View Vacancy - Head of Communications, Press & Public Affairs Team, British Consulate General New York

Main purpose of job

The British Consulate General New York seeks a proactive, enthusiastic, results-driven Head of Communications with 5-7 years of public relations or communications experience to lead its three-person communications team.

The Head of Communications will lead the Consulate’s communications and press outreach and strategy across the Consulate’s region (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut), promoting the UK Government’s economic and prosperity agenda, and the UK’s viability as a top destination for business, arts, and culture.  Communications is vital component of the Consulate’s Press and Public Affairs team, led by the Deputy Consul General to New York, and this role will also work closely with and under the direction of the Strategic Communications Adviser for Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for North America.

With a proactive emphasis on communicating the UK’s prosperity and economic objectives and UK public diplomacy in the region, the Head of Communications will also manage wider media relations and communications activity around local deployment of the UK Government’s foreign policy.  The Communications team regularly leads and supports media and communications logistics for major events, projects, and visits by UK ministers, dignitaries, and senior officials.

What will the jobholder be expected to achieve?

• Implement the Consulate’s media outreach across the Consulate’s region (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Fairfield County), promoting the UK Government’s prosperity agenda and viability as a top destination for business, education, and tourism.
• Development and implementation of annual strategic communications plan for the New York region, with oversight of traditional and non-traditional media outreach, and digital diplomacy activity.  Ensure communications plans are complementary to the US and North American network broader communications strategy, feeding into the Embassy in Washington’s strategy plans.
• Line management and guidance of the Consulate’s digital communications and deputy head of communications roles.
• Develop and maintain strong industry relationships with consumer and sector-specific consumer media, analysts and other influencers.  Understand and follow major business or industry trends across the region on priority business sectors for the UK government, the events driving news cycles and demonstrate the ability to spot and proactively make the most of opportunities.  Build and maintain media lists for engagement.
• Support wider media relations activity around UK Government policy as required, and support and perform wider communications tasks.
• Lead on and provide advice regarding media logistics for major events, projects, or visits.
• Effectively coordinate and work collaboratively with other UK Government teams and departments, as needed.
• Deliver media placements for the UK Government and officials through pitching and securing media opportunities, and writing (media pitches, press releases, and advisories) and supporting cross-government campaigns.
• Draft, coordinate, and provide briefing to senior staff ahead of brokered media activity, including for the Consul General, Deputy Consul General, and visits by HM Ambassador to the US, senior UK diplomats, ministers and officials.
• Demonstrate strategic skills, confidence, and ability to interact face-to-face and remotely with senior staff and officials, consistently demonstrating understanding of what the UK Government trying to achieve and promote.
• Anticipate and make recommendations on matters relating to your projects and initiatives.
• Develop and execute action plans to support government announcements and initiatives; display good judgment and sound decision-making.
• Liaise with counterparts in Washington and London on projects of mutual interest and collaboration.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Line management of two B3(L) staffers: the Deputy Head of Communications for New York and the Head of Digital for New York.

Essential on arrival:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (i.e. English, journalism, communications).
• Approximately 5-7 years of relevant public relations and/or communications experience in a government, agency, and/or in-house setting.
• A track record of securing positive media coverage, with examples of self-generated media placements.
• Possessing relationships with media and communications contacts across the tri-state area.
• Excellent command of the English language, with attention to detail and strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills.  A demonstrated ability to write clearly, accurately, and persuasively.
• Ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects from start to finish. Excellent time-management and organisational skills.
• A demonstrated ability to deliver results.
• Reliable, capable under pressure, with a good understanding of the challenges, sensitivities, and discretion required of working in the world of government and diplomacy.
• Self-starter, good decision-making skills, and able to work independently.
• An enthusiastic and creative mind-set; must be proactive and flexible, and a team player able to work in a fluid environment.
• Fluency with priority social media platforms (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook), video and multimedia activity, and photography skills to shape and guide team’s digital media strategy and output.
• Occasional regional travel may be required.
• Demonstrable interest in the UK and international affairs.