Main purpose of job:

The British Embassy in Luanda is seeking a proactive and politically astute individual to join our Political and Economic Team as a Senior Political and Communications Adviser. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the UK’s diplomatic mission in Angola by monitoring key developments, building influential networks, and leading strategic communications that support UK objectives. The successful candidate will report to the Head of the Political and Economic Team.

Roles and responsibilities:

Political Analysis and Reporting (45%)

• Monitor and analyse Angola’s internal political landscape, including government structures, political parties, legislative developments, electoral processes, and human rights issues.
• Produce timely, accurate, and insightful political reporting and briefings for the Embassy and UK government departments in London.
• Identify and assess political risks and opportunities that may impact UK interests in Angola.
• Use political analysis to inform and support UK policy development and decision-making, ensuring recommendations are grounded in a deep understanding of the local context.
• Maintain a network of reliable sources and contacts to gather first-hand insights and validate information.

 Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Building (15%)

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with key political stakeholders, including government officials, parliamentarians, political analysts, civil society leaders, and academics.
• Represent the British Embassy at political meetings, public events, and roundtables to promote UK values and interests.
• Facilitate high-level visits and engagements by UK officials, ensuring political context and stakeholder dynamics are well understood and managed.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration and dialogue that support the UK-Angola bilateral relationship, including in areas such as governance, democracy, and human rights.

Team Leadership and Line Management (10%)

• Provide effective line management to one team member, including setting objectives, offering regular feedback, and supporting professional development.
• Ensure the team member’s work aligns with the Embassy’s strategic priorities and contributes to broader mission goals.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performing team culture, encouraging collaboration and innovation.

Strategic Communications and Public Diplomacy (30%)

• Lead the development and implementation of a dynamic communications strategy that supports the Embassy’s priority areas, including trade, climate, education, and governance.
• Manage the Embassy’s digital presence, particularly on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, ensuring content is engaging, informative, and aligned with UK values.
• Create and coordinate impactful campaigns that raise awareness of UK initiatives and foster positive partnerships between the UK and Angola.
• Draft and edit press releases, speeches, op-eds, and other public-facing materials.
• Monitor media coverage and public sentiment, providing analysis and recommendations to inform communications planning.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the Embassy and the UK government to ensure consistent messaging and brand alignment.

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 other response to a crisis affecting UK citizens. The job description may be reviewed to meet changes in business needs.

Resources managed:

• Line Management of one AO within the Political and Economic Team.

• Previous relevant experience in a policy role and knowledge or experience of working with government.
• Strong political economy awareness and ability to spot opportunities to influence and build partnerships
• Experience using social media to further objectives.
• Exceptional planning, organizational skills and keen attention to detail. Ability to prioritize own workload and meet deadlines without compromising the quality of the work.
• Excellent command of spoken and written English. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with proven ability to engage and influence at all levels internally and with external contacts and collaborate effectively across teams.
• Experience of building a wide network of government, private sector, international community and civil society stakeholders and using relationships to deliver objectives
• Flexible, resilient under pressure, and decisive, with a proven track record of delivering results regularly within tight deadlines.