View Vacancy - Head of Global Digital Network, Digital Transformation Unit D6, Madrid (ESP379)

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is looking to recruit an energetic, enthusiastic, self starter and motivated Head of Global Digital Network to be based at the British Embassy in Madrid.

The Future FCO Review highlighted the importance of strong digital skills to the diplomatic toolkit: “We need an army of diplomats using new digital tools in an authentic, engaging and purposeful way”.

The Digital Transformation Unit sets the overall strategy for the use of digital across the FCO, looks at new opportunities where digital can enhance our work, ensures coherence in how we communicate digitally, and oversees relevant training and guidance for the whole organisation. Our 4 Regional Digital Units support, advise and train Posts on how they can best use digital to deliver their foreign policy objectives, including through bespoke consultancy projects.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• The Head of Global Digital Network will directly line manage and set the framework for those RDUs as they deliver training, consultancy and support in line with FCO communications priorities. Through strong leadership and clear direction the job holder will oversee the development and organisation-wide delivery of the FCO Digital Curriculum, Leadership training and other digital training courses, ensuring that they inspire and empower the network to be creative, innovative and operating at the cutting edge of digital diplomacy across the world.
• The job holder will seek to raise the overall standard of digital content across the overseas network, working through RDUs to identify opportunities to enhance local/regional communication campaigns, and ensuring priority Posts within the global network are delivering high quality content (particularly video) in support of key policy and communications goals. They will also act as a champion of the use of digital in the FCO and the promotion of the FCO Digital Strategy, giving expert advice to Heads of Mission, Senior Regional Communicators and departmental leads across Whitehall to drive the FCO’s digital agenda.
• In addition to the above, the successful candidate will look critically at the form and function of the digital network, designing and implementing policies, processes and structures to ensure we have the right people with the right skills in the right places, and ultimately driving a major cultural change across the organisation to deliver against Diplomacy 20:20 targets.
• This role would suit a self-sufficient operator who can work independently within broad guidelines and maintain a clear focus on strategic goals at all times. Strong communication and networking skills will enable the job holder to engage and inspire colleagues from digital officers at Post to HMAs, and to collaborate with the global network of senior partners to deliver on the FCO's digital vision. The role would particularly suit someone looking to demonstrate strong leadership skills through the management and motivation of a large team, and seeking the opportunity to set strategic direction for the FCO in a fascinating area key to the future of foreign policy work.
• The successful applicant will have a genuine understanding of a broad range of digital tools and their potential to transform communication and policy work in a large international organisation, together with a passion for experimentation, innovation, and learning.

• Extensive knowledge of the digital environment and its potential to transform communications and policy work in a large-scale international organisation;

• Experience of managing staff including remote team management;

• Experience in creating, monitoring and evaluating digital campaigns;

• An effective communicator with strong customer service skills, and comfortable presenting to senior staff;

• Working knowledge of content management systems, social media and campaign management tools, digital trends and analytics tools;

• Experience in overseeing the delivery and procurement of training;

• String project management skills;

• Proficiency in English (C level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).