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JOB SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE

Communications Manager

DEPARTMENT

Political Team

POST

Colombo

START DATE

27 July 2015

GRADE
NO. OF
POSITIONS
LENGTH OF
CONTRACT

B3L
1
2 years

MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB


To plan, deliver, and monitor communications for the British High Commission in Sri Lanka
and the Maldives. Dealing directly with the media, and through other public diplomacy
channels (including our Chevening scholarship programme) to ensure that UK policy is
communicated effectively to a wide target audience in both countries.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (What will the jobholder be expected to
achieve?)

Approximate
% of time

Deliver high quality Sri Lanka and Maldives communications for the High
Commission by:
- Promoting cross High Commission strategic priorities (e.g. political,
consular, commercial)
- Drafting press releases, articles, and digital media content.
- Designing and implementing communications plans to support High
Commission visits, events, and programme work.
- Handling day to day media enquiries.
- Monitoring and analysing media coverage.
- Providing advice and support on internal communications.

40

Maintain relevant and engaging High Commission websites and digital


media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube) by:
- Driving efforts to increase numbers of followers through strategic
engagement.
- Monitoring and analysing social media.
- Helping all High Commission teams spot opportunities to deliver
objectives through communications.
- Regularly uploading new content.
- Delegating to and quality controlling the work of the Digital
Communications Officer.

20

Establish and maintain a network of contacts to deliver and amplify


communications by:
- Building relationships with editors, journalists, foreign correspondents
and other influential members of the Sri Lankan and Maldivian media.
- Collaborating with in-country partners (including the British Council,
other diplomatic missions, British business, and NGOs) and other regional
UK missions.

Regional Corporate Services Hub|SAAD


Date: 3rd June 2015

15

JOB SPECIFICATION
Manage the Chevening Scholarship programme for Sri Lanka and the
Maldives by:
- Running the selection process.
- Working with the Chevening Scholarhips Secretariat in London, including
on budgets.
- Getting the most out our Chevening scholars through alumni
engagement.
Line management of1x Communications Officer and 1x Digital
Communications Officer.

Regional Corporate Services Hub|SAAD


Date: 3rd June 2015

15

10

JOB SPECIFICATION

WHAT WE DO:
Our mission is to develop and maintain relations between the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka,
and the UK and Maldives. We deal with a wide range of political, commercial, security and
economic issues of interest to the UK in the two countries.
WHAT WE WANT FROM YOU
We are looking for a dynamic, confident communicator to deliver communications for the
British High Commission.
The ideal candidate will be comfortable dealing with the media on a daily basis, handling
enquiries, delivering agreed press lines, and setting up interviews and media events for the
High Commission. They should be able to network effectively, to build the relationships
needed to maximise the impact and reach of our messages.
The ability to draft accurately at speed will be essential as the Communications Manager will
be responsible for first drafts of press lines, press releases, and digital content.
Working to deliver the Missions strategic communications plan, the officer will need to
develop a good understanding of how our day to day media activity fits with our wider
strategic goals. The job holder should also be creative and resourceful spotting
opportunities to get our key messages across, and helping to deliver London and post led
campaigns.
Managing our Chevening Scholarship programme, the successful candidate will play a
leading role in identifying and building links with future leaders in both Sri Lanka and
Maldives.
Management of the two Communications Officers will require the job holder to delegate and
oversee work, offering feedback and support on the officers development.

RESOURCES MANAGED (Staff and Expenditure)


Responsibility for line managing 1x Communications Officer and 1x Digital Communications
Officer.

KEY COMPETENCES REQUIRED FOR THE JOB (Maximum of 6 competences)


Competence 1:

Leading & Communicating

Competence 4:

Seeing the Big Picture

Competence 2:

Delivering at Pace

Competence 5:
Partnering

Collaborating &

Competence 3:

Making Effective Decisions

Competence 6:

Choose an item.

