Head of West Africa and Nigeria Campaigns at the British High Commission (BHC)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head of West Africa and Nigeria Campaigns C4 / HEO

Job ID: 04/22 LOS
Location: Lagos
Grade: C4 (L)
Start Date: 1 April 2022
Type of Position: Permanent
Working hours per week: 36.5 net
Type of Post: British Deputy High Commission
Job Subcategory: Communications, Press and Media
Job Category: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)

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.
• 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.
• 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;

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.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Additional Information

• Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening. Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
• The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
• Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Abuja are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Nigeria.
• All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit.
• The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to:
  • Obtain the relevant permit
  • Pay fees for the permit
  • Make arrangements to relocate
  • Meet the costs to relocation
• The British High Commission does not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so.
• Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount
• Information about the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Competency Framework can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework Please note: AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
• Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
• Please log into your profile on the application system on a regular basis to review the status of your application

Application Deadline  25th February, 2022.