View Vacancy – Communications and Press Officer (BGR21.469)

The British Embassy in Sofia is part of a worldwide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking for an experienced and motivated Communications and Press Officer who will be an all-round communications professional providing a press officer function for the Embassy along with digital skills and experience of working on public facing communication campaigns. We want a creative thinker who is comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment, and can help the Embassy achieve their policy objectives through the power of strategic communications.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• This is a great opportunity to take on real responsibility in an expansive communications role – and use it to make a difference;
• Reporting to the Head of Campaigns and Prosperity, you’ll be our first point of contact for media relations. You’ll build relationships with journalists and partners, and secure coverage that maximises the impact of the Embassy’s work;
• On any given day you might be drafting press releases, arranging briefings, pitching stories, answering media questions, helping develop communications plans or preparing an interview for the Ambassador. You’ll also manage the Embassy’s media monitoring, broadening our awareness and tracking the impact of your work;
• But this role goes beyond “traditional” media engagement – we also want you to help refresh our public diplomacy plans; and then coordinate and project-manage specific campaigns (within specific budgets), from concept to delivery and evaluation. You’ll help us explore the human side of the UK-Bulgaria relationship – including the values and challenges we share, like tackling climate change, or support for gender equality;
• This will include developing the Embassy’s relationships with new and existing partners, generating insight (including through polling), and co-developing campaign plans. You’ll then work with colleagues to bring those plans to life, through events, visits and campaigns that measurably boost understanding and perceptions of the UK in Bulgaria.
• You’ll also line manage our Digital and Campaigns officer.  This is a key part of the role and you’ll work hard to create a supportive environment for this officer that allows them to manage our social media channels to a high standard as well as learn and develop.

What do we offer you?

• A fun, fast paced, rewarding work environment – you’ll be able to develop ideas that are listened to and often implemented;
• Flexible working (subject to Terms & Conditions.);
• Investment in your skills: including on-the-job training, professional development and job shadowing across our network;
• Great colleagues – we are proud to hire friendly, driven, passionate people;
• Great staff benefits and a genuine emphasis on work/life balance.  

• Fluent English and Bulgarian languages, both verbal and written (minimum C1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages*). You’ll need excellent interpersonal and stakeholder skills to build relationships, trust, and new projects with partners in the media and beyond. You will also need to be able to write clearly and persuasively, in the right tone of voice for Embassy communications;
• Awareness and experience of the Bulgarian media landscape. You’ll be our first point of contact for media relations, as described above, including promoting stories and messages across the full spectrum of the Embassy’s work. We’ll value your insights and ability to network;
• A good grasp of campaigns – and an imagination. You should be able to develop and deliver eye-catching, inspiring communications projects. You will benefit from a broad imagination, and a good sense of storytelling and branding;
• Focus, flexibility, and teamwork. To coordinate campaigns, you should have some experience of working on projects, ideally delivering communications projects and events. You’ll need to be someone who gets things done – keeping a firm grip on project plans, timelines and finances. You’ll benefit from a strong ability to prioritise, multitask, solve problems, and deliver results. Government priorities change, unexpected events happen, things don’t always go to plan. We are looking for candidates with resilience, the ability to adapt and to support the wider Embassy team;
• A sensitivity to the ‘big picture’ and an interest in being part of it.  You will have significant autonomy – you’ll need sound judgement and risk-awareness, and a good sense of when to escalate issues. You’ll be culturally aware, interested in the UK and the wider world, and understand what is relevant in Bulgaria. And you’ll care that your work is part of making a difference in the real world;
• Energy and passion for what you do. We encourage people to think for themselves and actively contribute to the life of the Embassy. It’s about your values too: we have a cheerful, can-do, and people-centred ethos.

The above might seem demanding – and we’re proud to hire great colleagues. But we are not looking for perfection (there’s no such thing)!  We welcome candidates with potential and ambition to develop. We are committed to supporting you in this and there will be lots of opportunities available to you.