Diaspora Engagement Manager HEO at Her Majesty\’s Government (HM Government)

The phrase Her Majesty\’s Government is a formal term referring to the government of a Commonwealth realm or one of its constituent provinces, states or territories. In use since at least the height of the British Empire, the phrase has been inherited and integrated into the countries that emerged from that polity and which remain Commonwealth realms.

Main purpose of job:

• The UK and Ghana are forging a partnership for the future.
• The most valuable parts to this are often our people-to-people links – over 250,000 Brit-Ghanaians in the UK.
• The purpose of this job is to support investment in the UK-Ghana diaspora to underpin a strong future partnership.
• The successful candidate will ‘own’ the British High Commission’s (BHC’s) relationship with the Ghanaian Diaspora and main Diaspora offices in Ghana.
• Together, the successful candidate will be expected to set a vision for their part of the future relationship, and use the resources of the BHC to deliver on it.

Roles and responsibilities

• Facilitate and manage the BHC’s relationship with the Diaspora, in all its forms: individual links, links with Diaspora organisations, and government to government policy links.
• Curate Diaspora engagement opportunities and seeking partnerships which align with BHC objectives
• Represent the BHC at Diaspora events across Ghana and the UK
• Assume responsibility of the BHC’s forward facing Diaspora office
• Build and deliver a highly visible and effective public communication strategy, which promotes the UK’s soft power with both Ghanaians and the Brit-Ghanaian diaspora. Use existing channels (such as @UKinGhana) and considering new ones.

Resources managed:

• Essential qualifications, skills and experience
• Bachelor’s in Communications, International Relations or other relevant field of study.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in a fast-paced working environment as a manager.
• Experience of working across the UK-Ghana diaspora, there sub-groupings, and their needs.
• An understanding of Ghana Governments Diaspora engagement policies and strategies
• Event Planning experience
• Dealing with logistics, administration and budgets
• Excellent IT skills (including working knowledge of MS office packages (excel; word, PowerPoint etc);
• The ability to respond flexibly to competing demands, often at short notice;
• Discretion and confidentiality;
• Strong organisational skills and good attention to detail (events planning; guest lists).
• Ability to write accurate, professional English at speed, in formats including formal letters and minutes.
• Good team player with strong customer service skills, including with others with competing priorities
• Ability to plan ahead, anticipate problems / clashes and proactively sort them out
• Able to work under minimal supervision and deliver for senior-level individuals
• Ability to build highly-effective relationships with external organisations.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  

• Local knowledge of Accra (to inform logistics) and Twi / Ga for working with local contacts.

Required behaviours  

• Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together