Regional Communications Manager at British High Commission

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)  

Main Purpose of Job

The CSSF Eastern Africa Communications Manager will lead and deliver communications activity in support of the British Government’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund programmes across Eastern Africa portfolios (in Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda, as well as continental work with the AU).

The jobholder will have a strong communications background, and will be adept at using/engaging a variety of different methods of communication, including social and mainstream media. The jobholder will sit jointly within the British High Commission’s communications and CSSF teams. The jobholder will deliver high-quality external communications outputs which raise awareness of CSSF programme work across Eastern Africa and demonstrate the impact this work is having. The jobholder will also deliver communications activity to raise the profile of CSSF Eastern Africa within the UK Government, and with key international and domestic partners including embassies and parliamentarians.  

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) is a UK government fund which supports and delivers activity to tackle instability and to prevent conflict. The CSSF Eastern Africa portfolio is made up of the CSSF East Africa regional programmes; CSSF Africa Peace and Security programme; and CSSF Sudans programmes.

Responsibilities include:

• Deliver the CSSF Eastern Africa communications strategy, helping increase awareness and understanding of the objectives, activity and impact of the CSSF Eastern Africa programmes. This will include:
  • Content generation: The jobholder will proactively identify and develop case-studies and stories which demonstrate the impact of the CSSF in Eastern Africa. The job-holder will work with in-country communications and CSSF programme teams to support gathering of high-quality content.
  • Producing the quarterly CSSF Eastern Africa newsletter, which is circulated across UK government.
  • Drafting social media messaging and press releases: For use on British High Commission/British Embassy social media channels, and for distribution to local media outlets.
  • Media engagements: The jobholder will identify and organise proactive media opportunities connected to CSSF East Africa programmes.
• Visits and events: The jobholder will support the delivery of high quality communications outputs for any CSSF Eastern Africa related visits and events.
• Drafting and delivering communications strategies for CSSF programmes (as required); working closely with programme teams in the region to identify key opportunities and stakeholders, and accompanying communications activity to increase awareness and understanding of the activity and impact.
• Working with FCDO Central communications colleagues to develop a CSSF Eastern Africa public script for use by senior officials. Supporting these individuals with public or media engagement on CSSF activity.
• Working with the BHC communications team in Nairobi, communications teams in posts across East Africa, and implementing partners, to ensure UK Government comms messaging on the security and stability agenda is aligned and strategic.
• Working with a network of colleagues across the UK Government, including the CSSF communications team and departmental press offices based in London, to ensure that key messages about CSSF Eastern Africa reaches target UK audiences. This includes external facing (UK public), as well as internal facing (UK Government stakeholders). Drafting case-studies for inclusion in the CSSF annual report.
• Building a strong working relationship with media outlets, communications officers from relevant host Government Departments (e.g. KDF, ODPP) and implementing partners.
• Providing support to CSSF teams across sub-Saharan Africa who hold communication responsibilities, including establishing and chairing a sub-Saharan Africa-wide CSSF Communications Network.
• Leading on internal comms and events within the CSSF Eastern Africa team.

The jobholder will receive ongoing learning and development support, to enable them to deliver the requirements of the role. The jobholder will need to be able to work in a matrix, developing relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, and working collaboratively and flexibly across HM Government. The jobholder will need to travel on rare occasion to other countries in the region (as travel restrictions and current guidance allows).

Resources Managed (Staff and Expenditure)

 The CSSF Eastern Africa Communications Manager will oversee a small central comms budget for the region, which will assist in capturing professional photography/footage for use in HMG and external comms. 

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

• Experience of working in a Communications role for a large organisation
• Degree in communications or similar, or other recognised qualification in communications
• Strong written communication skills
• Strong track record of programme management

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  

• Experience of working in a multiple-country communications role
• Strong digital skills
• Experience of delivering campaign-style communications activity

Required competencies  

Seeing the Big Picture, Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Delivering at Pace

Application deadline  

8 December 2020

Grade  

C4 (L)

Type of Position  

Fixed Term

Duration of Post  

12 months

Starting monthly salary ()  

KES 390,410.27

Start Date  

1 February 2021

Other benefits and conditions of employment  

Learning and Development Opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

Government Communications Service OASIS training

Digital Training

Leave:

Members of staff are entitled to paid annual leave, which is earned, from the day they commence employment. Entitlements are as follows:

Grade C4 (L) 30 days

In addition to annual leave, the BHC normally observes no fewer than 9 and no more than 14 Kenyan and British public and religious holidays in a year. These vary from year to year and are at the discretion of the High Commissioner. A list of holidays is published each year. 

Working Patterns:

The office hours are 07:00 - 16:00 Monday to Thursday and 07:00 – 13:00 on Fridays, within those times there is some flexibility as to when staff start and finish work.