View Vacancy - WS - Policy & Communications Officer to the UK High Commission, B3 (L)

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.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Public Diplomacy

Main purpose of job:

Policy Officer: to ensure the UK High Commission keeps abreast of policy developments which may affect the UK (including risks and opportunities)

Communication Officer: to ensure the UK High Commission communicates effectively with the host country to promote UK objectives.

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

Policy Officer (80%):

  • Keep abreast of the host government’s policy developments
  • Develop a local network of policy influencers
  • Write reports to UK colleagues (e.g. London/Oceania Network) on political developments
  • Maximise opportunities for the UK to engage with the host country on UK foreign policy priorities, including through programme management
  • Summarise media reports for the High Commissioner and DHC
  • Arrange inward and outward visits

Communications (20%):

  • Devise and implement communication plans for the UK High Commission.
  • Develop and maintain a social media platform for the UK High Commission to promote UK objectives.
  • Draft print media articles to promote UK objectives

Other duties as necessary and as determined by the High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner.

  • Similar policy/communications experience working in a government/NGO/international company or diplomatic mission.
  • IT literate (MS Word, Excel)
  • Strong knowledge of host country government systems and media
  • Fluent spoken and written English. Fluent spoken and written Samoan.
5 September 2019
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Permanent
38.75 gross
Asia Pacific
Samoa
Apia
British High Commission
1
46,909
28 October 2019

The starting annual salary for this position is WST 46,909. 

There will be continual on-the-job learning and access to the UK’s online Diplomatic Academy training courses.

We will consider flexible working arrangements in line with the High Commission terms and conditions of service.

The target starting date for this position is around 28th October 2019, subject to successful clearance of pre-employment/security checks. 

All applications must be received before 23:55 local time on the day of the specified deadline. 

Applications must address experience against the role responsibilities and include a current CV.

Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. We regret to advise that we will only be contacting short-listed candidates. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core competencies listed above.

This is a new role in a brand-new High Commission. As new procedures and functions are tested, we would expect some changes to each role in the Mission in the first year until things are established. Thus, the ideal candidate would be flexible and positive in accommodating these changes.

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.