View Vacancy - Head of Outreach ( FRA190)
The British Embassy in Paris is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. It is also part of the UK’s France Network (including offices in Lyon, Bordeaux and Marseille) and representation to international organisations in Paris (OECD and UNESCO) and Strasbourg (CoE) and is currently looking for a Head of Outreach.
This is a key and innovative role at the heart of the British Embassy, responsible for delivery of an exciting and broad range of the Embassy’s external engagement as well as ensuring coherence of our projection in France.
The Outreach team leads the Embassy’s external engagement with non-political partners, creating new partnerships to increase our influence in France and giving strategic direction and impact to public-facing events. We are looking for someone who has the judgement, energy and vision to lead high impact campaigns (see http://lesvoisins.shorthand.com/ for a current example).
Reporting to the Head of Politics and Communications, you will work with colleagues across Media, Politics, and Visits teams, as well as with colleagues in the Department for International Trade section and the British Ambassador’s Residence. You will be a key part of the Embassy’s external face, identifying and nurturing suitable partnerships in support of our diplomatic objectives and building the British Embassy’s knowledge of, and visibility in, France. The ideal candidate is a creative, inspirational individual, who knows how to build productive relationships, lead and bring together people and ideas.
In addition to working on some of our most high profile events and as a senior member of the France Network team, the position opens the successful candidate up to training and development opportunities and an organisation which prides itself on its staff wellbeing programmes and flexible working practices.
Roles and responsibilities:
- Plan, deliver and assess soft power impact. Take calculated risks, bring creative thinking and awareness of the context as well as of our audiences. With colleagues design Embassy wide campaigns matched to our strategic goals – ensuring buy-in and best use of existing expertise. Secure and manage funding in line with financial management guidelines.
- Provide effective leadership and line management to the Outreach team (three managees and one Intern) to coordinate, plan and improve delivery of the team’s work, including delivery of events. Work with Media Team to ensure maximised public impact. Play a leading role within the Politics and Public Engagement unit of the Embassy.
- Lead work on “soft power” partnerships: with the team identify, develop and maintain productive relationships with key French stakeholders, including in those working on culture, sport, arts, and British organisations in France (eg British Council).
- Support media, political and senior management colleagues through providing strategic advice on branding, campaign content, and forward planning of events, including by playing a role in advising and advise the Head of Communications and Politics and the Ambassador on priorities and opportunities.
Key skills
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build strong working relationships across a large organisation.
- Ability to forward plan and coordinate activity among a wide range of stakeholders.
- Ability to be creative, look for innovative solutions or partnerships, and constructively challenge traditional approaches.
- Excellent communication skills in both French and English (Level C1 or C2).
- Leadership skills: commitment to excellence in project and people management.
Experience
- Management experience.
- 5 years’ experience of building relationships with external stakeholders.
- Knowledge of UK and France: government, society, politics.
- Knowledge of current trends and key stakeholders in ‘soft power’ (sport, culture, art) or of curating programmes of public facing activities.
Qualifications
- Relevant university degree or equivalent professional experience.
This is a full-time and fixed term contract for 1 year, with possibility to become permanent.
All appointments are subject to professional background check satisfactory security clearance. The successful applicant will be required to provide a copy of his/her passport or national identity card for all nationalities held, an up-to-date criminal record (casier judiciaire) for recent countries of residence (which can be obtained online at www.justice.gouv.fr/cjn/), two written proofs of address (utility invoices and/or bank statements) and two references.
Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in France are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local French employment law and FCO guidance for Local Staff. The posts we offer are not an entry point into the UK’s Diplomatic Service.
Your application will only be considered if you follow the guidance below:
- Your application must be sent in English only.
- Your application must clearly indicate all nationalities you hold.
Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.
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.
Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
