Job Description

The British Consulate General in Vancouver is recruiting for maternity cover for its Media and Public Affairs officer. The Consulate General is the UK Government\'s office in British Columbia and also covers Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

You will be responsible for the external communications, political and policy work, and public diplomacy of the UK Government in British Columbia. You will be part of a small and dynamic Consulate team, working directly to the Consul General as well as with colleagues focused on science collaboration, trade policy, investment promotion, visit and event planning, and consular support. You will also contribute to cross-Canada initiatives as part of the UK\'s broader Media and Public Affairs team based in Ottawa, Calgary, Montreal & Toronto.

This role offers significant scope for creativity, initiative and learning. The UK has an exciting agenda in British Columbia, including accelerating action on climate change, collaborating to develop the technologies of the future, supporting jobs and growth, and building connections with Canada\'s future leaders from all backgrounds. It will be your job to tell these stories in imaginative and accessible ways that create real connections.

Must have the legal status to live and work in Canada.

Roles and responsibilities

Lead and deliver the Consulate General\'s communications plan, including through active management of digital channels, specific local campaigns and in-person public diplomacy events.

a. Lead and deliver the Vancouver Communications Strategy, in line with the UKinCanada Strategic Communications Plan and the UK\'s national priorities in Canada. Evaluate and update communications strategy annually, working with the Consul General to identify SMART communications objectives to reach target audiences in BC based on policy priorities.

b. Provide active management of digital channels. Advise and draft tweets and LinkedIn posts/blogs for the Consul General. Produce and edit video content for social media. Assist the Consul General in preparing for media engagements.

c. Work with colleagues to promote and deliver key public relations events and priorities for the Consulate General, including receptions, policy roundtables and other soft power opportunities and public speaking engagements.

d. Work closely with Business and Trade (DBT), Economics and Trade (ETT) and Science and Innovation (SIN) colleagues on specific communication projects that advance the UK\'s commercial and scientific relationship with British Columbian partners.

e. Evaluate all communications activity and seek continuous improvement.

Manage the Consulate General\'s media and political relationships.

a. Build and maintain a network of reporters, media outlets, political contacts and communication departments in the region through regular contact and proactive outreach. Identify relevant information and stories that tie in with the Consulate General\'s objectives and communications plan.

b. Foster and leverage areas of media interest that align with the Consulate\'s objectives and the UK\'s broader communications plan in Canada.

c. Monitor major media outlets in Vancouver.

d. Monitor, analyse and report on issues relating to UK priorities in B.C, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Canada

• Work with the MPA team across Canada to develop and implement national communication strategies and campaigns, including managing portions of the UK\'s national-level digital channels from time to time. Ensure that all communications and marketing material aligns with brand standards.
• Develop contacts for the Consul-General and wider team in government, business, civil society and academia. Spot and harness opportunities for collaboration with UK partners. Identify key stakeholders for the team to engage with while routinely exploring new and innovative ways to target relevant audiences.
• Lead on communications for official UK visitors including ministers and senior officials in collaboration with London-based communications leads. Plan and deliver on communications for visits, including social and traditional media engagements for the Consul General and Official Visitor. As required, plan visit programmes, produce briefings and accompany to/report on meetings.

Resources managed

• You will mentor and support the Consulate General\'s visits and events officer, including collaborating closely on the communications angles of Consulate events.
• You will play a role in managing the Consulate\'s budgets.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Knowledge of and interest of both the UK and British Columbia.
• Experience in digital communications, social media engagement and public relations

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Experience of working with diverse stakeholders (e.g., business, civil society, academia, political, government).
• Experience in political or policy work and/or public diplomacy
• Technical communications skills e.g., press handling, digital marketing, video editing, speech-writing.

Required behaviours

Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together

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

12 April 2023

Grade

Executive Officer (EO)

Type of Position

Fixed Term

Working hours per week

37.5 hours

Duration of Post

12 months

Region

Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories

Country/Territory

Canada

Location (City)

Vancouver

Type of Post

British Consulate General

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

CAD

Salary

$5,591.59 (CDN)

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

1 June 2023

Other benefits and conditions of employment

Learning and development opportunities

The UK Government actively promotes learning and development for all staff. There will be ample opportunities for you to develop, both within the areas directly relevant to your role, and more widely in a number of areas that may be of interest to you. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has a dedicated learning and development team, as well as a Diplomatic Academy which leads on developing and organising dedicated training in policy areas. The FCDO ring-fences an annual allocation of five days that officers can devote to learning activities and provides an annual learning budget to which all staff can apply.

Additional information

Working patterns

The Consulate General is currently working 2-3 days per week in the office with the remainder working from home and expects this pattern to remain for the foreseeable future. There is some flexibility about which days are spent in the office, but there may also be specific periods when more consistent office working is required. The office is open 5 days per week for those who prefer office working.

The FCDO prizes wellbeing and work-life balance. You will be supported in finding a working pattern that suits you as well as meeting the needs of the role. Some elements of the role are office-based and require regular contact time with the Consul General and other staff.

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.

HM Government