SECTION : CHANCERY
GRADE : C4 (L)
POSITION TYPE : 12 MONTHS FIXED TERM CONTRACT
SALARY : N 631 985.00 PER MONTH
Job Summary
The British High Commission wishes to recruit an experienced and dynamic professional to run and manage the British High Commission’s Press Office. Working to the Head of Communications, the Press Officer plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the UK government in Nigeria is able to communicate effectively and innovatively across a range of traditional and digital media. They also make sure that the Press and Public Affairs team engages and responds to national and international media in a positive and timely way.
The successful candidate’s duties will include, but are not limited to:
Acting as one of the British High Commission’s spokespeople, including drafting, clearing and delivering appropriate media messages to local and international media.
Team leader for the BHC’s Press and Public Affairs team with direct line management for three locally engaged staff in Abuja and Lagos.
Working with the BHC’s Head of Communications, as well as the press offices of Government Departments in London, to set the direction of UK communications in Nigeria and ensuring the BHC’s communications strategy is consistent with instructions and guidelines set by senior officials in London and Nigeria
Managing media engagements for senior staff in Nigeria as well as visiting senior officials and Ministers, ensuring that they are well planned and that staff are prepared for and supported through them.
Ensuring the UK in Nigeria has an active and effective approach to external digital communications and increasing the audience receiving UK messages.
Building and maintaining an effective network of contacts across the spectrum of the Nigerian Media to ensure that the BHC has a thorough understanding of the Media’s role in Nigerian society and is well placed to engage constructively when needed.
Leading the Press and Public Affairs team in the monitoring and analysis of national and international media, so as to provide reliable and informative products to colleagues in the Nigeria Network as well as the Nigeria Team in the Foreign Office in London.
Experience, Skills and Competences:
Essential
Qualified to at least undergraduate degree level
Strong oral and written communication skills in English
Highly organised, able to take initiative and to work accurately within deadlines and with limited supervision
A good working knowledge of ICT software (e.g. MS Word) in general and strong skills in digital media, including Face book, Twitter and other social networking sites
Attention to detail and comfortable producing accurate statements under pressure
Strong networking and relationship management skills
Desirable
Knowledge of public relations, including developing and implementing media communication plans/media campaigns
At interview, the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following UK civil service competencies:
Seeing the bigger Picture
This is about having an in-depth understanding and knowledge of how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives and the wider public needs. For all staff, it is about focusing your contribution on the activities which will meet Civil Service goals and deliver the greatest value. At senior levels, it is about scanning the political context and taking account of wider impacts to develop long term implementation strategies that maximise opportunities to add value to the citizen and support economic, sustainable growth.
Making Effective Decisions
Effectiveness in this area is about being objective; using sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to provide accurate, expert and professional advice. For all staff, it means showing clarity of thought, setting priorities, analysing and using evidence to evaluate options before arriving at well reasoned justifiable decisions. At senior levels, leaders will be creating evidence based strategies, evaluating options, impacts, risks and solutions. They will aim to maximise return while minimising risk and balancing social, political, financial, economic and environmental considerations to provide sustainable outcomes.
Managing a Quality Service
Effectiveness in this area is about being organised to deliver service objectives and striving to improve the quality of service, taking account of diverse customer needs and requirements. People, who are effective plan, organise and manage their time and activities to deliver a high quality and efficient service, applying programme and project management approaches to support service delivery. At senior levels, it is about creating an environment to deliver operational excellence and creating the most appropriate and cost effective delivery models for public services.
Delivering at Pace
Effectiveness in this area means focusing on delivering timely performance with energy and taking responsibility and accountability for quality outcomes. For all staff, it’s about working to agreed goals and activities and dealing with challenges in a responsive and constructive way. At senior levels, it is about building a performance culture to deliver outcomes with a firm focus on prioritisation and addressing performance issues resolutely, fairly and promptly. It is also about leaders providing the focus and energy to drive activities forward through others and encourage staff to perform effectively during challenging and changing time
In addition, the successful candidate’s performance will also be appraised annually against the following further competencies:
Changing and Improving
People who are effective in this area are responsive, innovative and seek out opportunities to create effective change. It is about being open to change, suggesting ideas for improvements to the way things are done, and working in ‘smarter’, more focused ways. At senior levels, this is about creating and contributing to a culture of innovation and allowing people to consider and take managed risks. Doing this well means continuously seeking out ways to improve policy implementation and build a leaner, more flexible and responsive Civil Service. It also means making use of alternative delivery models including digital and shared service approaches wherever possible.
Leading and Communicating
At all levels, effectiveness in this area is about leading from the front and communicating with clarity, conviction and enthusiasm. It’s about supporting principles of fairness of opportunity for all and a dedication to a diverse range of citizens. At senior levels, it is about establishing a strong direction and a persuasive future vision; managing and engaging with people with honesty and integrity, and upholding the reputation of the Department and the Civil Service.
Collaborating and Partnering
People skilled in this area create and maintain positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the Civil Service to help get business done. At all levels, it requires working collaboratively, sharing information and building supportive, responsive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders, whilst having the confidence to challenge assumptions. At senior levels, it’s about delivering business objectives through creating an inclusive environment, encouraging collaboration and building effective partnerships including relationships with Ministers.
Building Capability for All
Effectiveness in this area is having a strong focus on continuous learning for oneself, others and the organisation. For all staff, it’s being open to learning, about keeping one’s own knowledge and skill set current and evolving. At senior levels, it’s about talent management and ensuring a diverse blend of capability and skills is identified and developed to meet current and future business needs. It’s also about creating a learning and knowledge culture across the organisation to inform future plans and transformational change.
Contract, Salary and Other Benefits, Working Hours and Annual Leave
This is a fixed term contract for 12 months, with the possibility to be extended by a further 12 months or to be made permanent.
The starting salary is fixed at N631,985 per month, with the possibility of non-consolidated performance bonuses. If the successful candidate is not liable to pay Nigerian tax there will be a 10% notional tax deduction on the basic salary. Contributory pension and health insurance schemes are available.
Working hours are from 8.00am-4.00pm Monday to Thursday and 8.00am-1.00pm on Fridays, but there will be an expectation that the successful candidate will work outside these hours when relevant BHC events and priorities demand it.
Annual leave is 25 days, in addition to up to 14 public holidays annually.
Application Process
If you wish to apply for this vacancy, you should submit:
A CV (maximum two pages) that includes evidence of your eligibility; outlines your skills and experience relevant to this role and gives details of two referees whom we may contact.
A Cover Letter (maximum two pages) that outlines why you are interested in this role and your suitability against the expected duties and the required experience, skills and competences.
A copy of your degree certificate (the original will need to be presented for verification at interview).
Existing UK Government staff only (including DFID & British Council): Copies of your past two annual appraisals, signed by your line manager.
Candidates must have the right to work in Nigeria and provide evidence of this with their applications. Applications without this evidence will not be considered.
Any questions for the hiring manager should be sent to Edward.Dunn@fco.gov.uk or Ben.Llewellyn-Jones@fco.gov.uk.
Applications should be sent by e-mail to: Recruitment.Africa@fco.gov.uk
Deadline for Applications: 8 December 2014
Interview date: Week commencing 5 January 2015
Applications received after this deadline will not be considered. Telephone applications will not be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you have not heard from us 3 weeks after the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.
The British High Commission in Abuja is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.
Staff recruited locally by the British High Commission in Abuja is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Nigerian employment law.
