Events Manager - British High Commission

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Job Category: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Policy & Political roles)

Job Subcategory: Communications, Press and Media 

Main purpose of job:

To manage and run High Commission events. The job holder will focus on promoting the work and image of the UK in Ghana through inspiring events that leverage our soft power and relationship with the diaspora. The job holder will manage a small team and budget, and contribute to high-profile and high-impact moments, working to a senior level in the High Commission

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

The UK’s High Commission in Accra is one of our largest in Africa. The UK also works closely with the Government of Ghana on matters of regional and international security, and in promoting economic prosperity, and improving the provision of health, education, and inclusion. The people-to-people links between the Ghana and UK are central to this.

We are proud of our longstanding bilateral relationship with Ghana and as Ghana moves ‘beyond aid’ we are keen to showcase the positive partnership with the. This new role has been created to help support our ambitious events programme, supporting our diaspora office and soft power campaigns

The successful candidate’s primary role will be to help organise and manage a range of High Commission events that highlight the UK’s work in Ghana as well as the UK’s world-leading cultural, academic and sporting institutions. Managing a small new team and a budget, and engaging closely with the British Council and across the whole High Commission, the jobholder will play an important role in our efforts to engage with influential Ghanaians by building connections with academic, cultural and charitable organisations. The successful candidate will therefore both require exceptional organisational skills and a creative mindset to identify new or different opportunities for engagement.

The job holder will also provide support to the embassy’s growing number of campaigns (such as the Ghana Grand in 2019, or potential creative and cultural campaigns in 2020). To do this they will need to use their strong organisational skills to ensure that people are in the right place at the right time, working with others across the High Commission to ensure events deliver real impact. The role requires discretion, understanding and anticipating the needs of policy managers. The successful candidate will need to be a confident communicator, able to engage equally comfortably with the High Commissioner and Ministers or with contractors and temporary events staff.

The role will work alongside the Communications team, Soft Power team, and the Corporate Services teams, and there will be opportunities to learn new skills, particularly in communications and digital media.

This is a busy and varied job with lots of senior exposure. There will also be chance for fun along the way and the job holder will have the full support of the wider High Commission team to deliver.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• At least 10 years’ working experience.
• At least 3 years’ experience and knowledge of events management
• At least 2 year’s experience of working with very senior stakeholders / VIPs
• At least 3 years’ experience of budget and people management

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• A portfolio of high-profile, high-impact events
• Experience of working in/with an international institution.
• Demonstrable contacts in the Ghana events industry
• High level of personal resilience
• High levels of demonstrable creativity