Foreign & Commonwealth Office Hiring for DXB – Deputy Head of Communication & Marketing, DIT MEaP (HEO) Job at Dubai Full Time

The British Embassy in Dubai has a vacancy for a Deputy Head of Communication & Marketing in the Department for International Trade’s Middle East and Pakistan (DIT MEaP) Regional Team. This is for a fixed-term contract for 3 years.

The DIT MEaP region covers eleven markets: the six GCC markets (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain), plus Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Pakistan, with almost 120 staff. DIT’s role is to promote UK trade in the region, encourage inward investment into the UK, and deliver trade policy to tackle barriers to trade. Priority sectors in the region include healthcare/life sciences, education, technology, food & drink, agritech, renewable energy, infrastructure, creative services, and financial services.

This is an exciting and demanding role for an exceptional individual. The jobholder will work alongside the regional head of communication and marketing, serving as the regional lead for marketing campaigns and trade & investment promotion activity in the region. They will create and execute regional marketing plans, manage agencies and suppliers, and build relationships with a region-wide network to deliver marketing objectives.

The role is highly strategic, requiring leadership, presentation, writing and communications skills. The jobholder will hold technical marketing expertise across various marketing channels and analytics (paid search, digital advertising, website, LinkedIn, social media). The jobholder will be accountable for all marketing and event activity across the region.

In addition, the role will require building relationships with DIT teams across the region, with DIT Communication & Marketing teams in London, and with Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Communications Teams based in relevant embassies.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Develop the DIT MEaP marketing plan as part of the regional communication and marketing strategy.
• Deliver paid regional marketing campaigns to promote UK capability in priority sectors to buyers in the region. This includes the design, development, implementation and evaluation of campaigns.
• Manage relationships with external agencies and suppliers to deliver campaign objectives.
• Plan and lead marketing campaign research and insights, including commissioning research where required, alongside the DIT insights and evaluations team to inform marketing campaigns and to adapt and improve campaign performance.
• Deliver best practice marketing support to DIT teams across the region, creating compelling content and marketing collateral to promote the MEaP markets to a UK audience, and to promote UK capability to a MEaP audience.
• Engage with stakeholders across the region and in HQ, sharing best practice to ensure a joined up approach to marketing.
• Manage the regional marketing budget responsibly against agreed processes, ensuring value for money.
• Support campaign activity through effective events marketing.
• Deputise for the Regional Head of Communication and Marketing when required, including on communications functions such as strategic communications, internal communications, press & media, and social media.
• Line manage one (1) Regional Marketing Officer and one (1) Regional Communications Officer, providing guidance and support to develop their skills.

The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any response to a crisis.

Key behaviours required:

• Communicating and Influencing – Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.
• Seeing the Big Picture – Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.
• Delivering at Pace – Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
• Making Effective Decisions – Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.

• At least five years in a senior marketing role with the same skillset.
• A successful track record of planning, implementing, and evaluating international marketing campaigns, ideally in the Middle East or within UK government. Comfortable with planning, designing, and delivering marketing campaigns across a number of markets and sectors.
• Highly knowledgeable about the various traditional and modern marketing channels, with a deep understanding of digital, social media, and content marketing channels, and proven experience of managing external agencies.
• Native/ Near native level of communication skills in English. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely.
• Excellent copywriting expertise for content creation.
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to work flexibly and deliver at pace, demonstrating resilience and ability to self-manage multiple priorities and tight–and changing–deadlines.
• Strong leadership skills, with line management experience and a proven ability to motivate and develop junior staff.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including written and verbal presentation and communication skills. A confident communicator with excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to engage at all levels internally and with external stakeholders.
• Strong IT skills and well versed in the use of Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams) and project management tools.

• Relevant PR experience, including writing press releases and thought leadership pieces.
• Experience engaging with press and media, including media handling and reactive communication.
• Experience in delivering social media campaigns.
• Holds a degree or qualification in advanced marketing or communications.
• Experience of working in DIT.

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role, including: 25 days of leave per annum; on-site swimming pool, gym, and sports facilities (subject to COVID-19 restrictions).

Salary is AED 22,500 per month.

There are no other allowances payable as part of this package. No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

The Embassy is open from Monday to Friday, from 07:30 to 18:00. Conditioned working hours are 38 hours per week (including breaks), and specific working hours for this role will be confirmed at a later time.

The jobholder should be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will also be dictated by operational needs and may involve working out of hours (evenings/ weekends) on occasion. Flexible working arrangements may be considered based on operational requirements and agreement with the line manager, and in line with FCDO and Embassy policies.

The successful candidate will be required to transfer their visa under the Embassy’s sponsorship.

How to apply:

Interested candidates must include in their online application form 1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV); 2) a covering letter/ motivation essay stating how you meet the requirements of the role; and 3) examples in the relevant sections of the online application form of how you meet the key behaviours and skills required.

Please include any links to your online portfolio or to relevant samples of your work in your CV/ cover letter, if appropriate.

Applications that do not include this information will not be considered.

Closing date for applications is at 23:55 UAE local time on 27 November 2022

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.

Process:

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around two months. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.

Interviews/ assessments are tentatively scheduled for the week of 12 December 2022. These will be done remotely if the existing situation determines this to be the right course of action. Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step of the recruitment process will be contacted.

The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.

The British Embassies Dubai is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.