British Embassy

Position: Communications Officer

Job Time: Full-Time

Job Type: Contract

Place of Work: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Salary: USD 513.00

Posted date: 18 hours ago

Application Deadline: Dec, 28/2021 (12 days left)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of job:

The job holder will lead engagement with Ethiopia’s media industry, helping to inform and influence key decision makers and the general public about the work of the embassy. Joining a growing team, the job holder will act as the main point of contact for media enquiries, delivering key messages that promote the work of the UK in Ethiopia. The job holder will help the embassy build links with influencers and stakeholders as well as supporting the Ambassador and other members of the senior team with media and TV interviews. The job holder will continually monitor local media reporting on areas of interest to the UK through timely and succinct reporting. The job holder will work closely with a wider communications and public diplomacy team to deliver events, visits and small programmes.

Roles and responsibilities:

The UK’s Embassy in Addis Ababa is one of our largest in Africa, and the development programme run from within it is our biggest on the continent. The UK works on matters of regional and international security, climate change, and in promoting economic reform and protecting human rights.

The UK has a longstanding bilateral relationship with Ethiopia and we are keen to further improve our relationship with the country’s evolving media industry. This role, sits within the Communications, Engagement and Soft Power Team and will help showcase the important work the UK is doing to support Ethiopia’s development.

The successful candidate’s primary role will be to act as the lead press officer helping to promote a positive image of the UK. They will do this through building strong links within Ethiopia’s media industry, linking in with new stakeholders and influencers active on social media. The job holder will deliver high quality press-releases so excellent English language skills are essential. The successful candidate will also brief the Ambassador and other senior team members ahead of interviews, ensuring our key messages are delivered and reported local media. Occasional regional travel in Ethiopia will also be required as the embassy looks to increase its reach and influence throughout Ethiopia’s regions. To build these links knowledge of one of Ethiopia’s regional languages is desirable. The job holder will also provide regular reporting on the state of the media industry and media freedom in Ethiopia. The job holder also need to display initiative and creativity, in leading on the communications and other public diplomacy work for two key areas of the embassy’s engagement with Ethiopia (likely, our Chevening scholarship and Economies, Trade and Investment). They will need to be comfortable working with people in different business areas and departments across the embassy to deliver high-quality, engaging content in the press and for social media.

The jobholder will be responsible for:

• Daily media monitoring
• Daily engagement with Ethiopian media, at a national and regional level
• Keeping the rest of the team and embassy informed of developments in the media and media freedom
• Drafting press notices and media briefings
• Evaluation of the embassy’s communications outputs
• Leading on communications for the UK’s Chevening scholarship
• Leading on all of the comms and public diplomacy activities for one policy area of the embassy’s work (likely, Economies, Trade, and Investment)

This job presents an excellent opportunity for someone who is keen to take on leadership roles later down the line as the team and wider embassy culture require staff to take responsibility for their own portfolios and drive forward their own projects. The officer in this post will not just work on traditional communications – they will be expected to work with colleagues across the embassy to design and executive events, visits, and small programs to forward our strategic objectives. The position offers an excellent opportunity for junior professionals to refine their media skills and perfect their analysis and reporting through regular contact with senior members of the embassy team.

Essential qualifications, skills, and experience 

• At least 3 years working experience
• Experience and knowledge of Ethiopia’s media sector
• Proven ability to work independently and think creatively
• Experience of working in an international setting
• Fluent English and Amharic

Desirable qualifications, skills, and experience

• Knowledge of other Ethiopian languages

Required competencies

• Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Leading and Communicating, Delivering at Pace

Grade: B3 (L)

Type of Position: Permanent

Working hours per week: 36 hours

Region: Africa

Country/Territory: Ethiopia

Location (City): Addis Ababa

Type of Post: British Embassy

Number of vacancies: 1 (One)

Salary: USD 513.00

Start Date: 1 February 2022

Other benefits and conditions of employment

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

The successful candidate will get access to a range of learning and development opportunities, including on-the-job training and workshops with communication experts.

They are likely to be able to attend training in the UK as well as communications events and training across the Africa network.

Working patterns:

The standard working hours of the British Embassy for office staff are 0800-1645 Monday-Thursday and 0800-1300 on Fridays.

Occasional evening and weekend work may be required when traveling around Ethiopia. Time off in Lieu will be given where possible.

Additional information 

The locally engaged staff of all grades will be entitled to paid annual leave as follows:

Up to 2 years 22 days

After 2 years of service 25 days

After 5 years of service 30 days

How to Apply

CLICK HERE

In addition to annual leave, the British Embassy observes up to a maximum number of 14 Ethiopian, British and Religious public holidays each year. A list of such Embassy holidays will be published each year. Office Staff required to work on these holidays will be granted time off in lieu or overtime where circumstances permit.

NB: Complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening. Please check your application carefully before you submit it, as no changes can be made once submitted. The British Embassy will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position. Employees recruited locally by the British Embassy in Addis Ababa are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Ethiopia. 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 the fees for the permit
• Make arrangements to relocate
• Meet the costs of relocation
• 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 Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office Competency Framework can be found on this link

Please note: Job grade AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5

• Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
• Please log in to your profile on the application system on a regular basis to review the status of your application
• All applicants must be legally able to work in Ethiopia with the correct visa/status or work permit.
• The British Embassy in Addis Ababa is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.