Deputy Head of Marketing and Communications

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

**Main purpose of job**:
The UK’s Department for Business and Trade’s Africa network is hiring a Deputy Head of Communications and Marketing in Johannesburg.

The DBT Africa region covers 20 markets, spanning almost 120 staff. DBT’s role is to promote UK trade and investment in the region and deliver trade policy to tackle barriers to business. Priority sectors in the region include clean growth, technology, agriculture / agritech, mining, financial and professional services, and infrastructure.

This is an exciting and demanding role for an exceptional individual. The jobholder will work from Johannesburg with the DBT Africa Head of Communications and Marketing based in London, serving as the at-post lead to oversee all trade, investment and trade policy communications and marketing activity across the region for the Department for Business and Trade. They will create and execute regional communications and marketing plans, help measure and evaluate impact, help lead the Marketing and Communications team, and build relationships with a region-wide network to deliver on strategic communications objectives.

The role is strategic, requiring leadership, presentation, writing and communications skills, and the jobholder will be accountable for all communications and marketing content production, as well as insights gathering and analysis activities across the region.

In addition, the role will require building relationships with DBT teams across the region, with DBT Communication and Marketing teams in London, and with Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Communications Teams based in relevant Embassies and High Commissions.

**Roles and responsibilities**:

- Support the drafting and delivery of the DBT Africa Communications & Marketing plan as part of the regional communication and marketing strategy.
- Oversee (when possible) paid regional marketing campaigns to promote UK capability in priority sectors to buyers in the region. This includes the design, development, implementation and evaluation of campaigns.
- Plan and lead research and insights activity, including commissioning research where required, alongside the DBT Insights and Evaluations team to inform campaigns and to adapt and improve their performance.
- Deliver best practice communications and marketing support to DBT teams across the region, creating compelling content and marketing collateral to promote African markets to a UK audience, and to promote UK capability to African audiences.
- Engage with stakeholders across the region and in HQ, sharing best practice to ensure a joined up approach to communications and marketing.
- Lead all of Department's strategic communications strategy and activity including press, social media and marketing across Africa.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to HM Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Africa and Strategic Leadership Team, providing written and verbal briefings ahead of media appearances.
- Help to manage local relationships with our global media buying agency and media partners.
- Deputise for the DBT Africa Head of Communications and Marketing when required.

The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder may be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in emergency planning and any response to crises.

**Resources managed** (staff and expenditure):
Line manage DBT Africa’s Marketing Manager and Content & Insights Manager, providing guidance and support to develop their skills.

The position holder will also be responsible for helping to manage the regional marketing budget against agreed processes, ensuring value for money.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience
- Ability to plan, design and deliver marketing campaigns across diverse markets and sectors
- Knowledge of digital, social media and content marketing channels
- Excellent copywriting expertise for content creation
- Excellent organisational skills and ability to work flexibly and deliver at pace, demonstrating resilience and ability to self-manage multiple priorities and tight and changing deadlines
- Strong leadership skills with line management experience and a proven ability to motivate and develop line managers
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including written and verbal presentation and communication skills. A confident communicator with excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to engage at all levels internally and with external stakeholders

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience
- Relevant PR experience, including writing press releases and thought leadership articles
- Experience engaging with press and media, including media handling and reactive communication
- Experience in delivering social media campaigns and developing creative content
- Experience of working in DBT
- Required behaviours- Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and In