LANGUAGE / COMMUNICATIONS
ENGLISH
English
Spoken
Fluent

Regional Corporate Services Hub|SAAD


Date: 3rd June 2015

OTHER LANGUAGES
Sinhala
Spoken

Fluent

JOB SPECIFICATION
Written

Fluent

Written

Good

Other
Tamil would be an advantage.
Language
Requirements
OTHER SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
Essential on Arrival
The successful candidate should have a minimum of two years
communications experience in the field of corporate
communications, media management, public relations, journalism,
or similar.
The Communications Manager will be responsible for the Missions
digital output, so should be expert at using social media channels,
including Twitter and Facebook.
Desirable

Previous experience in political or projects work would be an


advantage as the successful candidate will be an integral part of
the High Commissions Political Team.
Previous line management experience would be beneficial.
Photography skills would be useful as images play an important
part of our communications output.

VISA, PASSPORT AND SECURITY CLEARANCE RESTRICTIONS (As necessary to perform


the role)
Holds a local working visa.
Visa/Passport
Requirement

Specify other Visa


/ Passport
requirements

Security Clearance

Official-Sensitive

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES (and any specific training courses to be


completed):
Development opportunities could include - International Communications Skills Training,
Digital Diplomacy Training for Policy Officers, membership of the Foreign Correspondents
Association of Sri Lanka, accompanying the High Commissioner on visits, job shadowing
other areas of the High Commission, and linking up with regional communications colleagues
in Delhi.
WORKING PATTERNS
Employment Type

Full-time
Employment

Regional Corporate Services Hub|SAAD


Date: 3rd June 2015

If Part-time: FTE or
Required Hours
per Week

JOB SPECIFICATION
Other details of
working patterns,
and/or options for
flexibility (if
applicable)

Occasional out of hours work will be required to cover receptions or


visits, for which time off in lieu will be given.

ANY OTHER INFORMATION


Working hours are ordinarily 40 hours net per week. There may be a requirement to work
non conditioned hours and occasionally take telephone calls in the evenings and
exceptionally at weekends. The British High Commission is an equal opportunities employer.
We encourage applications from applicants with diverse backgrounds and do not
discriminate on the basis of gender, ethnicity, age, religion, sex or disability.

SALARY PACKAGE
For British High Commission (BHC) candidates, the Local Staff BHC Terms & Conditions will
apply.
The salary will start at LKR 94,150 per month which is paid 14 times a year.
The BHC is recognised as a good employer, with a robust, fair and transparent performance
management & appraisal system linked to increments and staff bonuses. We have a 5-day
working week, plus annual leave, public and poya holidays, maternity leave provision,
special leave, paid sick leave provision; good development opportunities, a good
organisational culture, and excellent work/life balance.
Around half of our work force is women. We treat people with respect and equality and have
a policy of zero tolerance for any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment.
This is a good opportunity to be part of a strong, diverse team.
TO APPLY
Please note applications without (a), (b) and (c) will not be considered.
(a) Completed the Job Application Form
(b) Attach Statement of Suitability (no more than 1 page of A4) setting out
why you are the suitable person for this role. Your statement should
include clear examples of how you meet the key competences.
(c) Attach a detailed CV
We will accept only online applications. Please quote Communications Manager B3 in the
subject line and send to
SAADHub.RecruitColombo@fco.gov.uk by Wednesday, 17thJune
2015 midnight. Please note that we aim to conduct a short selection exercise along with
interviews in the week commencing 29 June.
Regional Corporate Services Hub|SAAD
Date: 3rd June 2015

JOB SPECIFICATION

Applicants who do not have the required qualification & experience should kindly
abstain from applying, as their applications will not be considered.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and no telephone enquires will be
dealt with.
The appointment will be subject to Police Verification and other checks including
references, educational and professional.

We welcome all applications irrespective of age, race, colour, gender, disability, sexual
orientation, religion, belief or creed. We are also open to applications from people who want
to work flexibly.
PLEASE NOTE: JOB OFFERS FROM THE UK GOVERNMENT
The UK Government, including UK Trade and Investment, does not send unsolicited emails
with job offers - either direct or through agents. Government vacancies are advertised on
official websites in the UK:www.careers-civilservice.gov.uk or in Sri Lanka on the British High
Commissions website.
All British High Commission vacancies are filled through a competitive process managed by
our Human Resources Section. You will never be approached directly by the High
Commissioner with an offer of a job.
Some job scams falsely use the names and job titles of genuine High Commission staff. A
genuine email from an official member of staff will always be sent from our official email
address - @fco.gov.uk. It will never be sent from a hotmail or yahoo type email account.

Regional Corporate Services Hub|SAAD


Date: 3rd June 2015

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