Head of Digital (Maternity Cover) - UK Mission to the UN, New York

HM Government; York; Hybrid; USD 88,000; Full time

Job summary

The UK Mission to the United Nations in New York is seeking a Head of Digital to lead digital communications and strategy for a 12-month maternity cover. You will manage content across social media channels, engage with the digital community, and oversee a Digital Officer, all while advancing UK objectives at the UN.

Benefits

Generous leave

401(k) matching up to 7%

Extensive learning opportunities

Work/life balance

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in digital media and communications.
• Proven track record managing social media platforms.
• Strong organizational skills and team leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy for digital communications at the UK Mission to the UN.
• Manage production of content for social media channels.
• Evaluate digital campaigns and strategize for improvement.

Skills

Copywriting

Photography

Video Production

Graphic Design

Stakeholder Management

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Canva

Hootsuite

Sprout Social

Job description

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View Vacancy - Head of Digital (Maternity Cover) - UK Mission to the UN, New York

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

UK Mission

Job Subcategory

Communications, Press and Media, UKMIS (UK Mission to the United Nations)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of job

The UK Mission to the United Nations in New York has an exciting opportunity for a creative and dynamic person to join the Communications Team as Head of Digital, providing maternity cover for up to 12 months.

This opportunity is a rewarding role leading on the strategy and delivery of digital communications for all the UK Mission's work at the United Nations. The Communications Team is responsible for communicating the British government's policy objectives and actions at the UN to the global foreign policy community, international media, civil society and the broader public. The team's work covers the breadth of UKMis priorities including international peace and security, development and human rights. The UK Mission has a strong reputation with journalists, other diplomatic missions and the UN for being the leading, go-to source of information on the top issues of the day. The team uses creative digital tools and ideas to promote UK objectives and engage audiences. It is a busy, creative, high-energy team, at the heart of the Mission.

The Head of Digital is responsible for developing and delivering a digital strategy across the existing digital channels - particularly X (previously Twitter) where the Mission has over 100k followers and our growing Instagram audience - as well as exploring new platforms and channels. They will lead on the production of content for the digital channels, creating a balance of visual and textual content using best practices in video production, design and photography including for high-level visits.

The Head of Digital will line manage one digital communications officer to support them in the delivery of digital communications and will also act as one of the deputies of the UK Mission Communications Team. They will be the main point of contact for branding and design across the Mission as well as digital training, monitoring and evaluating digital campaigns.

The ideal candidate will be a team player and effective communicator. They will have experience planning, executing and evaluating successful digital campaigns; experience in the management of social media channels; experience working with partners to deliver and amplify online campaigns; and be up to date on the latest digital trends and developments. Strong copywriting, photography, video and graphic design skills are essential.

Roles and responsibilities

• Leadership and management of the UK Mission's digital channels to ensure they are working to reach and engage with the right target audiences in support of UK policy objectives at the UN.
• Production of content for digital channels including tweets, graphics, photography and videos. You would line manage an officer to help deliver this day-to-day work.
• Monitoring and evaluation of digital work and contributing towards Mission communication strategies (using the OASIS framework) through planning all digital aspects of those campaigns.
• Lead and build the Mission's engagement with the digital community, including with counterparts in the UN and other Missions, and partner organisations.
• Support to Mission Leadership on their X/Twitter accounts and training for all Mission staff on use of digital diplomacy to help achieve communication and public diplomacy goals.
• Serve as senior editor for the UN section of gov.uk - the UK government website.
• Be responsible for all reputational aspects of our online persona ensuring all output adheres to UK Government codes of conduct and our engagement with members of the public is exemplary at all times.
• This role will require some out of hours work, including weekends, to cover emergency Security Council business - though the digital nature of the job means that any out of hours work can mostly be completed remotely.

Staff managed

• 1x Digital Officer (EO)

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Minimum 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in digital media and communications.
• Experience of managing social media platforms, including developing channel strategies, audience profiling and community building.
• Experience developing and delivering strategic campaigns (ideally both paid and non-paid) to advance policy or other formal objectives.
• Experience using data analytics to evaluate performance of social media channels and campaigns (specific experience of Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Brandwatch, Newswhip, Audiense or similar would be highly valued).
• Excellent interpersonal, stakeholder management and engagement skills.
• Ability to work with external partners and manage suppliers and contractors.
• Excellent writing skills with exceptional spelling, grammar, punctuation and knowledge of how to write for the web and social media.
• Direct experience or a strong understanding of video filming and production.
• Direct experience or a strong understanding of producing and editing photography and visual media for social media, with a strong preference for Adobe Creative Suite experience.
• Direct experience of producing social media graphics and assets, with a strong preference for Adobe Creative Suite or Canva.
• Experience working within a large organisation's brand guidelines and codes of conduct.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to work independently as well as part of a larger team.
• Ability to work flexibly and adapt to changing priorities across a range of tasks and responsibilities that require long-term planning as well as reaction to urgent day-to-day developments.
• Legal status to live and work in the US in your own right, from time of application. This role is not eligible for sponsorship.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Experience working for a governmental, intergovernmental, non-profit, international or similar organisation.

Required behaviours

Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture

Application deadline

22 June 2025

Grade

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal

Working hours per week

40

Region

Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories

Country/Territory

United States

Location (City)

UK Mission to the United Nations, New York

Type of Post

UK Delegation

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

USD

Salary

$87,130 gross per annum *salary will be prorated if less than 12 months

Type of Salary

yearly

Start Date

4 August 2025

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 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.

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

Working patterns

This role is 40 hours a week but does not require set working hours each day.

This is a primarily office-based role of 40 hours per week with option for hybrid (60% in-person /40% remote) when business need allows. The working hours are Monday to Friday 8 hours generally between 8 AM and 6 PM, with some variance according to business need and travel requirements.

This role is 40 hours a week. It does not require set working hours each day but requires some core hours and regular contact with colleagues in different time zones. This role will require some out of hours work, including weekends, to cover emergency Security Council business - though the digital nature of the job means any out of hours work can mostly be completed remotely.

The deadline for applications is 23:55 EDT on 22 June 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 12months 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.