Jobs at the British High Commission (BHC)

Main Purpose of Job

• The UK is investing in and building long-term partnerships across Africa, forging closer economic, security and technology ties that deliver for both the UK and African nations.
• We are looking for an excellent media and campaigns specialist with a passion for strategic communications to join two high-performing teams: the regional Africa Campaigns Hub and the British High Commission to Nigeria communications team.
• The Africa Campaigns Hub – a cross-discipline team of communications specialists split between London, Lagos, Nairobi, Cape Town and Pretoria – supports UK-Africa partnerships by developing and delivering multi-media communications campaigns across Africa.  
• Established in 2019, the Africa Campaigns Hub brings together campaigning, digital content creation, stakeholder engagement, audience insight, evaluation, press and strategy capabilities to deliver impactful pan-African campaigns and communications that engage African audiences. Campaigns to date cover a wide-range of topics including investment, climate change, entrepreneurialism, security and vaccines.
• This role will be based in the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos, working closely with and complementing the UK Government Africa Communications Network – communicators working in British Embassies and High Commissions across Africa.
• Reporting to the Head of Campaigns in Cape Town, you will be responsible for designing and delivering pan-African communications campaigns on priority topics such as investment, women and girls, security, and the global recovery from COVID-19.
• The successful candidate will also be part of the communications team for the British High Commission to Nigeria, spending approximately 50% of your time shaping and delivering these priority campaigns specifically to Nigerian audiences, with innovative, high-quality and impactful media campaigns that support delivery of the UK’s partnerships across Nigeria.  
• The successful candidate will also support the Nigeria communications team during high profile occasions such as inward high profile visits, and during crisis moments.
• We are looking for a media and campaigns specialist with experience in planning, designing, delivering and evaluating high-profile campaigns that are engaging and influencing, and deliver on policy or business objectives.
• You will be enthusiastic and proactive; able to spot thematic links; engage with businesses, civil society groups and others; and take decisions based on audience insight. With an eye for emerging communications trends, you will have a passion for sharing your communications skills with others – and be confident engaging with different teams across Nigeria, Africa and the UK.
• You should also expect to travel, across the region and to the UK.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Work closely with Africa Campaigns Hub colleagues in London, Nairobi, Cape Town and Pretoria to design and deliver strategic, pan-African media and digital communications campaigns – informed by robust audience insight.
• Lead the development and delivery of regional communications campaigns in Nigeria using OASIS model communications strategy techniques and a blend of multi-media communication tools to tailor and deliver campaigns to the relevant local audiences.
• Acting as one of the British High Commission’s spokespeople, your responsibilities will include drafting articles, press notices, blogs, social media posts, communications briefings and plans to support delivery of priority campaigns, as well as clearing and delivering appropriate media messages to local and international media.
• Work closely with the Nigeria based communications and political teams on high profile, inward visits to support efforts to successfully deliver on communications objectives for visiting VIPs such as (but not exclusive to), the UK’s Foreign Secretary and the Minister for Africa.
• Support the upskilling of communicators across the UK Government’s West Africa Communication Network in line with the latest Government Communication Service learning and development programmes, including in campaign planning, audience insight and evaluation.
• Build trusted relationships with local, national and international partners, developing and maintaining an active directory of third party stakeholder contacts – from academia, NGOs, think tanks, campaigners, journalists and social media influencers – for supportive engagement opportunities.
• Translate business and policy objectives into communications objectives, generating ideas and plans to meet them.  This includes working closely with policy colleagues in London and across the UK Government Africa Communications Network to identify excellent stories for media and digital communications that will advance our communications objectives, whilst also identifying and managing risks.
• The role is subject to change as the Network and requirements evolve.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience  

• Postgraduate Degree and / or Undergraduate Degree and other professional qualification.
• At least four years professional work experience.
• At least three years professional experience in media, communications or PR, with proven campaign skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, including stakeholder engagement skills to build credibility with senior government/business representatives as well as colleagues within the UK government network;
• Experience of engaging with the press and securing interview slots and other media opportunities.
• Strong copywriting skills and experience of writing press notices and other written materials.
• Experience of organising and delivering campaigns.
• Excellent organisational and self-management skills to respond effectively to tight – and changing – deadlines and priorities;
• Sound knowledge of MS Office and strong skills in digital media, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social networking sites.
• The ability to learn quickly and work with a high degree of autonomy;
• A positive “can-do” attitude that can see way through challenges.
• Strong editorial judgment and ability to communicate effectively with different audiences.
• Evidence of research to inform communications advice and of using evaluation to learn lessons and improve communications.
• The ability to build and maintain networks with counterparts in other organisations.
• Experience of designing and delivering proactive and reactive communications plans.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience:

• Experience of working with Government departments and/or public-sector agencies.
• French-language proficiency.

Required competencies:

• Leading and Communicating

Salary
NGN879,967.44 / Month.

Other benefits and conditions of employment  
Learning and development opportunities:

• Various courses and programmes are available across a huge range of professions from communications to project management and policy. More details can be provided.

Working patterns:

• Compressed hours, part-time home working could be considered for the right candidate.

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Main Purpose of Job

• To provide analysis of the political situation in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria based on knowledge and understanding of the political leaders and parties, and of issues that matter to other diplomatic missions, civil society and non-state actors.
• The British Office is a well-established office and the only diplomatic representation in the region.  As such the UK has a profile there not afforded to other diplomatic missions.  
• The role is essential to helping to the UK to establish new and maintain existing networks and understanding of the situation and challenges in the Niger Delta.
• It is an exciting and unique opportunity to contribute to deepening UK’s diplomatic presence and maximising its potential for positive impact in the Niger Delta.

Roles and Responsibilities
what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?

• Political: Provide analysis of the political and security situation in the Niger Delta and the region for the UK and the UK’s regional network to build UK knowledge base, to enable the UK to respond to developments appropriately.  Advise the HC and other Embassy staff on engagement with the Nigerian political community.
• Political: Research and analysis on other thematic issues as needed by the UK, for example: human rights, the security situation, organised crime, soft power, prosperity opportunities and to allow the UK to evolve its policy and programme responses in the Niger Delta.
• Security: To act as the focal point for the Lagos Regional Security Manager in the Niger Delta, advising on current issues and trends, and providing advice on security matters, such as clearances and movements.  Responsibility for security issues relating to staff and the Office.
• Consular: 10% of time on consular work, acting on instructions as necessary from Consular Teams in Abuja and Lagos (headed by HM Consul based in Lagos).  The individual should also maintain a strong network with British Nationals and companies in the region
• Wider Mission support: As a full member of the team, the post holder will also make a wider contribution to making the Office a friendly and supportive environment to work in.  Where necessary, the post holder must be ready to support any other mission business (e.g. corporate work).

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience  

• Bachelor's Degree in a relevant subject and previous employed experience.
• Strong knowledge of the Nigerian and Niger Delta political systems and situation.
• Strong critical thinking skills – an ability to think independently, critically analyse information (including numerical information) and draw out conclusions.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to work at pace on multiple priorities at the same time, taking the initiative where required.
• IT literacy (Microsoft Word, Excel, Teams and other common software)
• Social media skills (Facebook, Twitter and other)
• Ability to work independently and unsupervised, and as part of a wider team.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience:

• Experience of working with the Nigerian government and/or the international community in Nigeria.
• Experience of using communications professionally to promote organisations

Required competencies:

• Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Collaborating and Partnering, Delivering at Pace

Salary
NGN879,967.44 / Month.