View Vacancy - Head of Press, Politics & Public Affairs

The British government maintains a network of Consulates-General around the United States. Reporting to the British Embassy in Washington, they work on a range of objectives on behalf of the British government in the US. Their work includes areas such as trade and investment, supporting British nationals in difficulty in the US, Science and Innovation, press and public affairs reporting on political and economic development, and building relationships with decision-makers and opinion formers. Further information about the Consulates-General and Embassy and their work can be found on www.ukinusa.fco.gov.uk. 

Purpose and Objectives 

The Consulate General in Boston, which covers the six New England States, is looking to recruit the Head of the Politics Press and Public Affairs team. The work of the PPPA team includes:

- supporting the Consul General (CG) in building key political, academic, business, media and other significant relationships around the region;

- reporting on political, policy and economic developments to the Embassy in Washington including by identifying a broad range of useful local contacts and passing on insights gleaned from them;  

- planning, staffing and delivering visits to the region by senior UK government representatives, officials and other VIPs and by the Ambassador and other members of the Washington Embassy; 

- communicating UK policies on foreign affairs and global issues to relevant thought leaders, opinion shapers and future leaders and analysing their positions;  

- directing the Consulate's communications strategy including an active online presence and acting as spokesperson on behalf of the Consulate General and the British government with local media and contacts.  

- identifying and implementing creative ways to raise the positive profile of the UK in New England, including with future leaders. 

There are similar teams of various sizes in the Consulates around the US and in the Washington Embassy comprising the UK's PPPA network in the US. The network works to a shared strategy and tasking led by the Washington Embassy, as well as fulfilling the local requirements of each Consulate-General. 

The jobholder reports to the Consul General and manages the Politics, Press and Public Affairs Officer

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Plan and oversee implementation of PPPA strategy, with PPPA Officer and the CG, including a delivery plan that covers key HMG objectives, the Consular geography and all teams’ interests, with accurate, timely reporting back to Washington and London. Support CG in producing quarterly reports and other regular reports on Consulate-wide activity. 

• Plan and implement the University engagement strategy which identifies key Universities (approx 10 tier 1 and 10 tier 2) Departments and individuals who are prominent / opinion shapers in priority HMG foreign policy and global issues fields (Europe, Middle East, PSVI, Climate Change, Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship etc) across the Consular patch. Development of an electronic mapping tool to optimise strategic outreach and institutional memory. 

• Identify, develop and maintain a network of relationships with academic stakeholders across New England who can enrich the UK's understanding of US policy developments and influence US thinking; developing strong links with contacts who need senior attention, including University Presidents and senior faculty and administrators. Cultivation and nurturing of these contacts such that they are disposed to UK positions on matters of mutual interest, using a range of Diplomatic tools including the Residence. 

• Develop, with relevant teams at Post, in Washington and London, structured plans for delivering strategic messaging on foreign policy and global issues that will enhance HMG’s reputation and bring value to the British Consulate-General’s activities, and extract valuable information on US thinking.  Appropriate reporting and analysis. Oversee Politics work of PPPA Officer.  

• Focus in particular on schools within Harvard (HKS, HLS, HBS) and MIT (MediaLab, CSAIL, Sloan), the world's top two Universities, to ensure excellent access for (the many, often very high level) incoming visitors who want to go there, maximise impact through targeted, high level messaging, and protect the UK's strong relationship with these critical institutions. 

• Lead engagement strategy with Future Leaders: identifying recruitment opportunities (mainly through universities), planning creative events (and securing funding for them), generating value from the relationships, sustaining and communicating them. 

• Oversee the Marshalls Scholarship process (working with support staff as appropriate): including communications with selection committee members and candidates, and on media coverage.

• Assess trends in academic policy including philanthropic funding, alumni engagement, scholarship and exchange programmes; identify opportunities for UK engagement / learning and take forward with relevant colleagues. 

• Lead (with CG) on Post’s delivery of excellent official visits (collaborating with relevant officers as appropriate): strategic planning to ensure optimal deployment, regular communications with stakeholders in programme development managing expectations and clarifying agreed deliverables, meticulous planning of logistics, preparation of appropriate briefing (working autonomously and delivering through others), accompanying on high-level elements of the programme, and producing timely, relevant and informed reporting and communications. 

• Lead on Defence engagement (with UKTI's Defence lead), Culture, Sports, Education and Arts - including as POC for OGDs/ partners such as BDS, British Council, HEFCE, the Royal Society etc. - providing strategic advice on New England engagement, spotting opportunities with Prosperity potential and communicating effectively with relevant topic leads in Washington and London. 

• Participate in crisis training and exercise and be part of the Consulate-wide team response in the event of a crisis, leading on London engagement (with CG).

• Oversee the Recruitment and management of PPPA interns. 

• Bachelors’ degree required.  Degree in Humanities, Education, International Relations preferred. 
• Requires 6-8 years prior experience in the public sector, academic administration, communications or an advocacy role. 
• In-depth knowledge of the University and academic landscape of New England states and academic trends in the region. 
• Broad understanding of the UK's academic and educational systems and appreciation of how they differ from the US. 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with a good understanding of the challenges and sensitivities of working in the world of government and politics. 
• Strong ability to work across teams and with all colleagues, and skilled interaction with external contacts of all levels. 
• Strong research skills and familiarity with key regional information sources including the ability to identify and access a range of online resources. 
• Reliable, capable under pressure, able to complete multiple tasks and high volume of work on deadline with colleagues and with considerable autonomy. 
• Track record of successful delivery of projects through co-ordinating work of diverse teams, including at a distance and with external organisations, making creative use of opportunities, resources and technology. 
• Ability to travel across the patch, occasionally elsewhere within the US (particularly Washington DC), and the UK. Clean US driving license an advantage. 
• Appreciation and understanding of multicultural Britain. 

The successful candidate should be prepared to work occasional long hours, including early mornings, evenings and sometime weekends, flexing to the Consulate's needs. 

Under US State Department requirements, the Embassy Network may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Green Card holders or A or NATO visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A or NATO visa you are not currently eligible to work at the Embassy.  Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa.  All candidates will be subject to background checks and security clearance. 

*A visas or NATO visas with EAD cards are acceptable at the Embassy, Consulates, and British Defence Staff (BDS) outposts.  The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas.