Senior Press and Public Affairs Officer HEO at British High Commission

British High CommissionAbuja, Nigeria Networking and Tech Support

Full Time

Our Political Section is responsible for political relations between the UK and Nigerian Governments. They monitor the political situation in Nigeria and seek to strengthen the bilateral relationship. The Consular Section at the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos, and our consular network throughout the country, provide assistance to British nationals visiting or living in Nigeria. All consular assistance enquiries should be directed to Lagos.

Main purpose of job:

Nigeria is a crucial partner for the UK in Africa, and home to one of FCDO’s biggest development portfolios. Nigeria is an UK Government Tier 1 country but is grappling with serious challenges which cut across many UK priorities, including climate change, conflict, security and stability, prosperity, and demographics. It will be central to our thinking on Africa for the next 50 years. Nigeria is home to the second largest number of poor people in the world and has the largest economy and population in Africa, making it a priority partner for the UK now and into the future.
The 500+ staffed UK in Nigeria Mission has an integrated delivery structure of five thematic “blocks” charged with achieving the key outcomes of the UK’s relationship with Nigeria . Delivery is supported by five enabling teams. The blocks include several other government department staff from across the Mission, including Department for Business and Trade, Ministry of Defence, and the Home Office. The British High Commission has a Deputy High Commission in Lagos as well as a wider sub-national structure with staff present in six other state-based locations.

The post holder will:

Be a creative, organised, and dynamic strategic communications professional ready to join the UK Government’s Communications network in Nigeria as soon as possible.
Be based in Abuja and lead work on the coordination and implementation of communications activities linked to the portfolio owned by HMG colleagues working out of our Governance and Stability (G&S) areas of activity. This includes promoting UK-Nigeria bilateral engagements in Local Elections, Home Office/ Border Security/ UKVI and Social Inclusion (including women and girls’ strategy).
Work closely with the communications team colleagues in Lagos, supporting and working through the Head of Communications who is based in Abuja.
Build stakeholder relationships as part of a dynamic and busy team covering proactive and reactive, strategic, and tactical communications responsibilities. They will work with policy and programme colleagues, stakeholders, and customers from across the UK’s International Nigeria network. This includes working with colleagues from different HMG departments. They will also lead on the coordination and delivery of soft power communications engagement in Abuja and in the southern regions of Nigeria.
Lead on communications for: Ministerial visits, for the High Commissioner, for Partners Across Government and for delivering Africa and network-wide communications strategies in Abuja and across southern regions in Nigeria. The jobholder will be responsible for generating UKinNigeria social media content and for engagement with Nigerian and international media linked to the work of the G&S portfolio.
Be a confident and effective communicator and able strategist who can identify the correct audiences, calibrate the right key messages, and innovatively help to shape the UKs narrative through a range of traditional, digital and if necessary unconventional communication channels.

Roles and responsibilities:

Working from a small team in Abuja, you will work with a large range of colleagues and partners across different UK Government departments operating in Nigeria, West Africa and across the Africa region.
As the jobholder you will lead by example to drive high quality delivery in the Communications team.
You will help shape and deliver strategic communications and public diplomacy objectives developed across the UK Government’s Nigeria network primarily linked to the work of the Governance & Stability block.
You will work with British Government communications leads across the region, with the UK Government’s Communications Hub in South Africa, the Government Communications Service in London and press offices of local and international partners as required to help to set the direction of the UK’s communications operations in Nigeria.
You will develop a sound understanding and the UK’s priorities in Nigeria and, collaborating with the relevant teams, will identify how to make best use of comms to help to deliver in support of the UK’s international objectives.
Using a blend of communications tools, you will help to deliver regional communications campaigns in Nigeria tailored effectively to the relevant local audience in relation to the work of the portfolio owned by the Governance & Stability block. You will help the British High Commission (BHC) offices in Nigeria create and deliver innovative high quality and impactful media campaigns and events that promote a positive image of the UK and supports delivery of the UK’s strategic political and soft power objectives in Nigeria.
You will help ensure that the communications effort in Nigeria is proactive and creative, including but not limited to public diplomacy events, external digital communications, and traditional media engagement to increase the size and calibration of the audiences receiving UK messages to help maximise impact.
You will help shape programmes for visiting senior officials, Ministers and VVIPs, managing media engagements and providing sound advice on all press and public affairs elements.
You will build and maintain an effective network of contacts across the spectrum of Nigerian and international 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.
Drawing on the expertise from colleagues in Nigeria and across West Africa, you will ensure all UK Government communications you deliver are tailored to its audience.
Acting as one of the British High Commission’s spokespeople, your responsibilities will include drafting articles, press notices, blogs, social media posts briefings and communications plans as well as clearing and delivering appropriate media messages to local and international media as and when required.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience 1

Qualified to at least to undergraduate degree level or extensive relevant work experience.
Strong oral and written communication skills in English.
Highly organised, able to take initiative and to work accurately within deadlines and with limited supervision in a fast-paced environment.
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 and taking direct instructions to also deliver under pressure.
Strong networking and relationship management skills towards both senior and junior staff internally and externally.
Previous experience in public relations, marketing, or media, including developing, implementing multiple media communication plans/media campaigns, and managing events.
Effective management of teams of colleagues and experience of delivering results through others.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience 1

Experience working in an international organisation.
Experience working with UK government departments.
Experience working with media outlets in Nigeria.
Experience in delivering communications engagements related to Economy, Trade and Financial Sector reform.

Required behaviours 1