SRR - Deputy Head of Communications (HEO)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)
The British Embassy Riyadh has a vacancy for a Deputy Head of Communications
for a fixed-term contract of two (‎2) years.
The jobholder will help devise and deliver the British Embassy Riyadh's
communications strategy and its engagement with Saudi and international print,
radio, television, and social media in order to promote the policies of the
Government of the United Kingdom in Saudi Arabia, and to support the work of
the UK's diplomatic network in Saudi Arabia.

Duties and responsibilities:
* Support the creation and delivery of a communications strategy for the UK 's two missions in Saudi Arabia (Riyadh and Jeddah), including the communications of the British Ambassador and Deputy Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
* Lead activity across our posts in Riyadh and Jeddah, delivering campaigns with local and international partners. This will include campaigns on all areas of UK priorities in Saudi Arabia. This could include everything from women's empowerment to youth engagement, from consular communications campaigns around major events, to encouraging Saudis to study in the UK.
* Shape and promote content on the Embassy's social media channels to increase engagement amongst target audiences.
* Coordinate the UK's award scheme for Saudi graduates of UK universities, including helping to organise events with alumni of UK universities.
* Support communications for visits to Saudi Arabia by UK ministers, royalty, and other VIPs, and similarly support communications around visits to the UK by high profile Saudis, including members of the Saudi Royal Family.
* Understand the Saudi media landscape and how to promote the UK within this environment.
* Support the Embassy's response to any crises through delivery of communications advice and contributions to wider team working.
The jobholder will also be managing one staff member at Executive Officer (EO)
grade and will manage various communications campaigns budgets ranging from a
few thousand SAR to more than one hundred thousand SAR.
The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be
flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating
in the Embassy's emergency planning and any other response to a crisis
affecting UK citizens.

Key behaviours required:
* Seeing the Big Picture - Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.
* Making Effective Decisions - Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
* Communicating and Influencing - Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.
* Delivering at Pace - Taking responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.

Eligibility:
The position is available to Saudi Nationals and to current holders of valid
Saudi residence permits or transferable iqamas. The successful candidate will
be required to transfer their sponsorship to the British Embassy.
Essential qualifications, skills and experience
* At least five (‎5) years of professional communications experience, ideally in government or for a communications agency delivering impactful and wide-scale communications.
* Top-level communications skills. Native speaker or mother tongue level of communication skills in English. Confidence to express ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.
* Credibility and personal impact to engage with senior UK/Saudi stakeholders.
* Personal initiative, drive and ability to work both independently and as a part of a team.
* Excellent interpersonal skills and a team player with willingness to work across boundaries. Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with contacts and colleagues.
* Strong attention to detail. Ability to prioritise own workload and meet deadlines, without compromising the quality of the work.
* Flexibility and resilience to deliver results under pressure. Creative thinking skills.
* Ability to build the capabilities of the team for political analysis and reporting and stakeholder management.
* Holds at least a bachelor's degree in a related field.
* Strong IT skills and literacy in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook).
Desirable qualifications, skills and experience
* An established network of media and/or cultural contacts in Saudi Arabia, including in provinces outside of Riyadh. Knowledge of media and social media landscape in Saudi.
* Arabic language skills (ideally Modern Standard Arabic).
* Familiarity with the UK media based in Saudi and Saudi media in the UK.
* Experience of working in an international context.
* Experience of external communications, including media.
Required behaviours
Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace,
Communicating and Influencing
Application deadline Application deadline - day Application deadline - month
Application deadline - year
‎5 February ‎2023
Grade
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Type of Position
Fixed Term, Full-time
Working hours per week
‎35
Duration of Post
‎24 months
Region
Middle East & North Africa
Country/Territory
Saudi Arabia
Location (City)
Riyadh
Type of Post
British Embassy
Number of vacancies
‎1
Salary Currency
SAR
Salary
‎17,763.‎04
Start Date Start Date - day Start Date - month Start Date - year
‎12 March ‎2023
Other benefits and conditions of employment
The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration
package for this role.
Salary details:
* Base Salary including Eid bonus - SAR ‎13,890.‎44
* Housing Allowance - SAR ‎3,472.‎61 (subject to eligibility)
* Travel Allowance - SAR ‎400 (subject to eligibility)
* Total - SAR ‎17,763.‎04
* Allowances are not payable to staff who receive official provision for such expenditure in some other form.
No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this
position.

This position is full-time, based on ‎35 hours per week. Normal working hours
for the Embassy are from ‎08:00 to ‎15:00 from Sunday to Thursday, with core
working hours from ‎10:00-‎15:00. Core working hours is the period of the day
that employees are required to be at work. The working day outside of the core
hours is a flexible period, which allows employees to choose when they work,
subject to operational needs.
The jobholder will be required to be flexible in their approach to hours
worked as these will be dictated by operational needs and may involve working
out of hours (evening/ weekend) during visits and to attend networking events,
receptions, and seminars.

The successful candidate will be subject to a ‎90-day probationary period.
Additional information
How to apply:
Interested candidates must include to their online application form ‎1) an
updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) and ‎2) a covering letter/ motivation essay
stating how you meet the requirements of the role, and ‎3) examples, in the
relevant sections of the online application form, of how you meet the key
behaviours and skills required.
Please include any links to your online portfolio or to relevant samples of
your work in your CV/ cover letter, if appropriate.
Applications that do not include this information will not be considered.
The closing date for applications is at ‎23:55 KSA local time on ‎05 February
‎2023.
Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.
Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for
the next step in the recruitment process will be contacted.
Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful at interview may be placed on a
'reserve list'. If during the reserve period of six (‎6) months the same or a
largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second
or subsequent candidate.
The start date mentioned in the advert is an assumed start date and the
successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures.
Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable
clearances, medical clearance and reference checks.

The British Embassy Riyadh is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to
inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited
locally by the British Embassy is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service
according to local Saudi Arabia employment law.
Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country
Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net
site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites,
however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you
complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive
it.