Digital & Social Media Officer

The British Government’s Consulate in New York has an exciting opportunity for a dynamic person to join the Communications Team as Digital & Social Media Officer. Located in the US’s most important media market, the British Consulate-General in New York (BCG-NY) is a busy and vital post in the UK Government’s global network. This opportunity is a rewarding role which supports and further develops the special relationship between the UK and the US, supporting work at the forefront of international diplomacy in order to make a real difference globally.

In this role you would be working in a diverse international environment side by side with UK diplomats, armed forces personnel and other country-based staff operating across the British Government’s network of Consulates and Government Offices in the United States. This network provides a platform for approximately 30 Government departments and agencies to conduct their work in the United States and is made up of over 900 staff with a rich and diverse background, skill sets, and experiences.

The successful candidate will create, develop and lead the Consulate-General’s digital media presence and activity, working to promote the work of the UK government across our region; New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut's Fairfield County. The candidate will devise a digital communication strategy and create dynamic digital content and branded collateral for BCG-NY’s projects, events, activities, and services. He/She/They will also work with the Embassy in Washington, Department for Business & Trade, and other Consulates to support our press and public diplomacy efforts across the US.

The successful candidate will have excellent copy writing, photography and graphic design skills; experience in day-to-day management of social media channels; strong interpersonal skills, a record of productive collaboration; and knowledge and interest in current affairs and culture.

Roles and responsibilities:

Strategic Focus

• Promote UK interests to a US audience in the BCG-NY region by creating and implementing digital communications plans for UK government priorities and activities, including ministerial and other high-level visits, human rights initiatives, cultural events, diplomatic and trade programmes. A few key priorities over the coming months include, but are not limited to, free trade agreement negotiations, climate, defence, green finance, media freedom and gender equality.

Digital Media

• Manage and create content for our digital channels, including social media and GOV.UK website, working with policy teams and others across the network.
• Proactively create, design and execute digital content and strategies for the channels, supporting UK priorities in a way that is relevant to audiences we are seeking to engage and influence.
• Work with Embassy in DC, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other Government Departments in the UK on global initiatives and campaigns, particularly on promoting the UK as a great place to visit, study, invest and do business.

Digital design

• Print and digital design work for projects like event invitations, signage, infographics, digital collateral for channels, etc. in accordance with HMG’s global brand guidelines.
• Act as in-house photographer, including editing, distribution, and archiving.
• Act as in-house videographer, including idea generation, direction, shooting, and editing.
• Occasional work with external social media and public relations agencies to design and implement paid social campaigns.

Logistics and support

• Lead on digital activities around high-profile ministerial and VIP visits and events, also supporting where necessary.
• Assist the wider PPA team with media outreach and tracking, event ideation and execution, ministerial visits, etc.
• Assistance to the Consulate’s senior communications lead with press support or wider communications activity, as needed.

Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents or A visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at our office. Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa. All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work. *A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defence Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas.

• Minimum 2+ years of relevant experience in digital media and communications.
• Demonstrated social media platform management fluency, including community building, analytics, campaign strategy and management.
• Strong technology proficiency in Mac/PC operating systems and fluency within Adobe Creative Suite (especially InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat), Final Cut Pro, familiarity working with content management systems & editing HTML.
• Copy-writing skills (web articles, press releases, social media copy, etc.), with exceptional spelling, grammar and punctuation in alignment with style guidelines. Digital media marketing experience (paid and organic).
• Experience working within a large organisation’s brand guidelines and guardianship.
• Ability to work with external partners and manage vendors and contractors.
• Experience photographing high profile events (both shooting and editing). A/V knowledge and experience a plus.
• Ability and willingness to work well as part of a small team.
• A self-starter with strong organisational and problem-solving skills.
• A track record of designing or delivering proactive publicity activities to advance policy or other objectives.
• Awareness of the UK Government’s work in the US, and the international priorities of the UK Government.
• Strong networking and interpersonal skills.
• Flexible, and able to switch tasks and manage multiple projects as priorities dictate.
• Ability and interest in attending and staffing occasional evening or weekend events and receptions.