View Vacancy - Senior Policy and Communications Officer (ITA23.033) - Internal Only

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)
Chancery

The British Embassy to the Holy See is seeking to recruit a Senior Policy and Communications Officer. The main purpose of this job is to contribute to strengthening UK-Holy See collaboration in support of country plan priorities by designing and delivering effective policy, communications, visits, programmes and public diplomacy events. To lead press and digital work at post and help His Majesty's Ambassador (HMA)/embassy enhance its profile. To advise HM Ambassador/Deputy Head of Mission (DHM) on media and the contacts network. To lead on managing the embassy’s programmes portfolio and budget in support of strategic objectives. Lead, develop and motivate a team of 2 (Residence Manager/Social Secretary and Executive Assistant).


Roles and responsibilities:

Policy:

  • To support the delivery of HM Ambassador/Post’s policy priorities and provide strategic oversight in the following areas:

  • Delivery of successful ministerial/royal visits by leading on the programme. Includes advising HMA/DHM on design and contacts/meetings, creating and holding the pen on the programme and supervising logistics, transport and protocol arrangements. Support HMA/DHM in drafting the briefing pack and crafting lines to take. Lead on developing and delivering strategic comms plans.

  • Research, scope and spot opportunities for policy/programme interventions, providing HMA/DHM with expert advice and facilitating bilateral engagement. Design and deliver policy initiatives / public diplomacy events in support of country plan priorities, such as Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, modern slavery and girls’ education.

  • Maintain strong working relationships with implementers, stakeholders and other members of the Vatican and Catholic religious networks to spot opportunities, co-design interventions/programmes, agree timelines and deliver project outcomes.

  • Contribute to the drafting of the country business plan and organise the biannual country board.

  • Manage the embassy’s c.£40K programmes portfolio, monitoring progress,risk and budget management, documenting evaluation and acting as secretariat for the Programme Board.

 

Communications:

  • Design and implement post’s communications strategy (including digital plans), and to enhance post’s online and media outreach.

  • Work with London on shared communications plans for royal/VIP visits, visiting officials and ministers, including advising on local media sensitivities, Vatican press handling and media/twitter recommendations.

  • Lead on interview requests and proactively seek media and other communications opportunities for HMA.

  • Maintain close relations with the Holy See’s Dicastery for Communications, the ministry in charge of the Vatican media and digital operation, as well as with media contacts.

  • Network into Europe communications (London and posts), exchanging best practice to make our media operation as effective as possible.

 

Management/Corporate:

  • Lead, line manage and motivate a team of 2 (Residence Manager / Social Secretary and Executive Assistant).

  • Actively take part in the Corporate agenda and initiatives outside of own area of work for the benefit of the wider Network, eg on learning and development projects, diversity etc.

  • Fluency at C2 level both in English and Italian according to CEFR Framework*, or equivalent

  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to negotiate and influence, including senior stakeholders

  • Strong understanding of how the Vatican and wider Catholic Church networks work, including key structures, organisations and policy interests

  • Self-motivation, professionalism and the ability to work under minimal supervision

  • Ability to prioritise against competing and challenging tasks in a very small post with competing priorities; good multi-tasking skills/aptitude

  • Experience working with international projects/programmes

  • Communications/media/digital media experience

  • Translation skills

  • Programmes and Projects

  • Coaching/leadership skills
Delivering at Pace, Leadership, Making Effective Decisions, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together
6 February 2023
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Permanent
35
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Italy
Rome
British Embassy
1
EUR
€4,008.00 gross/month
1 April 2023

This is a full-time permanent position, graded HEO according to the Civil Service grading structure. The annual gross salary is € 56,116, with an additional payment of € 10.33 EDR paid 13 times per year (pro-rata). There are 14 salary payments in a calendar year, with double salary payments in June and December. If working less than a full calendar year, the additional salary payments will be pro-rata.

Working hours are 35 hrs per week Monday to Friday, typically from 09.00 – 17.00, with some flexibility.

All staff are enrolled in the Italian state social security and pension schemes, with flexibility to pay into the employee’s private pension scheme if chosen.

All staff employed by the British Embassy are subject to Italian income tax (IRPEF). However the administration of these tax payments will vary depending on nationality.

Staff recruited locally by British diplomatic missions in Italy are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local Italian employment law.

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Italy and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.

All applicants should have the right to live and work in Italy. The British Embassy does not sponsor for work permits.

When completing the motivation field please make sure you present clearly and concisely why are you applying for the position.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”. 

FCDO does not pay for travel related expense incurred in interviews (including Security Check) or accept any financial risk, including cancelation or reschedule costs. The FCDO will not meet the costs connected with relocation if offered a position.

*Please note for more information on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment  levels  please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your language skill is going to be assessed.

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.