Regional Head of Communications - GHS 16,109

 

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Company: British Council

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.

We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we reached 650 million people.
 
Regional Head of Communications - SSA
 
Role Purpose

To oversee the development and execution of communications strategy (internal and external) for the British Council in support of and aligned with global communications strategies. The Head of Communications is responsible for our internal and change communications and external communications planning and delivery, including media, PR and stakeholder communication in region. They will also work closely with other regional and global Communications colleagues to ensure alignment.

Main accountabilities but not limited to the following:

Communications strategy, planning and delivery

• Develops the overarching regional communications (external and internal) strategy and plan and manages implementation, ensuring alignment to the regional and global communications strategy and plan, and monitors and evaluates impact.
• Manages the development and delivery of country internal and external communications campaigns, advice and activities, ensuring that messages are consistent and support the Communications strategy as part of overall country strategies.
• Provides strategic oversight in communicating the British Council’s profile to internal and external stakeholders; works closely with the global Corporate Communications and Global Network teams on any UK audience communications, including stakeholders.
• Plans and co-ordinates internal and change communications activities across the region to improve effectiveness, audience impact and eliminate duplication to ensure employees at every level have the right information to perform their roles.
• Ensures that internal, change, media and stakeholder communications risks and issues are effectively managed and mitigated.
• Ensures that communications messages are consistent, coherent and aligned to country, regional and global communications strategy and support the British Council brand.
• Strengthen brand management focusing on consistency, style and tone of communication, including at events and ensure British Council brand compliance of all communication materials.

 

Consultancy, analysis & problem-solving

• Applies communications expertise to provide advice to Country Director and SBU leads and develops and delivers communications plans to support programmes of work.
• Applies analytical approaches to identify and assess current state of country communications, define opportunities for improvement, develop and implement agreed projects and initiatives, ensuring consistency with global communications strategies, plans and approaches.
• Develops appropriate communications initiatives and interventions to support country business needs, aligned to regional and global communications strategies, plans and approaches.
• Distils complex concepts and analysis into cogent and persuasive messaging and presentations, which convincingly influence decision-makers about the case for country-focused communications strategy and approach.

 

Internal customer focus

• Builds an in-depth understanding of the country operational context, opportunities and challenges for communications.
• Makes appropriate linkages to issues across the broader organisation, to ensure that the development of country communications projects and initiatives is based on informed business insight and joined-up thinking.
• Consults closely with internal customers and other stakeholders to understand current and future business needs for communications.

 

Service improvement

• Ensures joined up planning and delivery of communications projects and initiatives across the region.
• Ensures consistent application of agreed global communications and brand standards, templates and processes.
• Reviews impact and effectiveness of country communications projects and initiatives and identifies opportunities for improvement.

 

Specialist expertise

• Provides expert advice, support and challenge on communications to internal customers and other stakeholders.
• Supports Senior Leadership team with communications advice and expertise.
• Develops high quality and effective country communications plans and solutions using established processes, tools and systems to ensure consistency.
• Proactively pursues an annual cycle of formally recognised Continuing Professional Development to maintain and deepen their professional expertise. 

 

Relationship & stakeholder management

• Ensures solid and beneficial relationships with marketing and communications professionals globally and within region.
• Actively participates within the Marketing & Communications Community of Practice.
• Develops peer/personal networks within and outside the unit to enhance own knowledge and expertise.
• Proactively builds and maintains excellent relationships with stakeholders.

 

Leadership & management

• Plans and prioritises own work activities to ensure effective delivery of diverse responsibilities and deliverables over a quarterly to annual time horizon.
• Determines work plans and coordinates input from others (who may be outside the direct management line) to meet specific objectives.
• Leads and manages the regional Communications team.

 

 

Role specific knowledge and experience:

The successful candidate will need to possess the following requirements:

• Relevant degree e.g. communications, journalism, marketing, or equivalent level of experience
• Significant experience in managing communications within a large and complex organisation.
• Demonstrable experience in providing expert advice and guidance on internal and external communications
• Demonstrable experience in managing and mitigating internal and external communications risks and issues
• Experience of working with key national/international media
• Experience of managing crisis communications
• Experience of working in a matrix organisation
• Experience of working with government stakeholders.

 

Desirable Skills

• Experience in a global organisation
• Experience and understanding of working with UK Government stakeholders in Whitehall/Westminster.
• Experience and understanding of working across SSA region.

 

 

Further Information

Pay band: 8

Contract type: Locally Engaged 

Contract Duration: Indefinite 

Locations the role could be based: Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Zimbabwe

Remuneration: KES 753,547 (Kenya); GHS 16,109 (Ghana): UGX 12,561,933 (Uganda); USD 5,667 (Zimbabwe)

Department: Marketing & Communications

Essential Requirements– Role holder must have existing rights to live and work in the country the role is based

Closing Date – 16 July 2024 applications will close 23:59 West Africa Time

 

 

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

 

Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement

 

The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment.  We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability.  All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

 

The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with.

 

We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.

 

Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

 

If you have any problems with your application please email askhr@britishcouncil.org

 

Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our ‘ASK HR’ email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.

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