Regional Senior Communication Manager SSA at British Council

Role Context

Marketing and Communications at the British Council is a strategic function which drives awareness, understanding and engagement with us across our diverse audiences. We use insight, knowledge and analysis of our market and our customers to engage them with our work and our products and services in the most impactful and effective way. We lead the development of our brand and use our expertise to tell inspiring stories to enhance our global reputation, build lifelong relationships, engage our staff and demonstrate our impact. This role is a new role as part of Marketing and Communications Transformation programme. In line with the Global Recruitment policy, standard application and recruitment decisions will apply for this role

Role Purpose

To manage the development and implementation of communications strategies for the region/cluster/country including internal and change communications, external communications planning and delivery (media, PR, events) and stakeholder communications across all Strategic Business Units (SBUs).

Main accountabilities but not limited to the following:

• The post-holder supports the development and implementation of the communications strategy and plan, ensuring alignment to global communications strategy and plan.

• Manages the delivery of internal and external communications campaigns, advice and activities, ensuring that messages are consistent and support regional and global communications strategies as part of overall Marketing strategy and plans.

• Provides strategic oversight in communicating the British Council’s profile to internal and external stakeholders working closely with Country Directors.

• Ensures that communications messages are consistent, are aligned to global and regional communications strategy and support the British Council brand.

• Applies advanced communications expertise to provide advice to key stakeholders and develop and deliver agreed programmes of work.

• Applies analytical approaches to identify and assess current state of communications, define opportunities for improvement, develop and implement agreed projects and initiatives, ensuring consistency with regional communications strategies, plans and approaches and global strategy where appropriate.

• Develops appropriate communications initiatives and interventions to support business needs, aligned to global and regional communications strategies, plans and approaches.

• Ensures consistent application of agreed global communications and brand standards, templates and processes.

• Review impact and effectiveness of communications projects and initiatives and identifies opportunities for improvement.

• Provides expert advice, support and challenge on communications to internal customers and other stakeholders.

• Ensures solid and beneficial relationships with marketing and communications professionals globally.

• Actively participates within the Marketing Community of Practice and communications networks

• Plans and prioritises own work activities to ensure effective delivery of diverse responsibilities and deliverables over a quarterly to annual time horizon.

• Determines work plans and coordinates input from others (who may be outside the direct management line) to meet specific objectives.

Role specific knowledge and experience:

• Significant experience in managing communications within a large and complex organisation or agency

• Demonstrable experience in providing expert advice and guidance on internal and external communications

• Experience in managing and mitigating communications risks and issues

• Proven record of editorial experience (i.e. proofreading, translation, knowledge of different content types, etc.)

• Demonstrable creative approach to developing, implementing and evaluating communication activities

• Practical experience of using social media to extend reach of an organisation including through campaigns.

Essential Requirements–

The successful candidate will need to possess the following requirements:

• Relevant degree e.g. communications, journalism, marketing, or equivalent level of experience

Further Information

Pay band: 7

Contract type: Indefinite

Location:  South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda

Essential – Role holder must have existing rights to live and work in the country the role is based.

Desirable requirements

• Experience in a global organisation

• Project management skills