FCDO: Head of Digital – British Embassy Washington – Washington DC

UK - Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)


JOB DESCRIPTION

View Vacancy – Head of Digital – British Embassy Washington

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
 

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)

Job Subcategory
 

Communications, Press and Media

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)
 

Main purpose of job

 The UK Government seeks a highly motivated Head of Digital to join our dynamic team at the British Embassy in Washington DC. In this role you will work at the forefront of international diplomacy setting our digital strategy and promoting the UK to US and international audiences across all our digital channels.

The successful candidate will have a strong track record of setting digital strategy, leading a team and creating imaginative content that engages online audiences. You should also have some experience in photography, videography, graphic design and editing.

 

Be at the forefront of global affairs

As part of the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), you will contribute to shaping the UK”s role in the United States. We champion the UK”s national interests and values and tackle global challenges in collaboration with our international partners. You will be working on prominent issues at the top of the news agenda, delivering engaging communications on foreign policy, defence, politics, trade and investment, culture, tourism, tech, AI and others.

 

Make a significant impact

As a key part of the communications team, and reporting to the Head of News, the Head of Digital will lead British Embassy Washington’s social media strategy, delivering impactful content that communicates the UK Government’s key priorities to a US audience. You will be an active member of the wider communications team based in Washington DC and help guide the wider US network of consulates around the country to deliver excellent digital communications.

You will need to create and deliver imaginative content that fits the UK Government’s wider priorities, often working at pace and to deadlines. You will be asked to work closely with senior members of the UK Government including the UK Ambassador, visiting UK Government ministers and senior members of the defence forces.

 
Roles and responsibilities

  • Create and deliver the British Embassy Washington’s digital strategy, covering all social media platforms to engage US audiences on key UK issues.
  • Work with comms and policy colleagues to develop imaginative, innovative and high impact ideas.
  • Advise on all digital communications for His Majesty’s Ambassador and senior officials in the British Embassy in Washington, the US Network of Consulates and all visiting UK officials.
  • Lead the digital team to deliver high-quality photography, videography and graphics in Washington DC for high-profile UK visitors as well as editing, distributing, and archiving material.
  • Work with other members of the communications and policy teams to draft engaging social media copy tailored to different channels and audiences.
  • Oversee all digital budget expenditure across the US Network communications staff [circa $10,000 dollars].
  • Lead and build the Embassy’s engagement with the external digital community, including with counterparts in the US and other Embassies, social media companies, partner organisations and influencers.
  • Provide regular monitoring and evaluation reports to measure social media performance and identify improvements.
  • Ensure the Embassy’s digital storage systems and processes are sufficient to retain valuable archive photography and videography for future use.
  • Support events and receptions, often with VIP guests. Some of this work will be out of working hours.
  • Collaborate with digital and comms colleagues based in the British Embassy Washington and our US network of eight consulates across major US cities on content creation, event promotion, ministerial visits and forward planning.
  • Work with the Head of News and closely with the press and public diplomacy teams.
  • This is a hands-on role that requires in-person working, based in DC.
  • Any other duties as assigned. The role will involve supporting events and other work outside of working hours (for which you will be compensated).

Resources managed

  • Line management responsibilities for the Digital Content Creator and the Defence Social Media Officer.
  • British Embassy Washington’s digital archives.
  • Photography and video equipment.
  • Software and content data bases.
  • Oversee all budget expenditure on digital kit for US Network communications staff [circa $10,000 dollars].

Essential qualifications, skills and experience
 

  • Minimum 5+ years of relevant 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 of 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).
  • 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.
  • Experience working within a large organisation’s brand guidelines and codes of conduct.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, Adobe Creative Suite, Canva and other editing software.
  • Legal status to live and work in the US in your own right, from time of application. 
  • Due to security requirements, must hold one (or more) of the following passports: US, UK, Canada, Australia and/or New Zealand. 

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience
 

  • Experience of working with/for government bodies or the public sector.
  • Experience managing digital storage and archives.

Required behaviours
 

Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together

Application deadline
 

18 August 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
 

$85,358 per annum

Type of Salary
 

yearly

Start Date
 

29 September 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 position is in-person and full time at 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday, generally between 9 AM and 5 PM (with some variance according to business need). This role does not require set working hours each day but requires some core hours and regular contact with colleagues in different time zones. Please note that the role will require some out of hours work, including weekends.

 

The deadline for applications is 23:55 EDT on 18 August 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 12 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


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