Main purpose of the job:

The British Embassy in Dakar is looking for a bilingual, dynamic and proactive individual to join our Political and Communications team as a Soft Power & Events Officer. 

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing events for the embassy (including the annual King’s Birthday Party – the embassy’s signature event) and running our Chevening scholarship programme for Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. The job holder will play a key role promoting UK soft power by leading on Embassy events and supporting communications. There will be an opportunity to lead on cultural issues at the embassy, liaising with the British Council team.

The Political & Communications team sits at the heart of the embassy’s work and the jobholder will need to build a good understanding of UK-Senegal relations, working closely with the Ambassador and a wide range of colleagues to deliver UK objectives.  This is a fast-paced role, and you will need to be able to work responsively across several issues simultaneously, with strong organisation skills and attention to detail.

You will need to be able to work independently, come up with creative suggestions, and be a proactive problem solver. We are looking for a responsible professional who can also work well in a team, including with the embassy’s external partners. The right candidate will need to demonstrate a commitment to working collaboratively, transparently and accountably with colleagues.

The British Embassy Dakar’s core objectives in Senegal are centred around three main areas: shared prosperity, mutual security, and sustainable development. As the UK-Senegal relationship has deepened substantially in recent years, you will be joining at an exciting time for the Embassy with an expanding portfolio and activities. As a member of the Political & Communication team, you can expect to help deliver UK priorities on economic growth, security, climate and development.

In return, you will be in a key role for the embassy and learn through hands-on experience and on the job training. This is a chance to work in a truly international environment, take ownership of a wide range of projects and learn about core diplomatic practice and policies. There will also be opportunities to cover for other corporate roles in the embassy.

• University degree
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written) in both English and French
• Experience in events organisation and marketing/communications
• Ability to propose creative ideas
• Strong organisational skills, including ability to lead multiple tasks and deliver to tight deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal and team-working skills and the ability to develop productive relationships with a range of teams and external stakeholders
• Ability to work independently and proactively find solutions to challenges