JOB DESCRIPTION

View Vacancy – Communication Officer – Defence

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

Job Category

Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of job:

The British Government’s Embassy in Washington DC, USA has an exciting opportunity for a proactive and dynamic person to join the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Communication Team.

You will be working as part of a professional Communcations team leading the British Embassy’s Defence focused communications.

The position does not have any direct reports. The position is based in British Embassy Washington.

This is a demanding and pressured role requiring excellent communications skills, both written and oral, strong news judgment, political understanding, and the ability to engage effectively with senior principles and stakeholders.

The successful candidate will have proven and extensive media relations experience and strong interpersonal and leadership skills. This includes the ability to spot opportunities for positive media coverage, the confidence to engage with senior journalists to influence and shape their stories, and strong written skills to craft compelling products.

• Lead on US-facing media activity, including press notices, briefings and reactive handling
• Find opportunities for proactive activity in US media, including announcements, op-eds and interviews
• Develop relationships with key stakeholders, including US government, defence and journalists.
• Monitor US media and provide analysis and insight to inform Defence Communications plans, strategies and campaigns.
• Support inbound visits by MOD ministers, Chiefs and other MOD principals
• Support London-based Defence Communications duty press officers working out of hours
• Work effectively with UK-based staff, including campaigns, events and digital teams, so day-to-day work is joined up with wider communications plans, strategies and campaigns.
• Be involved in the strategic planning process from an early stage, working with communications teams across Defence, policy teams, Private Offices and Special Advisors to produce robust delivery plans
• Engage proactively in high level and senior cross-Government news planning efforts including No.10 meetings and the work of partner department media teams

Person specification:

• Extensive media relations experience, including handling high-profile and complex media queries and leading proactive announcements and facilities, such as visits, press conferences and briefings.
• Strong written skills, with the ability to craft compelling products, including press notices, social media posts, op-eds and ministerial briefings
• Excellent news sense, sound judgment, with the ability to assess risk and spot opportunities for proactive media engagement
• Ability and confidence to respond to unfolding events and crises while keeping a cool, clear head.
• Excellent organisation and planning skills, and able to juggle competing priorities and meet immovable deadlines while delivering work to the highest standard.
• Strong strategic awareness and understanding of how communications can help MOD and HMG achieve their wider policy aims and objectives
• Adept at building strong working relationships with key partners, including US media, government, defence and industry, as well as across HMG, including No10 and Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
• Strong persuasive skills and be able to negotiate to achieve the right outcome for Defence, often in the face of competing cross-Government agendas and priorities
• Confidence and ability to influence or make your case to anyone from senior officials and the military through to Ministers and special advisers in order to deliver appropriate communications outcomes.
• Capable of providing trusted advice to senior principles, including Cabinet Ministers and Armed forces chiefs, and prepare them for media engagements.
• Good understanding of US media, political and defence landscapes as well as the UK-US defence relationship.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Essential on arrival:

• Strong news sense and excellent knowledge of the US, UK and international media landscape
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with key members of the media and US government
• Ability to work with a team to deliver on cross-embassy priorities.
• Ability to deliver a quality service under immovable deadlines
• Proven track record of delivering on communication objectives
• Experience working with senior government officials

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Desirable:

• In-depth knowledge of UK Government objectives and government departments
• Strong media operations skills, including logistics, planning, advance work and media wrangling
• Strong existing media relationships
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Required behaviours

Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together

Application deadline

19 November 2025

Grade

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

40

Region

Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories

Country/Territory

United States

Location (City)

Washington

Type of Post

British Embassy

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

USD

Salary

$87,920

Start Date

12 January 2026

Other benefits and conditions of employment

US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US has restrictions on the type of visas our non-diplomatic staff may hold. If you are not a US Citizen or a US Permanent Resident, or the dependent of a diplomat (with an EAD card), you may not be eligible for employment with the UK government. We cannot accept student Visas (J1, F or M) nor other forms of work Visas (I, H, P). If you hold a work visa it is best to check on your eligibility to work for a foreign government before applying for a position.

You may refer to our website for additional information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-the-usa.

All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.

The British Embassy and its US Network embraces hybrid working. We are an organization that also recognises the critical value of team work and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly.

Please note: The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.

Unique Tax Rules

Please note that the tax arrangements imposed by the US on staff working for foreign governments, as well as those imposed by the UK Treasury on British and dual nationals working for the UK Government overseas, are atypical. The UK Government cannot withhold taxes (including FICA) on behalf of a US taxpayer. Instead, a US taxpayer is required to file taxes as if they are self-employed, and a FICA allowance is granted for those required to pay the employer contribution. Certain categories of staff (for example dual UK-US nationals and some visa holders) who work at Consulates General are not subject to US taxes. For those not subject to US taxes the UK Government reduces gross pay to a level broadly equivalent to taxed net pay. There are also social security implications for dual UK-US nationals. Please keep all this in mind when looking at the salary and the benefits package. If you are offered a job with the UK’s US Network you will be given further tax and social security information relevant to your personal circumstances and place of work; you are advised to consider this information and its impact on your circumstances carefully – potentially with the advice of a tax professional – before accepting a job.

Additional information

Requires standard working pattern of 40 hours per week.
Able to accommodate a varied working pattern. This role will require regular out of hours work, including weekends. Core hours will be 09:00 – 17:00, but there will be regular working outside of these hours for events or VIP meetings

Closing date of receiving applications is before 23:55 (Local Time) on 19 November 2025.

All applicants must fully complete the online application form, including the sections for employment and educational details, experience, and behaviour-based questions. Only those applications that contain all required information will be considered. To ensure the sift process remains anonymous, please do not include any personally identifiable information in your application form.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements