View Vacancy - DIT Africa Head of Communications (38/18 JHB)

Main purpose of job:

The UK aims to be the number one G7 investor in Africa by 2022.  If you want to be part of a team to help make this happen then we want to hear from you.

The Department for International Trade works to secure UK and global prosperity by promoting and financing international trade and investment, and championing free trade. DIT has representation across the African continent led from the DIT Africa Hub in Johannesburg by the newly appointed Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC); Emma Wade-Smith. The UK Government’s scale of ambition is incredibly high for Africa as we seek a step change in our relationships across the continent.

We’re looking for a media and campaigns expert who is as comfortable with planning, designing and delivering high profile campaigns as they are in reputation management and ensuring their teams stay at the forefront of the latest communications technology. You will also have experience of managing and motivating teams to deliver to their full potential. 

As the Head of Communications for DIT Africa, you will be responsible for ensuring effective communications is helping deliver DIT’s strategic objectives.

You will lead the communication work of the UK Government’s trade and investment teams in Africa, supporting efforts to generate demand for British goods and services across the continent; helping British business success in Africa; promoting the UK as a great place to invest in; and encouraging UK investment into the region.

 You will create and deliver a pan-Africa DIT communication strategy that supports the UK Government’s business priorities and the Regional Trade Plan. You will help shape the strategic communications direction for the organisation, coordinate core communications campaigns and strengthen the insight and evaluation capability of DIT Africa. You will oversee the implementation of a pan-Africa communications grid that allows key stakeholders plan and coordinate activities.

You will also act as the HMTC’s press secretary, managing relationships with journalists across Africa, proactively identifying media interviews and opportunities, offering media/reputation advice. In addition, you will work closely with the FCO’s communications teams based in Embassies and High Commissions across the region, with DIT Communication and Marketing teams in London and Dubai, as well as with UK Government colleagues outside of the trade team, to ensure consistency of message and to mobilise wider resource in support of publicising our commercial activity.

You will build partnerships with companies to extend the reach and impact of the team’s activities, and build and sustain relationships with the media to ensure coverage of British business success.  You should also expect to travel, across the region and to the UK.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Create and deliver a DIT Africa Communication Strategy in line with DIT’s global communication strategy and the Africa Regional Trade Plan including but not limited to:

1) ensuring maximum positive profile and impact from all commercial events, visits and other public engagement activities   across the region - including through creating appropriate content and collateral - and working through existing UK Government campaigns e.g. the GREAT Campaign.

2) developing and implementing a strategy to raise the profile and increase awareness of UK commercial successes and key UK government messages in the African media, including by building and sustaining a network of key trade media contacts across the region.

3) developing and implementing a targeted and impactful social and digital media strategy

• Create and manage a supporting regional communications grid which will serve as a tactical plan to ensure maximum profile for DIT across the region
• Lead and line-manage a team of four Communications Officers (three remotely in Cairo, Lagos and Nairobi), ensuring consistent delivery of their objectives, strong customer service and sustained client engagement, as well as supporting their professional development
• Collate success stories of British success in the region which can be used as case studies or PR opportunities in the UK, working with colleagues in the UK to promote opportunities across the continent
• Engage with journalists to highlight the UK’s offer and act as the HMTC’s press secretary.
• Design communications activity to support our business objectives, including through enduring partnerships with key companies.
• Embed a strong culture for evaluating activity and learning lessons, to continually improve performance and impact.

Resources managed:

4 officers across the continent (subject to change)

• Postgraduate degree and/or undergraduate degree and other professional qualification.
• At least five years professional work experience
• At least three years professional experience in media, communications or PR Proven digital and social media skills  
• Strong leadership skills, ideally with experience managing from a distance, and proven ability to motivate and bring teams along.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, including stakeholder engagement skills to build credibility with senior government/business representatives as well as colleagues within the UK government network;
• Experience of engaging with the press and securing interview slots and other media opportunities
• Strong copywriting skills and experience of writing press notices and other written materials 
• Experience of organising and leading campaigns
• excellent organisational and self-management skills to respond effectively to tight – and changing – deadlines and priorities;
• Sound knowledge of MS Office and project management tools.
• The ability to learn quickly and work with a high degree of autonomy;
• A positive “can-do” attitude that can see way through challenges. 
• Strong editorial judgment and ability to communicate effectively with different audiences. 
• Evidence of research to inform communications advice and of using evaluation to learn lessons and improve communications. 
• The ability to build and maintain networks with counterparts in other organisations 
• Experience of leading proactive and reactive communications plans. 

Language requirements:

Language: English

Level of language required: Fluent