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Director - Communication and Public Affairs Division

Reference: 111000354
Location: London, UK
Duration: Three years
Closing Date: 18 Nov 2011

General Information

The Communications and Public Affairs Division (CPAD) is responsible for projecting the work of the Commonwealth Secretariat as well as the image more generally of the Commonwealth, its values, activities and accomplishments. Its task is to align these outcomes to contemporary opportunities. The Division has a diversity of target audiences including Commonwealth member governments, the media, specialist groups, young people, and the general public. The Division undertakes its work mainly through various media, public relations and information dissemination activities. The Division has an establishment of twenty members of staff.

Job Summary

The Director:

  • Leads, inspiring the Division to project and promote the Commonwealth’s value and work – both internally in the Secretariat and externally
  • Manages, maintaining the highest standards of governance and staff relations;
  • Formulates, develops and implements media, public relations, communications and information strategies;
  • Seeks and secures external partners to advance the Division’s work;
  • Presents Commonwealth perspectives publicly, including as official Commonwealth Secretariat Spokesperson;
  • Collaborates with colleagues in the Secretariat to assist in achieving its goals, including as a member of the Senior Management Group;
  • Analyses context and impact of current strategies and leads in making adjustments to maintain impact and achieve outcomes, making optimum use of human and budgetary resources; and,
  • Develops and maintains good relations with editors, correspondents and other contacts in broadcast, print and web-based media across the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Secretariat - as an intergovernmental body – carries particular responsibility for presenting shared pan-Commonwealth views and perspectives. The Director therefore is expected to have strong public diplomacy skills and experience as well as media expertise. The Commonwealth is also currently exploring means to sharpen its impact and raise overall its profile, in which the Secretariat will take a leading role. The Director therefore needs to demonstrate strategic flair, creativity and innovation.

The Secretariat is modestly sized (less than 300 staff at headquarters, of whom around 8% are in the Communications and Public Affairs Division). The Director is therefore expected to be “hands-on” and actively engaged in the day-to-day delivery of results – especially in media markets around the globe – as well as providing overall strategic vision and direction.

Task Description

  • Provides leadership for the Division‘s staff and is responsible for the strategic, as well as day-to-day direction-setting of the Division including preparation of the Annual Divisional Workplan;
  • Manages the human and financial resources of the Communications and Public Affairs Division to implement the Annual Divisional Workplan in a manner which is timely, within budget and of the required quality, including management of staff performance;
  • Designs, secures support for, implements and monitors, and adapts as required two core strategies: (a) for projecting the image of the Commonwealth generally and the Secretariat specifically to external audiences; and (b) for strengthening internal communications and information-sharing within the Secretariat;
  • Acts as official spokesperson for the Secretary-General and the Secretariat;
  • Acts as a point of official contact for the media, including at meetings of Commonwealth Heads of Government and other official meetings and gatherings;
  • Supports the Secretary-General and other senior management colleagues on all media and public relations issues, including advice on media and other outreach activities, and the production or checking of media material, speeches and other documents. This includes responsibility for media releases by the Secretariat, and dissemination to the media of key Secretariat and Commonwealth messages using CPAD resources;
  • Establishes and maintains contact at senior levels with stakeholders, including member governments, international organisations, civil society and the media, with a view to enhancing awareness and appreciation of the role of the Commonwealth and the work of the Secretariat;
  • Seeks to raise additional resources and support for the Division from sponsors and donors;
  • Administers the Commonwealth Media Development Fund (currently approximately £235,000). This involves selecting and funding of projects to strengthen the media throughout the Commonwealth;
  • Oversees all publishing activities of the Secretariat, as well as the commissioning of freelance writers and journalists;
  • Performs a representational role when required, including travel to Commonwealth and other countries as needed, during which interaction with the media and other public diplomacy events are expected to be undertaken;
  • Upon appointment, the Director will give particular attention to the following tasks:

  • Finalise the Secretariat Communications Handbook’ under preparation, which will clearly delineate the practical methods which will be employed organisation-wide to advance the corporate communications strategy;

  • Meet the challenge of reforming operations of CPAD as may be required in the light of decisions taken at the CHOGM in Perth (28-30 Oct 2011);

  • Consolidate and advance recent initiatives to lift the Secretariat’s communications capability such as the Accounts Management System; earmarking media responsibility for geographical areas to individual CPAD staff members; modernising the website; enhancing internal communications through the Intranet; creation of video products; launching Commonwealth Radio; promoting the hard copy quarterly magazine ‘Global’; and utilising the pioneering ‘Commonwealth Connects’ portal;

  • Assist with finalising communications component in visits to member countries and elsewhere abroad by the Secretary-General, Senior Management Group and other Secretariat staff;

  • Develop policy options for the greater integration and effective use of the four Commonwealth regional offices within the Secretariat’s communication strategy as a whole; and,

  • Develop policy options for working with Commonwealth media organisations and other interested parties to strengthen the role, relevance and competence of the media in Commonwealth countries (including through the Commonwealth Media Development Fund).

  • Carries out any other duties as may be required from time to time.

Person Specification

Education

  • Academic and/or professional qualifications relevant to the media industry and management.
  • Ideally, demonstrate knowledge and evidence of working with Web 2.0 technology

Experience

  • Around ten years of experience in a senior or responsible managerial role
  • Around ten years’ experience of international media
  • Demonstrable experience of developing and delivering multi-faceted media and communications strategies
  • Experience in operating in an inter-governmental environment

Desirable

  • Demonstrable experience of developing and delivering in-house/corporate communications strategies.
  • Experience of working successfully in a multicultural environment
  • Use of Web 2.0 technologies

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