View Vacancy - Communication Officer (08/18 ADD)
Main purpose of job:
Present a positive image of the United Kingdom (UK); formulate and implement a dynamic communication strategy and lead the Embassy’s engagement with media in order to achieve UK’s foreign policy priorities; lead the Embassy’s digital output and provide advice to different departments in the Embassy on media and digital handling; monitor local media on issues of key interest, producing timely short, analytical reports; manage public diplomacy budget; support Ambassador’s office on internal embassy communications.
Roles and responsibilities :
- Public diplomacy: Lead day to day delivery of our communications strategy, promoting a modern and positive image of the UK and delivering business objectives for: UK-Ethiopia, UK-AU and UK-Djibouti.
- Press: Draft local press releases, press lines and speaking points, in relation to UK objectives. Organise and lead on all local press events, including ensuring that the Ambassador has a comprehensive media engagement programme.
- Press/Political: Proactively establish and maintain a network of local press contacts to provide insight into topical political, economic and work with political colleagues on media environment and training projects.
- Digital diplomacy: Ensure a vibrant UK digital diplomacy presence, through creative use of social networking sites, working with UK government digital content experts in Pretoria and London.
- Corporate: Bid for and ensure full spend of the Embassy’s annual Political, Press and Public Affairs team budget. Provide ad-hoc support to the Embassy’s project, political and trade sections.
Resources managed (staff and expenditure):
Responsibility for Budgeting for approximately £20k GBP (700,000 ETB)
- Bachelor’s Degree in any arts/humanities subject. Degrees in communications or journalism are preferable.
- A minimum of 3 years of experience in communication work, including, creating content for media outlets.
- Social media experience: creating attractive and interesting digital content on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram strongly preferred.
- Must be a self-starter, capable of working independently and in a team.
- Good understanding of the political and social conditions in Ethiopia essential, some grasp of the UK and UK foreign policy preferred.
- Excellent level of spoken and written English.
- MA in similar fields is desirable
- Amharic is strongly preferred and other Ethiopian languages are desirable.
The British Embassy in Addis Ababa is located within a beautiful compound. The work is varied and interesting and the role will span across all areas of the Embassy, from development to political work. There will be a large degree of autonomy, with the job holder able to stretch themselves and the communications of the Embassy.
Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):
There will be opportunities for further training in international communication skills, as well as general professional and management skills. This may occassionally involve international travel.
Working patterns:
Occasional work during evening and weekends may be required- though Time Off In Lieu is given in these circumstances where possible.
- Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
- Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
- The British Embassy will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
- Employees recruited locally by the British Embassy in Addis Ababa are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Ethiopia.
- 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.
- The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to;
- Obtain the relevant permit
- Pay the fees for the permit
- Make arrangements to relocate
- Meet the costs to relocation
- Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses/partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
- Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework Please note: Job grade AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
- Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
This opportunity is closed to applications.