JOB DESCRIPTION

View Vacancy – Press Officer

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

Job Category

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)

Job Subcategory

Communications, Press and Media

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of job:

The British Government’s Embassy in Washington has an exciting opportunity for a driven person to join our high performing Communications Team as a Press Officer. This opportunity is a rewarding role which supports and further develops the special relationship between the UK and the US, supporting work at the forefront of international diplomacy in order to make a real difference globally.

The job will give you hands-on exposure to international relations, diplomacy and allow you to grow your media and communications experience.

In response to a changing America, the Communications Team is looking to modernise perceptions of the UK, reach new audiences and increase the volume of the UK’s communications activity in Washington and across the US. Our communications team is focussed on reinforcing positive perceptions of the UK, challenging negative or outdated views and promoting opportunities around shared values and ambitions, reinforcing the UK’s relevance to the US as a modern and dynamic partner of choice.
The successful candidate will support on a wide range of day to day press activity, working with a busy, motivated and experienced communications team.

Typical tasks will include supporting the embassy’s engagement with US media outlets and journalists, monitoring US media coverage and trends and planning forward-looking media activity.

The ideal candidate will be an energetic self-starter who brings together: an effective communicator with strong attention to detail, a motivated team-player, who is able to demonstrate a clear interest in and understanding of US media.

The British Embassy 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 and flexible hours, where possible. In this role you would be working in a diverse international environment to support UK diplomats, armed forces personnel 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.

Roles and responsibilities

• Monitor media and news trends, sharing news coverage within the embassy and US network on key issues of interest to the UK-US relationship, with written media coverage summaries as requested. (40%)
• Manage press team databases, subscription lists, media lists, and media monitoring distribution lists and support on monitoring and planning forward-looking activity (20%)
• Support the Head of Communications and Head of News on Newsteam activity including the embassy’s engagement with US media outlets and journalists (20%)
• Lead on day-to-day press activities and provide administrative support for public affairs and press events. (20%)

Other responsibilities on occasion include:

• Lead on journalist press accreditation for the British Embassy
• Coordinate media briefings, press team events and meetings
• Proactively seeking communications opportunities and media moments
• Seek opportunities to improve media monitoring services provided to embassy and US network
• On occasion, provide out of hours press support for which overtime or Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) will be provided

The ideal candidate will be highly motivated, a clear and effective communicator, strong writer, and have a strong working understanding of US media landscape.

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 (communciating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Essential on arrival:

• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Proven ability to complete multiple tasks and high volume of work on deadline in a fast-paced work environment;
• Attention to detail and ability to edit and proofread;
• Demonstrated ability to take control and follow through on assigned tasks with limited supervision;
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office software.

Level of language required: English Expert

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Desirable:

• Experience of working with/for Her Majesty’s Government
• Knowledge of the US Media landscape

Required behaviours

Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture

Application deadline

14 October 2025

Grade

Administrative Officer (AO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

40

Region

Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories

Country/Territory

United States

Location (City)

Washington

Type of Post

British Embassy

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

USD

Salary

$25.79

Type of Salary

hourly

Start Date

8 December 2025

Other benefits and conditions of employment

US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US has restrictions on the type of visas our non-diplomatic staff may hold. If you are not a US Citizen or a US Permanent Resident, or the dependent of a diplomat (with an EAD card), you may not be eligible for employment with the UK government. We cannot accept student Visas (J1, F or M) nor other forms of work Visas (I, H, P). If you hold a work visa it is best to check on your eligibility to work for a foreign government before applying for a position.

Passport requirements: Holds one of the following passports: UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand.

You may refer to our website for additional information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-the-usa.

All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.

The British Embassy and its US Network embraces hybrid working. We are an organization that also recognises the critical value of team work and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly.

Please note: 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.).

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.

Unique Tax Rules

Please note that the tax arrangements imposed by the US on staff working for foreign governments, as well as those imposed by the UK Treasury on British and dual nationals working for the UK Government overseas, are atypical. The UK Government cannot withhold taxes (including FICA) on behalf of a US taxpayer. Instead, a US taxpayer is required to file taxes as if they are self-employed, and a FICA allowance is granted for those required to pay the employer contribution. Certain categories of staff (for example dual UK-US nationals and some visa holders) who work at Consulates General are not subject to US taxes. For those not subject to US taxes the UK Government reduces gross pay to a level broadly equivalent to taxed net pay. There are also social security implications for dual UK-US nationals. Please keep all this in mind when looking at the salary and the benefits package. If you are offered a job with the UK’s US Network you will be given further tax and social security information relevant to your personal circumstances and place of work; you are advised to consider this information and its impact on your circumstances carefully – potentially with the advice of a tax professional – before accepting a job.

Additional information

Closing date of receiving applications is before 23:55 (Local Time) on 14 October 2025.

All applicants must fully complete the online application form, including the sections for employment and educational details, experience, and behaviour-based questions. Only those applications that contain all required information will be considered. To ensure the sift process remains anonymous, please do not include any personally identifiable information in your application form.

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.

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

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

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements