Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online Application form including the employment and educational details, experience segment and the behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only for all the required details. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

Main purpose of job:

The British High Commission in Malé is seeking a Political and Communications Officer to join our Political Team.

This role sits at the heart of the High Commission’s work and directly supports the delivery of UK foreign policy objectives in the Maldives. With an equal focus on political and communications work, the successful candidate will contribute to political reporting and analysis, stakeholder engagement, public diplomacy and communications activity, helping to strengthen the UK-Maldives relationship and promote UK priorities.

The role involves close collaboration with colleagues across the British High Commission, wider UK Government and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London, alongside regular engagement with Maldivian and international stakeholders including government ministries, parliamentarians, civil society organisations, media representatives, diplomatic missions and international organisations.

The successful candidate will build and maintain a broad network of contacts, monitor political and policy developments, provide high-quality analysis and reporting, and support visits, events and wider diplomatic activity.

The role also plays a key role in delivering the British High Commission’s communications and public diplomacy objectives, including developing content for digital and social media channels, identifying opportunities to promote UK priorities, and supporting the delivery of communications campaigns and public diplomacy initiatives.

This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated individual to gain experience across political affairs, communications and diplomacy while contributing to the UK’s partnership with the Maldives.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve:

This role is a Political and Communications Officers, therefore 50% of responsibilities relate to Political and 50% to Communications – details of these elements are listed below.

Overall, we are looking for someone who:

• Is agile and adaptable, with the ability to manage competing priorities and multiple policy areas.
• Can respond effectively to changing business needs
• Has strong interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships with external contacts, UK Government teams in London and the global UK Government network, and colleagues within the British High Commission.
• Understands how their work contributes to policy development and can provide well-judged advice and recommendations to support UK objectives in Maldives.
• Demonstrates sound judgement, attention to detail and a high standard of accuracy.
• Works effectively under direction, manages their workload independently and delivers to deadlines.
• Works collaboratively and contributes positively to wider High Commission objectives, providing support to colleagues and other teams, when necessary.

Political Reporting, Analysis and Stakeholder Engagement (50%)

• Provide timely and accurate political reporting and analysis on developments in Maldives to inform UK policy and support delivery of UK Government objectives.
• Develop and maintain a network of contacts across government, parliament, political parties, civil society, media and international organisations to support political engagement and advance UK objectives.
• Monitor political, economic and social developments in Maldives, including through mainstream and social media, identifying emerging issues, risks and opportunities to relevant UK interests.
• Prepare briefing materials, meeting summaries and background notes to support UK senior engagement and policy discussions.
• Support and coordinate arrangements for inward and outward Ministerial and senior official visits between the UK and Maldives, including associated briefing, stakeholder engagement, diplomatic correspondence and diplomatic clearance processes where required.
• Write and contribute to reporting for UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development (FCDO) colleagues in London, the UK’s South Asia network and across UK Government departments, helping to inform policy development and decision-making.

Communications and Public Diplomacy (50%)

• Draft and implement communications plans and activities in support of the British High Commission’s Country Business Plan and wider HMG priorities.
• Develop and manage content for social media, digital channels and communications products to support UK objectives in Maldives.
• Produce weekly media summaries, communications products, and media monitoring updates for colleagues across the High Commission.
• Support the delivery of public diplomacy campaigns and communications activity throughout the year, including promotion of the UK’s government’s international scholarships programme ‘Chevening’, alumni engagement, UK National Day communications, and other seasonal or priority campaigns as they arise.

Additional responsibilities:

• Support work of wider High Commission, such as Corporate Services, Defence Teams etc. as required;
• Support in arranging logistics for events, visits and travel as required.
• Percentages weighting of responsibilities listed above are flexible to ensure alignment with business needs and priorities. The successful candidate will be expected to support wider BHC needs as required.

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

The successful candidate will have access to a range of learning and development opportunities, including job relevant training, networking opportunities, mentoring, significant on the job learning and mandatory FCDO learning programmes. This may include international travel to attend training and job shadowing.

Essential on arrival:

• Fluent written and spoken English and Dhivehi.
• 2-3 yrs of relevant experience
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Politics, International Relations, Public Policy, Communications, or a related discipline or Relevant professional experience in political reporting, communications, public affairs, government, international relations or a related field.
• Good understanding of Maldivian politics, governance and current affairs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear and accurate reporting and communications products.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships across a range of audiences.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, work independently and deliver to deadlines.

Language Requirements:

• Language: English & Dhivehi
• Level of Language Required: Proficient