to emerging issues).
• You will be required to work in close collaboration with a team of communications specialists, working in multiple locations (there are seven Deputy High Commissions across India, and well as the High Commission in Delhi).
• You will also take on wider responsibilities as part of the Press and Communications Group, inputting into insight and evaluation activity, providing mentoring and training for others, and taking the lead on some corporate issues.

The job holder

You will need to be proactive, organised and great at building productive relationships. You will need to spot opportunities and think creatively about how to improve our communications, even where there is minimal budget. Where appropriate, you will need to be able to deliver results quickly and to a high standard independently.  

You will be familiar with how to deliver effective strategic communications campaigns from start to finish and have a sound understanding of campaign planning, being able to think creatively about how to tackle issues, change perceptions and get your audience’s attention. 

The job holder may be called upon to support the wider communications team when necessary, so a degree of flexibility is required.  You will report to the Deputy Head of Communications. 

Resources managed (staff and expenditure): 

No direct line management responsibilities at the outset, although this may evolve over time. 

• At least 5 years of communications experience in a relevant field.
• Previous experience in media, marketing, public relations, or campaigning in India. Either as a journalist in traditional or digital media, campaign manager or in the wider communications field.
• Solid understanding of campaign planning and experience in designing and delivering a campaign.
• Excellent written communication skills, to be able to draft press releases, communications materials, and proof-read.
• Familiarity with different digital platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn) and ability to communicate professionally and evaluate digital impact through these.
• Proven ability in writing and editing, with strong English language drafting skills.
• IT proficiency – particularly MS Office, including Outlook and PowerPoint.

Language requirements: 

Language: English and Hindi

Level of language required: Full professional fluency in written and spoken English. Fluency in Hindi is desirable but not essential.
A written test will be included as part of the recruitment process.