The British Government’s Consulate in Los Angeles has an exciting opportunity for a dynamic person to join the Political, Press, & Public Affairs Team (PPPA) as Political, Press, and Public Affairs Officer. This opportunity is a rewarding role which supports and further develops the special relationship between the UK and the US on the Southwest Coast of the USA., supporting work at the forefront of international diplomacy in order to make a real difference globally.

The US Network offers a unique career enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a variety of benefits including generous leave, insurance packages and a highly competitive 401k programme. It also promotes a culture of flexibility which enables people to better maintain wellness through an excellent work/life balance approach that encompasses hybrid working, including working from home and flexible hours, where possible.

In this role you would be working in a diverse international environment to support UK diplomats, 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.

This is a chance to work alongside the Head of PPPA at the Los Angeles Consulate to communicate with the media and the public in order to explain and champion British values and policies to US audiences through media relations, social media, and strategic communication campaigns.

The jobholder will also cover some government relations duties, such as building relationships with decision-makers and opinion-formers around the region on behalf of the UK in order to support political and economic reporting to the British Embassy.

The British Consulate General in Los Angeles represents the UK government in Southern California, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Assist in the planning and coordinating of events and official VIP visits throughout Los Angeles’ consular region. Ensure visits support policy and public diplomacy objectives in collaboration with Embassy policy leads, counterparts in London, Department of International Trade, communications colleagues around the United States, and external partners;
• Prepare concise background summaries on political and economic developments of US South West states;
• Assist the Head of PPPA in building and maintaining relationships with key economic and political stakeholders within states in our coverage area;
• Manage the annual Marshall Scholarship selection process, outreach to Marshall Alumni, and Scholarship promotion;
• Draft speeches for the Consul General, as needed;
• Draft briefing materials for the Consul General and official VIP visitors;
• Ensure the Consul General, Los Angeles-based staff and Embassy colleagues have a good sense of news and major events within our states by providing verbal and written updates throughout the day. Managing other internal communication to ensure colleagues are informed about policies and goals;
• Deliver a communications and press/media strategy for the Consulate, working in concert with the Head of PPPA Los Angeles, colleagues in the Department of International Trade and Embassy;
• Proactively build relationships with key media—print, radio/TV, digital—and manage press interviews and briefings with the Consul General and Embassy colleagues;
• Collaborate with other PPPA teams around the US, in particular with the PPPA team at the UK Consulate General in San Francisco that covers Northern California and with which Los Angeles works closely on pan-California events and outreach.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Marshall Scholarship Assistant (tentative on MAC/BEW approval annually for temporary contract position beginning mid-September through first week of December)

Essential on arrival:

• Experience in communication or marketing, especially managing organisational social media accounts.
• Interest and knowledge of politics and foreign affairs, notably US-UK relations.
• Strategic skills, confidence, and ability to interact face-to-face and remotely with staff and officials, understanding of what the UK Government is trying to achieve and promote.
• A demonstrated ability to handle multiple projects and to deliver results.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.
• Excellent team-working and interpersonal skills, including experience of working with senior level executives.
• Experience of overseeing social media platforms for an organization, and building engaged online communities.
• Media handling skills including building relationships with journalists, and experience in arranging interviews and press briefings.
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills.
• An enthusiastic and creative mind-set.
• Must be proactive and flexible, and a team player able to work in a fluid environment with changing priorities.

Language requirements:

Language: English

Level of language required: Fluent in both oral and written English.

Please note: 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 Defense Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas.

Learning and development opportunities:

The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

Working patterns:

Able to accommodate a varied working pattern.

The British Embassy and its US Network embraces hybrid working, allowing its staff to typically work from home 2 times a week. We are an organization that also recognises the critical value of teamwork and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6-12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.

Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.

The British Embassy is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone. We are an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions without regard to race, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law.