View Vacancy – Communications and Media Assistant (BEL21.524)

The United Kingdom’s Joint Delegation to NATO (UKDEL NATO) is part of a world-wide network of 270 Diplomatic Posts, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is the vital link between the UK Government and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Its principal roles are to promote British interests in NATO and to keep UK Ministers and Government Departments informed about NATO discussions. We are looking for a Communications and Media Assistant for the UK Delegation to NATO in Brussels (UKDEL).

The main aims of the role are to assist the UKDEL Comms Team to communicate the UK Government’s commitment to, and priorities for, NATO across a broad range of issues. This is a particularly interesting time to join UKDEL as we deliver the ambitious NATO2030 agenda, including a revised Strategic Concept, for the 2022 Summit.

The UK’s Integrated Review puts NATO at the heart of UK defence policy. Its work is valued highly by FCDO and MOD Ministers alike. The job holder will work in a delegation dealing with the largest range of challenges NATO has faced since the end of the Cold War, with challenges presented by Russia, China, terrorism, new and emerging technology, climate change and across all domains including cyber and space.

The job holder will work in a small team responsible for communications activities that help deliver UK policy objectives within NATO. Alongside the Communications Policy Officer, the job holder will be managed by the Deputy Spokesperson. Main activities include: delivering UKDEL’s comms strategy; supporting ministerial meetings and outreach events; media monitoring of relevant UK and NATO defence and security issues; creating content for UKDEL social media accounts and providing administrative support to the wider comms team. As with all jobs in the Delegation, we promote an adaptable and responsive approach, which means the job is likely to evolve over time to deal with changing circumstances and priorities.

The job holder will occasionally be required to work extended hours during peak periods, including in the run-up to Ministerial meetings and Summits.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Media – media monitoring of UK and international media; providing daily updates; liaising with London Government Departments and NATO on lines to take; preparing press packs for press briefings and ministerial meetings; assisting in preparing press engagements;
• Digital – Manage UKDEL’s social media accounts, including creating content and basic photography and filming skills. Management of the Delegation website;
• Public Affairs – Maintain a database of press contacts; build a network of key contacts in other Delegations and with the NATO International Staff to promote key stories; track key international events and compile a grid of notable communications opportunities;
• Visits and Events – Assist in the organisation of media activities for key events and visits, including ministerial meetings and Leaders’ Summits; assist in the organisation of outreach events and seminars;
• Administrative – Administrative support to the Comms and Hybrid/Resilience Policy Team, comprising four other members. This includes producing a forward look of NATO meetings for the team, distributing NATO documents, transferring documents between IT systems, managing the Team budget, supporting meetings hosted by Team members, and other administrative support.

• Full professional proficiency in English, including excellent writing skills (written and spoken, minimum of C1 level for CEFR framework*);

• Professional experience in public relations and/or communications;

• Experience and/or knowledge of media monitoring;

• Ability to deliver clear messages using a variety of communications channels including social media;

• Ability to work in a team;

• IT and digital skills, including Outlook and Word.