Main purpose of job:

This is an exciting opportunity to join a creative and ambitious communications team at the heart of the British Consulate-General Shanghai. We are looking for a confident and energetic Senior Communications Officer for that team. The Senior Communications Officer will design and implement impact-driven, timely and targeted communications projects across a range of the Consulate’s activity across Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui by working closely with colleagues across the China network.

This role offers the opportunity to be part of an innovative and high-performing team whose past achievements include: hosting a world-record-breaking Queen’s Birthday Party afternoon tea; leading on the UK’s communications efforts for the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, the UK-China High Level People to People Dialogue and the China International Import Expo; and integrated digital partnerships with the Premier League, BAFTA and Formula 1.

The job holder will be responsible for arranging media and press engagements; leading events; drafting articles and social media content including Weibo posts and WeChat articles; and partnering with a range of organisations. The officer will be responsible for planning impactful communications around key moments in the calendar, including ministerial visits from the UK as well as on long-term campaigns across priority areas. A flexible and cooperative team approach and good interpersonal communication skills are essential.

The successful candidate will need to have a proven track record in delivering projects from planning to evaluation, along with excellent organisational skills, and will need to have excellent event management, media handling and communications skills.  Creativity, initiative, agility and resilience are required to maximise the impact of UK communications across all channels, both traditional and digital. The Senior Communications Officer will be naturally interested in current affairs, with a good understanding of the media and social media landscape in China. The officer will initiate and develop impact-driven strategic partnerships with a range of media outlets, KOLs and digital platforms – as well work closely with relevant British and Chinese businesses to tell the UK-China story.

The Communications team is a busy and high profile one. We work in an environment where learning and development is encouraged and all team members support each other during particularly busy periods. Work-life balance and well-being are emphasised across all communication roles, and across the whole British embassy network.

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

35% Delivering public diplomacy campaigns and events: 

• Lead on designing, delivering and evaluating impact-driven, innovative public diplomacy activities and events with integrated cross-channel plans. Analyse media options and developing a strategic approach for key activities, such as announcements, visits and events
• Assist Head of Communications to deliver public campaign event across a range of traditional and digital media relevant to the local context and in line with national campaigns
• Developing long-term strategic partnerships with stakeholders, both externally and internally, to increase the profile of public diplomacy activities in addition to tactical collaborations
• Monitor and report the results of public campaign activity by providing timely and accurate evaluation reports to the FCDO China Communications Network.

35% Delivering media engagements for UK Senior Leaders: 

• Forging and maintaining connection with local journalists and media professionals, including in press, broadcast, key opinion leaders and podcasters. Understand media organisations and their operation styles in order to secure positive media coverage of UK in China.
• Working with journalists and key opinion leaders to identify possible editorial opportunities. Arranging media engagements with UK officials – such as media interviews and press conferences.
• Developing and maintaining press materials, including press release, core scripts, lines and briefing, for UK representatives to use publicly in a Chinese context on topics of relevance. Write briefings in preparation for media engagements.
• Reactive media handling – monitoring coverage on relevant topics and managing media enquiries

20% Supporting Digital Communications: 

• Working with our Digital Officer on digital content strategy and planning, including creating content for Weibo and Wechat
• Supporting Digital Officer on video filming projects with UK officials, including with Ambassador, Consul General and other senior representatives
• Identifying key digital influencers and build partnerships. Embed digital channels in all media planning and use digital channels for both proactive and reactive communications activities
• Supporting social media data analysis

10% Insight and Reporting: 

• Leading on local insight research, using insight to identify and target different audiences, and inform media handling proposals.
• Leading on East China’s input to the FCDO China Communications Network reporting products, including evaluation dashboards.
• Sharing learning with consulate colleagues by leading on the creation of a Quarterly Communications Insight report.

• Degree level qualification or equivalant. Qualification in Communications/Marketing desirable.
• At least 3 years experience of working in a communications, public affairs or journalistic capacity in mainland China
• Proven track record of designing and delivering successful public events.
• Proven track record of media handling, including including organising media interviews, media tours and press conferences
• Excellent English writing and speaking skills

Language requirements: 

Language: Chinese and English

Chinese: Native-level (all) 
English: 
Spoken: Excellent/Highly Proficient
Written:  Excellent/Highly Proficient