Job Description

Main purpose of job:

The British High Commission in South Africa maintains and develops relations between the UK and South Africa. The UK and South Africa work together internationally, regionally and nationally, building strategic partnerships in important areas including tackling climate change, promoting gender equality, protecting security, improving trade and building inclusive economic growth.

This is an opportunity for a digitally savvy and creative communications professional to join the fast-paced UK in South Africa Communication Team and support our efforts to communicate how the UK is working with South Africa on issues such as gender equality, economic growth, global health and green energy.

The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the planning, production, publishing and evaluation of the UK in South Africa's digital communications, ensuring the delivery of accurate, creative and engaging digital communications that helps to build our brand among our target audiences.

This role would be ideal for someone with an interest in a wide-range of international issues, offering the chance to design digital media plans to showcase progress on joint UK-South Africa priorities. The role entails opportunities to deliver content around high-profile visits and will require you to attend events and visit the various projects that the UK supports to collect stories that show the impact of our work.

The individual will be a digital communications expert with experience in designing, delivering and evaluating creative content to engage target audiences across our platforms. You will manage the UK in South Africa social media channels, tracking trends and providing audience insights relevant to our work. You will have excellent attention to detail to ensure that all social media messaging and content is engaging and accurate, and you will be an excellent leader who values diversity and is motivated to build the team's digital skills.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Design and deliver a digital communication strategy in line with the UK in South Africa's country objectives, considering paid, earned and owned media
• Work with colleagues across the British High Commission to help translate our priorities and objectives into engaging social media copy and content to increase the local profile and impact of our work
• Attend events and visit partner projects to collect high quality photos and videos for content production
• Oversee the creation of innovative and engaging multimedia content including designing infographics, editing and producing short videos etc.,
• Manage all UK in South Africa social media platforms, publishing high quality content, analysing online commentary on key issues, mapping out who our influencers are and ultimately grow our audiences
• Presenting digital strategies and approaches to senior leaders in the British High Commission.
• Evaluate impact of our content, offering insights into what does and doesn't work on our channels.
• Monitor social media for breaking news and relevant stories, coverage, keeping colleagues around the British High Commission informed with relevant news.
• Identify and engage with key stakeholders on social media to help to build the audience of the UK in South Africa social media channels.
• Oversee publishing of press releases on gov.uk.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• 1x EO digital communications officer
• GPC cardholder, corporate credit card holder
• Management of subscriptions and budget for subscriptions, branding and communications products

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Media/Journalism/Communications or relevant experience
• Experience of designing and delivering proactive and reactive digital communication campaigns and messaging for a variety of channels
• Excellent writing skills in English; ability to draft accurate and engaging content for social media with impeccable attention to detail to ensure editorial accuracy
• Experience in social media monitoring and evaluation tools - ability to evaluate impact is essential
• Excellent understanding of social media trends, audiences and channels
• Ability to produce insights on target audiences, influencers and the media landscape to shape a campaign strategy
• Experience of brand management and use of paid marketing tools
• Photography/videography; social media production, graphic design skills
• Understanding of South African media, PR and communications environment
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills to respond effectively to tight deadlines and changing priorities
• The ability to learn quickly and work with a high degree of autonomy
• A great team worker and proactive problem solver who can work well under pressure and to short deadlines

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Understanding of international relations and an interest in the UK

Required behaviours

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

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

19 September 2023

Grade

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Type of Position

Permanent

Working hours per week

36.5 hours

Region

Africa

Country/Territory

South Africa

Location (City)

Pretoria

Type of Post

British High Commission

Number of vacancies

1

Salary

R 643,242.53 (per annum)

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

1 October 2023

Other benefits and conditions of employment

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

• Digital communications training through the FCDO Communications Directorate in London
• Access to the UK's Government Communication Service training
• Close working with the UK Government's Africa Campaigns Hub

Working patterns:

Some flexibility possible to compensate for relatively frequent out of hours working.

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

Additional information

• 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 candidatexe2x80x9d.

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