View Vacancy – LBN [Maternity Cover] Communications, Press and Media Officer (EO)

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

Communications, Press and Media, Syria Office

The British Embassy in Beirut has a vacancy for a Communications, Press and Media Officer, job grade Executive Officer (EO) under the UK Office for Syria (UKOS) on a fixed term contract of up to 06 months to cover a maternity leave to start immediately.

The jobholder will use and develop existing skills to project and raise the profile of the UK’s policy and programmatic work on Syria, including by managing UK official social media channels. The jobholder will be expected to come up with creative and bespoke digital content across the breadth of UK policy priorities and drive forward an engaging pipeline of UK communications activity. The jobholder will also be responsible for monitoring and reporting on the evolving press and social media landscape in Syria and advising on and managing relationships with journalists working on Syria.

This role reports to the UKOS Head of Communications, working closely with other members of UKOS, the UK Government’s communications teams based in London, the regional media hub in Dubai, and the communications team in the British Embassy Beirut.

This is a fascinating opportunity to work on Syria’s complex and fast-moving communications environment at a critical and impactful time.

Official travel to Syria is unlikely to be possible due to the temporary nature of this role. We are keen to encourage applications from a range of nationalities, including Syrians (actively encouraged).

Roles and responsibilities:

1. Communications: Managing UK Office for Syria social media channels (60%):

  • Manage UKOS and UK Syria Envoy social media channels on Facebook and X, ensuring a regular drumbeat of impactful posts
  • Design, create and edit bespoke and engaging dual-language (English and Arabic) digital content for UKOS social media channels, in collaboration with colleagues from across the network.
  • Maintain the UKOS communications forward look pipeline and develop strategic comms plans for UKOS priority campaigns including leading on communications for official-level visits into Syria and UKOS events.
  • Advise on reactive communications in response to developments in Syria, often working at pace.
  • Lead on the UKOS communications evaluation assessments, including monthly UKOS and quarterly Arabic hub reports.

2. Monitoring and Reporting on Press and Social Media in Syria (20%):

  • Monitor and analyse the evolving social media landscape across Syria, reporting on current and emerging trends, stories and influencers.
  • Produce a daily Syria Press and Social Media Summary for FCDO audiences.

3. Managing Media Relationships (10%):

  • Develop and maintain a contact list of Syrian journalist and media outlets, working with the Head of Communications to deepen the UK communications relationship with Syrian media and international organisations.
  • Ensure journalists are kept up to date with UK policy developments on Syria, including responding to media enquiries and drafting and distributing UKOS press releases or articles.
  • Support the UK’s Special Representative for Syria and other senior officials with media engagements, including arranging and advising them on interviews and press briefings with journalists.

4. Secretariat for Syria Communications (10%):

  • Use strong organisational skills to act as secretariat for the Monthly Syria Communications Steering Group and regular meetings with the UK’s Special Representative for Syria.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required. The jobholder may be required to use their Arabic language and communication skills to support organising senior official and ministerial inward visits into Syria.

We place a strong emphasis on learning and development (L&D) and UKOS has a supportive and active approach. You will also be encouraged to undertake professional development opportunities and get involved in the corporate activities of UKOS and the wider Embassy in Beirut.

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 Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.
  • Delivering at Pace – Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
  • Working Together – Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.

  • Fluent communication skills in English and Arabic (both spoken and written). Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely.
  • Excellent communication skills including experience working on communications (planning, designing, implementation and evaluation).
  • Resilience and ability to work under pressure and on own initiative.
  • Excellent organisational skills and time management to meet deadlines.
  • A keen and flexible team player with a proactive and collaborative approach.

In addition, we are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

  • Integrity
  • Honesty
  • Objectivity
  • Impartiality

  • Degree in media or communications.
  • Video editing skills and experience.
  • Knowledge of Syrian conflict history and present dynamics.
  • Experience of working with His Majesty’s Government (HMG) or another international organisation e.g. the UN.

Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together

22 April 2025

Executive Officer (EO)

Full-time, Fixed Term

40

6 months

Middle East & North Africa

Lebanon

Beirut

British Embassy

1

USD

3,174

2 June 2025

Eligibility:

If you are selected for this position, we will be able to employ you as long as you:

  • Receive the appropriate level of security clearance;
  • Have (or be willing to obtain) the right to live and work in Lebanon. Candidate’s residence permit and work permit, and the expense to obtain them, will be their own responsibility.

Working hours and remuneration:

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role, including a non-negotiable salary of $3,174 per month. The salary will be paid gross, and you are expected to comply with your tax obligations through completion of a tax return to the local authorities.  However, for third country nationals and UKB staff spouses/ partners employed by the Embassy, as you are not liable to pay Lebanese income tax, your salary will be abated by an amount equivalent to the Lebanese tax that would otherwise be payable (if appropriate).

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

This position is for a full-time employment, on a fixed term contract of up to six (6) months to cover a maternity leave. The successful candidate will be subject to a 90-day probationary period. The appointment is also subject to satisfactory local and UK security clearances.

Conditioned working hours are 40 hours gross per week. Normal working hours are Monday to Thursday 08:00-16:00 and Friday 08:00-14:00. Some flexibility in working hours will be permitted subject to negotiation and agreement.

The Embassy is committed to ensuring that you are able to maintain a suitable work-life balance. Annual leave entitlement is 20 days plus 14 public holidays (on a pro rata basis).

We offer a competitive package in line with local labour law, including transport, family, educational allowances, and good level of medical insurance coverage, performance-related bonus, and opportunities for job related training and development, etc.

We place a strong emphasis on learning and development (L&D) and active approach. There are a range of project and programme management learning and development opportunities available to the successful candidate. The FCDO is an effective ‘Learning Organisation’. This means that learning and Development is something we all take personal responsibility for and is something we do every day, not just when we are attending classroom training courses or undertaking eLearning.

How to apply:

Interested candidates must include 1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) 2) motivation essay, in the relevant sections of the online application form, 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, technical competencies, and skills required.

Please refrain from the use of AI based tools when completing your application, this is to ensure a fair competition for all candidates and helps maintain the integrity process. If the use of AI is identified, your application may be rejected.

Applications that do not include this information or provided in the stated format will not be considered.

Applications must be submitted before 23:55 Beirut local time on 22 April 2025.

Applications submitted after the stated deadline will not be considered.

Internal candidates (i.e., those who are currently employed by the British Embassy Beirut) applying for this position should consider informing their current line managers upon submission of their application.

Process:

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around two-three months. The security clearance process includes checks available in country and with UK, dependant on the security level required for the role and the candidates’ profile and UK footprint. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.

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

The start date mentioned in the advert is 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 and reference checks.

 

The FCDO operates an agile approach to delivery. To facilitate an agile workforce, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require.  The British Embassy Beirut is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Lebanon employment law.

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.


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