Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online Application form including the employment and educational details, experience segment and the behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only for all the required details. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

Main purpose of job:

Provide high quality political reporting and analysis of developments in Maldives, contributing to post policy development, supporting programme development and helping deliver HMG (His Majesty’s Government) objectives. Supporting the bilateral relationship with the Maldivian government and developing multilateral cooperation. Design and deliver strategic communications supporting HMG objectives and the Chevening programme. Manage one staff member.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve:

We are looking for an experienced, dynamic and confident person, with good political awareness, to report on developments in, and help develop UK policy towards Maldives across a range of policy areas.

Our ideal candidate will have a good understanding of Maldivian politics and an established network of contacts. They will provide balanced analysis and advice and produce timely and accurate reports and summaries of key developments and emerging issues for the High Commissioner, Deputy High Commissioner and Ministers to inform UK policy.

The role focuses on ensuring the bilateral relationship with Maldives stays strong, explaining and promoting UK priorities and multilateral cooperation. We need someone who can work with a range of stakeholders, including the government of Maldives, to help deliver UK objectives on issues including democracy, human rights, regional and global issues, such as environment, climate change, economic and growth.

The role requires visit/event planning, planning of public diplomacy projecting UK objectives and values, and seamless working with programme staff. The incumbent will also oversee programme and policy work on climate and environmental issues, managing one member of staff.

Excellent self-management and team-working skills will be vital, as is the ability to build co-operative working relationships outside the High Commission with a wide range of contacts as well as colleagues in London and other FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) posts and like-minded missions in Malé and Colombo.

We are seeking someone who:

• Has experience in building and managing relationships with a range of stakeholders in the political arena.
• Is energetic, flexible and has experience in report-writing.
• Has good interpersonal skills to enable a good working relationship with external contacts; FCDO teams in the UK and elsewhere, and colleagues in the BHC.
• Understands how their work feeds into policy and programme development and can provide advice on approaches to HMG work in-country.
• Can develop, deliver, and manage strategic communications to promote HMG objectives and values through social media, traditional media, and events.
• With leadership and oversight from the Deputy High Commissioner, will manage and deliver the Chevening programme.

The role reports to the Deputy High Commissioner (High Commissioner in their absence). Key responsibilities include:

1) Political engagement, visits and reporting (50%)

• Developing and maintaining relationships with a wide range of contacts across government, parliament, civil society, political parties, other diplomatic missions, and media.
• Monitoring political developments in Maldives and writing regular, balanced, reports that take into account the regional context, to inform policy development. Making recommendations to BHC (British High Commission), regional and HQ teams as required.
• Advise the High Commissioner, Deputy High Commissioner and colleagues in the British High Commission on major political developments and their implications; provide timely, high quality written analysis and briefings.
• Keep up to date on emerging issues, suggest key decisions for the High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner to meet; facilitate relationships between senior UK visitors (VIPs, ministers, officials and diplomats) and leading regional figures.
• Supporting programme development by providing advice on local landscape and sensitivities.
• Supporting the High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner, contributing to country business planning, reporting timelines, and meetings.
• Designing high quality visit programmes, including recommendations for meetings.

2) Communications and Public Diplomacy (30%)

• Designing and regularly reviewing strategic communications.
• Overall social media management and promoting UK policy through events and digital media channels in coordination with the High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner through centrally generated campaigns.
• Coordinating with programmes team on public diplomacy and where the High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner could have most impact in delivering HMG objectives.
• Providing advice to BHC colleagues on local sensitivities and ensuring communications are balanced and effective.

3) Chevening Programme (20%)

• With leadership and oversight from the Deputy High Commissioner, manage and deliver the Chevening programme. This will include supporting the shortlisting process, organising interviews, events and alumni engagements.
• Effectively promote the Chevening programme in the Post; create a regional alumni network and develop a strategic engagement plan to ensure they are part of the global alumni network.
• Maintaining local partnerships through regular contact and reviewing partnership understandings to ensure continuity.

4) Additional:

• Lead on the issuance of Diplomatic Note Verbales for BHC, providing training and support to the team.
• Represent the BHC at meetings, events & functions, support arrangements for high level visits and major events.
• Support the BHC with corporate issues as required.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

1 x EO Political and Communications Officer

Budget: annual public diplomacy and hospitality allocation; oversight of some programme funds

Language requirements:

Language: English & Dhivehi

Level of language required: Fluent in both reading and writing, accurate in grammar and writing

Budget: annual public diplomacy and hospitality allocation; oversight of some programme funds

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

This role offers significant opportunities for “on the job” learning, in addition to formal opportunities for learning and development, including access to a large range of online training opportunities and in-person learning in the region and/or London.

Essential on arrival:

• 4 years + in a similar role
• Knowledge of regional and international issues
• Experience of working in an international context
• Thorough knowledge of Maldivian politics and society
• Established network of contacts in Maldives.
• Confidence in using and managing social media proactively and reactively.