Job Description

1

Main purpose of job:

This is an opportunity for an experienced communications professional to join the fast-paced UK in South Africa Communication Team. You will support our efforts to creatively tell the story of how the UK is working with South Africa on issues such as gender equality, economic growth, global health, green energy and consular support, while showcasing the UK-SA people-to-people links across arts, sport, culture.

Roles and responsibilities:

This is an opportunity to join the fast-paced UK in South Africa Communications Team, as the Deputy Head of Communication.

You will be reporting to a Head of Communication and play a crucial role in ensuring the quality of communication produced by the team.

We are looking for an extremely organised individual with management experience to take a leadership role in developing engaging communication campaigns about the UK's partnership with South Africa.

This role would be ideal for someone with an interest in a wide-range of international issues, offering the chance to design media plans for major events involving the UK and South Africa on the world stage -such as G20 summits - and showcasing progress on joint UK-South Africa priorities - such as the ground-breaking International Just Energy Transition Partnership agreed at COP26. The role will also include delivering media around VIP visits.

The individual will be a communication expert with long-standing journalist relationships, experience in designing and delivering media moments and a solid track record of securing high-profile media coverage. You would need the ability to flex around the UK's priorities at different times, and be confident briefing media and creating media materials, including press releases and media lines.

This role will be based in the British High Commission in Pretoria, working closely with and complementing the existing HMG communicators network across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• Line management of two Communication Officers.
• Management of comms budget, subscriptions and budget for subscriptions, branding and communication products.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience 1

• Media/Journalism/Communications or relevant qualification
• At least five years professional experience in media, communications or PR, with proven digital and social media skills
• Experience managing a team
• Experience of designing and delivering proactive and reactive communications plans
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, including stakeholder engagement skills
• Experience of engaging with the press and securing interview slots and other media opportunities
• Experience of advising and training senior officials in media engagement
• Knowledge of the media and social media landscape across South Africa with an established network of contacts
• Strong copywriting skills and experience of writing press notices and other written materials
• Excellent organisational and self-management skills to respond effectively to tight and changing deadlines and priorities
• The ability to learn quickly and work with a high degree of autonomy
• A positive can-do attitude that can see way through challenges
• Evidence of using research to inform communications advice and of using evaluation to learn lessons and improve communications
• Fluent in English with other South African languages desirable

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience 1

• Experience of working in a crisis situation would be highly regarded
• Experience of working with government departments and/or public-sector agencies
• Strong digital skills and experience in producing multimedia content including photography and videography

Required behaviours 1

Managing a Quality Service, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing, Developing Self and Others

Application deadline 1

13 February 2024

Grade 1

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Type of Position 1

Permanent

Working hours per week 1

36.5 hours

Region 1

Africa

Country/Territory 1

South Africa

Location (City) 1

Pretoria

Type of Post 1

British High Commission

Number of vacancies 1

1

Salary 1

R 701,134.36 (per annum)

Start Date 1

15 March 2024

Other benefits and conditions of employment 1

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

Various courses and programmes are available across a huge range of professions from communications to project management and policy. More details can be provided.

The British High Commission pays in full for the Key Care Plus option on Discovery Health for staff including spouses/partners and dependants.

• Once you have successfully completed your probation the British High Commission will contribute 9% of your monthly salary to a Provident Fund.
• Annual leave entitlement of 25 days
• Working hours per week of 36.5 hours

Additional information 1

• Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening
• Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted
• The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position
• Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Pretoria are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in South Africa
• All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit
• The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to;
• Obtain the relevant permit
• Pay fees for the permit
• Make arrangements to relocate
• Meet the costs to relocation
• The British High Commission do not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so
• Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount
• Information about the Civil Service Success Profiles can be found on this link:

. Please note: AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5 * Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates

• Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a 'reserve list'. If during the reserve period of 6/12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

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.

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