Chief Communications Officer

Main purpose of job:

The British Government’s Embassy in Washington D.C. has an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and creative person to join the Communications Team as Chief Communications Officer – Global Issues. This opportunity is a rewarding role which supports and further develops the special relationship between the UK and the US, working at the forefront of international diplomacy in order to make a real difference globally.

The US Network offers a unique career enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a variety of benefits including generous leave, insurance packages and a highly competitive 401k programme. It also promotes a culture of flexibility which enables people to better maintain wellness through an excellent work/life balance approach that encompasses hybrid working, including working from home and flexible hours, where possible. In this role you would be working in a diverse international environment side by side UK diplomats, armed forces personnel and other country based staff operating across the British Government’s network of Consulates and Government Offices in the United States. This network provides a platform for approximately 30 Government departments and agencies to conduct their work in the United States and is made up of over 900 staff with a rich and diverse background, skill sets, and experiences.

This is a chance to directly contribute to the way in which both Governments collaborate and negotiate on communicating the UK’s priorities. The key responsibilities are communicating the UK’s economic and trade policy priorities to a US audience, highlighting the UK-US economic and trade relationship and promoting the UK’s standing as a major player on key issues such as global health and economic growth. Trade, investment, economic prosperity and job creation are at the core of the UK-US relationship. The candidate will work closely with the British Embassy’s US network to support and improve communications across its eight consulate-generals and build strong links with counterparts in London.

The ideal candidate will be highly motivated, a clear and effective communicator, have an interest in global economics and trade with a strong working understanding of US media landscape.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Act as the day-to-day lead on embassy communications relating to trade, health, economics, transport and UK bilateral issues.
• Identifying opportunities to deliver on the embassy’s Global Issues priorities, developing key messaging and proactively finding opportunities for engagement.
• Building and maintaining relationships with economic, trade, health and transport correspondents promoting the work of the UK.
• Using creative and engaging ways to promote the UK-US’ shared economic and trade policy priorities, working with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Monitoring media, to identify opportunities to promote the UK-US global security partnership and to counter negative and incorrect reporting.
• Act as lead on US handling of UK bilateral issues – including the Union, and issues linked to Scotland and Northern Ireland.
• Lead on media arrangements for Ministerial visits from the UK, identifying opportunities and delivering on media engagement.
• Accompany senior UK officials on media engagements – providing briefing and support as required.
• Provide out of hours press office support.
• Work to the Head of News and wider team to deliver campaigns across the British Embassy communications strategy.
• Work closely with the digital communications team to gather and create content for use across social media channels.
• Support the internal communications of the US network: collating and distributing information for colleagues to ensure they are informed and equipped to carry out their roles.
• Forge relationships and liaise closely with relevant US administration teams on joint priorities.
• Any other duties as assigned.

The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communciating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Essential on arrival:

• Relevant experience in communications, politics, public relations or media
• Understanding of and interest in global economics and trade
• A strong working understanding of US media landscape
• Strong interpersonal skills and confidence in communicating with senior level officials, politicians or executives
• Ability to deliver high quality outcomes, under pressure and/or to tight deadlines
• A proactive, self-starter with strong time management skills
• Experience in working with a wide range of stakeholders and broad network of contacts
• Must have the right to live and work in the United States

Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents or A visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at our office.

Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa. All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.

• A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defense Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Desirable:

• Economic/Trade/political/government/embassy Comms experience
• Working knowledge of UK media landscape

Required behaviours

Seeing the Big Picture, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing

Application deadline Application deadline - day Application deadline - month Application deadline - year

27 July 2022

Grade

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

40

Region

Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories

Country/Territory

United States

Location (City)

Washington

Type of Post

British Embassy

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

USD

Salary

$62,721

Start Date Start Date - day Start Date - month Start Date - year

12 September 2022

Additional information

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance. Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount. Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.

The British Embassy is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone. We are an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions without regard to race, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law.

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.