Job Title: Soft Power Policy Officer HEO
Organisation: British High Commission (BHC)
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Salary: UGX 10,420,975 per month
Vacancy Number: 02/24 KPL
About US:
The British High Commission is the diplomatic liaison office that aims to develop and maintain close bilateral relations with Uganda, in accordance with British government policies. The British High Commission is responsible for the political relationship between the UK and Uganda, and we provide advice and guidance on political and governance issues. BHC provides assistance and documentary services to British nationals in Uganda.
Job Summary: The Soft Power Policy Officer will lead on the BHC’s work to promote the UK’s soft power assets (such as our science, culture, sport and higher education sectors) in Uganda, and to strengthen people-to-people linkages between the UK and Uganda in these areas, working closely with the British Council. You will also help ensure that the BHC’s external communications are used strategically and effectively.
This role would suit someone who is proactive, creative, able to generate new ideas, and willing to take a personal lead in driving them through.
The role will be part of a small team of 3 (1 x Grade 7, this HEO role and 1 x EO), which together will lead on setting and tracking delivery of the BHC’s overall strategy and the BHC’s Public Diplomacy, which includes work to promote the UK, strengthen people-to-people links.
This role will focus in particular on the people-to-people aspects of the team’s work. This is an increasingly important area of focus for the BHC. The UK has huge strengths in areas such as science, technology, innovation, research, higher education, culture, creative industries and sport, and world-renowned institutions including the Royal Family and BBC and global businesses. We want to make more of these strengths in Uganda: promoting the UK’s contributions in these areas; and using them to increase engagement and collaboration between institutions and individuals in the UK and Uganda, and therefore deepen the ties between the two countries. You will lead and be responsible for driving this agenda for the BHC.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Mapping existing UK-Uganda linkages, and establishing an extensive network of relationships with individuals and institutions across the two countries – you will lead these relationships;
- Identifying opportunities to broaden or deepen these linkages – this could potentially involve writing grants for small-scale project funding; coordinating alumni leadership networks, arranging events; or brokering connections; Linking work back to current BHC priorities.
- Lead work on collecting and understanding perceptions of the UK. This includes running engagement sessions, analysing survey or reports and making creative recommendations in how to change perceptions
- Research and report writing on specific public diplomacy projects, campaigns and literature reviews
- Actively contribute to ongoing campaigns – events, communications, analysis – around current BHC activities.
- Utilise regional and international soft power networks to spot trends and making proposals of how teams could use soft power hooks or events.
- You will need to work closely with the British Council – who have extensive work on cultural exchange and higher education – on all of these objectives, to maximise the combined impact of our work.
Resources managed (staff and expenditure): Potential project funds – in the order of £10,000-£100,000 p.a.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The applicant for the British High Commission job must hold relevant qualifications
- Ability to build and develop networks with a wider range of stakeholders, including, alumni networks, academia, government and others.
- Proven track record of generating ideas and following them through to implementation.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent IT skills (including working knowledge of MS Office Package)
- Innovation, creativity and willingness to try out new ideas
Desirable Qualifications, Skills and experience
- Ability to thrive in an international context
- Determination and drive
- Awareness of the UK and cultural context.
- Project management and financial experience
- Confident at complex decision making and understanding trade offs, within agreed boundaries
Required Behaviours: Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
How to Apply:
All candidates who wish to join the British High Commission should apply online at the link below.
Deadline: 16th February 2024