Overseas Specialist Communication Advisor (IO)

Company Name: UK Home Office
Location: UAE

The communications team work internationally to provide strategic communications support to the business. We are a team of 8, some based in the UK, with three overseas communications officers based in key hubs across the world. You will play a critical role within the team, working with our UK and overseas colleagues to help develop, plan and implement communication campaigns that deliver measurable change. As a strategic communications professional, you will help to manage all aspects of communications working alongside marketing and insight professionals.

The successful applicant will be experienced in supporting the development, planning and co-ordination of creative communication campaigns across a range of channels including low and no cost and digital. You will ideally have experience of working through partners and and will be skilled at working with others to help disseminate messages, promote the visa service and also rebut any myths and inaccuracies. You will be managing a varied region with different challenges, and will be adept at balancing priorities and needs.

Responsibilities Will Include

• Develop and deliver region specific communications plans to promote the UK’s migration policy and visa service, working with commercial and cross-government partners including: GREAT, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Visit Britain, Department for International Trade and British Council to ensure that consistent, factual messages about visas reach target audiences;
• Work closely with communications teams in the UK and other international communications officers to deliver strategic communications activity, ensure global consistency and share best practice;
• Work closely with UKVI colleagues at post – including Regional Director and Regional Manager - to advise and deliver communications activity that meets business objectives, challenging the approach when necessary;
• Manage a disparate region covering multiple countries with varying needs; understand the requirements for each region, develop communication strategies that are supported and delivered by UKVI colleagues and partners;
• Develop and roll out a range of communications products for use in a variety of global channels – digital media, print media, news and external partner updates;
• Support direct engagement activities with tourism, business and student sector stakeholders in collaboration with the UKVI Customer Account Management Network, including delivery of roadshows, event presentations, face to face engagement and development of new partnerships;
• Develop and maintain a close working relationship with the Press & Public Affairs (PPA) teams within the FCO and other partners across government throughout the region to deliver key communications;
• Test new ways of delivering communications, including owned and earned social media and collaborative campaigns to maximise message dissemination and reach target audiences;
• Ensure feedback and insight from communications activities are captured and evaluated to support the design of future campaigns and communications, and inform the development of new products and services; and
• Build capability by developing and enhancing existing communications expertise within UKVI and other government teams.;
• Provide strategic communications advice to commercial providers, to support the visa customer journey, in collaboration with operational communications leads.
  

Note: An employee may be required to carry out other duties within the scope of the grade and within the limits of their skill, competence and training.

Responsibilities

Ideally you will be educated to degree level and meet the following criteria:

Essential Skills And Experience

• Experienced external communicator, who can quickly grasp the specific requirements of their market and deliver campaigns of the highest standard;
• Creative and able to identify and manage risk;
• Proven track record at building excellent working relationships with partners and managing demanding stakeholders;
• A strong understanding and experience of developing and implementing successful and quantifiable communication strategies;
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, including presentation skills;
• Ability to work under pressure, at pace and can prioritise and project manage several tasks at once. Meets deadlines and manages expectations along the way;
• Experience of managing operational issues or communicating complex policy with excellent judgement, politically astute and aware of cultural sensitivities when working overseas; and
• Ability to work with senior colleagues in the UK and overseas to identify and deliver communications activity that supports business objectives.
  

Living In Abu Dhabi And Working Across Regions

You will predominantly work from the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi, close to the Corniche and about a 90 minute drive to the British Embassy in Dubai. The Embassies place a strong emphasis on employee wellbeing, and are family-friendly postings.

The UAE has a large expatriate community, offering scope for a wide variety of social activities and networks. There are plenty of international travel opportunities through the major travel hubs of both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

You will provide strategic communications across two geographical directorates, subject to the needs of the business. These currently include the Middle East, Pakistan, Turkey, Central Asia and Africa; with a focus on high value, growth markets in these regions.

Additional Information

• Due to the location of the role and the global nature of UKVI’s business some out of hours work will be required.
• For existing civil servants you will be offered an other government departments (OGD) role on a loan basis for up to two years with the possibility of extension. If you already work at the Home Office and there isn’t a suitable role within the Communications team you will be placed into the redeployment pool on your return.
• For those who are applying outside the civil service you will be offered an initial 18 months fixed-term appointment (FTA) with the possibility of annual extensions of 12 months.
• The posting to Abu Dhabi will be subject to medical clearance and the successful candidate will need to obtain Security Clearance (Enhanced) clearance;
• Successful applicants will be on the national pay range when posted overseas (£31,553 - £37,074). If a member of staff is currently on a London or London Provincial range, they will move to the relative point of the national range for the duration of the posting. There will be no mark-time when moving from the London or London Provincial ranges to the national range when posted overseas;
• Successful candidates transferring in from other Government Departments will transfer over with their current substantive salary, subject to the minimum and maximum of the salary for the advertised vacancy.
  

Appointment date - Early 2020 date to be confirmed, subject to clearances.

• Seniority level

  Associate

• Employment type

  Full-time

• Job function

  MarketingPublic RelationsWriting/Editing

• Industries

  Information Technology and ServicesGovernment AdministrationFinancial Services