Deputy Communications & Digital Media Officer United Kingdom Joint Delegation to NATO

Brussels, Belgium

A full time locally engaged position as an LEIII Deputy Communications & Digital Media Officer in the UK Joint Delegation to NATO in Brussels has become available. The jobholder will report to the Communications & Media Officer in the Politics & Communications team. They will work with colleagues across the UK Joint Delegation, in London, other overseas posts, and NATO International Civilian and Military staff to deliver UK communication strategies and communicate the Alliance’s role. 

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a fast-paced and challenging communications environment. It would suit a confident, creative, highly-motivated and well-organised self-starter, looking to develop a career in press, digital and social media work, public relations, or international relations.

Main role

Initial roles and responsibilities will include:

• With the guidance of the Communications & Media Officer, draft and implement the Delegation’s website strategy. Draft, co-ordinate, upload and promote high quality web content, ensuring the website (www.uknato.fco.gov.uk) is regularly analysed, and updated;
• Act as deputy editor for the Delegation’s Twitter account (@UKNATO), drafting and co-ordinating tweets when required. Explore using additional social media platforms;
• Support and, in their absence, deputise for the Communications & Media Officer: attend NATO’s Committee for Public Diplomacy; field media enquiries; contribute to, co-ordinate and disseminate talking points, press lines, narratives, and communications strategies; co-ordinate the Delegation’s Public Diplomacy calendar; monitor the media and summarise as required;
• With the Communications & Media Officer, contribute to and implement the Delegation’s internal communications strategy, with a focus on co-ordinating the Delegation’s digital internal communications platforms;
• Carry out administrative duties: arrange Ministerial doorsteps, and press conferences for the UK Permanent Representative and UK Military Representative to NATO; manage a database of UK and international defence and security correspondents; transfer and save documents; organise meetings; draft minutes;
• Co-ordinate visits to the Delegation by interest groups (academics, students, think-tanks, opinion formers and UK civil servants).

Essential skills and experience

• Excellent organisational skills and ability to plan ahead and prioritise;
• Ability to respond to changing priorities, and deliver high quality work on a range of tasks;
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work with a range of internal and external customers;
• Enthusiasm about personal development, with a strong degree of initiative and motivation;
• Fluent English, with solid written and verbal communication skills and a strong sense of creativity;
• Excellent IT skills (Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Photoshop).

Desirable skills and experience

• Understanding of the UK government and NATO procedures, and defence and security issues;
• Experience of external and internal communications in an international context;
• Experience of website management and social media platforms;
• Operational French.

Additional information for candidates:

• The job holder will occasionally be required to work extended hours during peak periods, such as in preparation for and during NATO Ministerial meetings and Summits;
• Training for necessary digital content management systems (external and internal digital platforms used by the UK Government) will be provided to the jobholder;
• This position will be subject to the satisfactory completion of advanced level UK security checks and will be filled on a fixed term contract;
• You must be legally entitled to work in Belgium at the point of application;
• Taxable gross monthly salary: €2286.10.

Applications with a full CV and cover letter in English should be sent to the Recruitment Officer, Corporate Services Benelux, British Embassy, Avenue d’Auderghem 10 B-1040 Brussels or brussels.recruitment@fco.gov.uk by 5pmon Friday 1 March 2013. If applying by email, you should include your full name in the message title and your email and attachments must not exceed 300kB in size. 

We expect to hold interviews week commencing 11 March 2013, with a view to the successful applicant starting work in April/May 2013, subject to security vetting, references and administrative processes. Please note that, due to the large volume of applications received for our roles, only those applicants called for interview will be contacted. 

The British Missions in Benelux are an equal opportunities employer. Applications are welcome from all suitably qualified applicants regardless of age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability. We aim to reflect the diversity of society.