View Vacancy – BMA – Social Media and Communications Officer (AO)

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)

The British Embassy Bahrain is seeking a highly motivated Social Media and Communications Officer to join our team. The successful candidate will manage the Embassy’s social media accounts, produce timely and engaging content in delivery of UK Government objectives, and support the Ambassador (HMA), Deputy Head of Mission (DHM), and cross-Embassy colleagues. The successful candidate will lead other Embassy external communications, including via press, TV, radio, but with a specific emphasis on social media.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Act as the main point of contact for the Embassy with external stakeholders on social media communications in English and Arabic. This will include influencers, Government of Bahrain, local media and wider organisations. You will cultivate these relationships to produce new opportunities for collaboration and engagement.
• Use your technical production skills to design and develop communications products, including videos, brochures, infographics etc. You will target these for the Embassy’s key audiences but also coordinate with regional and global FCDO leads on wider UK priorities as appropriate.
• Lead the Embassy’s digital diplomacy and social media channels, including developing and delivering a clear strategy and implementation plan to promote UK Government objectives. You will analyse insights, monitor and evaluate then evolve the Embassy’s communications approach accordingly.
• Be responsible for maintaining and updating the Embassy’s website and social media platforms, ensuring accuracy.
• Ensure Embassy communications plans and delivery are aligned with internal UK Government guidance, local law and culture.

Wider corporate activity

• Support on major events such as the King’s Birthday Party (KBP) and Christmas carols.
• The Job Holder, as with all members of staff, will contribute to the life of the Embassy community beyond their formal job description. This could include broader roles such as fire warden or joining a People Committee.
• The Job Holder will form part of crisis preparedness, exercising and any operational response.
• Respond flexibly and actively to evolving priorities and needs, including out of standard working hours.
• Cover for the other team member during times of leave and absence.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible as specific responsibilities could change in the future, and this would be at the discretion of the line manager. The job description may be reviewed to meet changes in business needs. The jobholder may also take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any other response to a crisis.

Key behaviours required:

• Communicating and influencing: Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.
• Delivering at pace: Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
• Working together: Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.
• Managing a quality service: Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.

Eligibility

• The successful candidate must have the right to work in Bahrain or must be eligible to obtain a work permit for Bahrain.
• The British Embassy will provide visa sponsorship for the successful candidate.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Previous experience in communications, for example for a local or international organisation.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and communications skills with an excellent standard of English and Arabic.
• Proficiency in a range of social media channels and editing software experience.
• Ability to film and edit videos for social media use.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).

Required behaviours

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

Application deadline

1 June 2026

Grade

Administrative Officer (AO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

35

Region

Middle East & North Africa

Country/Territory

Bahrain

Location (City)

Manama/Bahrain

Type of Post

British Embassy

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

BHD

Salary

1094

Type of Salary

monthly

Start Date

15 July 2026

Other benefits and conditions of employment

Working hours and remuneration:

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role. The salary for this role is at BHD 1094 per month based on 35 hours per week.

If you are exempt from paying local social insurance in Bahrain, your salary will be abated by an amount equivalent to the social insurance that would otherwise be payable. Further information on this may be provided at interview if necessary.

No accommodation nor relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

The package includes private medical insurance and learning and development (L&D) opportunities. Specific training and mentoring for the role will be provided, and your Line Manager will help you develop a personalised L&D plan and will share opportunities, resources and guidance to ensure you continue your learning.

This role is for a full-time employment on a permanent contract. The successful candidate will be subject to a three-month probationary period. The appointment is subject to satisfactory local and UK security clearances.

Normal working hours at the Embassy are from 07:30-14:30 from Sunday to Thursday, with core working hours from 09:00-13:00. The Embassy operates a flexible working policy, which entitles staff to work more flexibly as long as the core hours are worked. This will be considered based on operational requirements and agreement with the line manager, and in line with FCDO and Embassy policies. Limited working from home flexibility is allowed e.g.1 day a week but the expectation is the jobholder will work mostly from the Embassy in support of senior colleagues. There may be limited opportunity/requirement to travel for work.

The jobholder should be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will also be dictated by operational needs and may involve working out of hours (evening and weekend).

Additional information

How to apply:

Interested candidates must include in their online application form the following:

• an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• a covering letter/ motivation essay stating how you meet the requirements of the role; and
• specific examples in the relevant sections of the online application form of how you meet the key behaviours and skills required.

Applications that do not include this information will not be considered.

Applications must be submitted before 23:55 Bahrain local time on 01 June 2026

Applications submitted after the stated deadline will not be considered.

Process:

Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step in the recruitment process will be contacted.

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

The start date mentioned in the advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances and reference checks.

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around 2-3 months. The security clearance process includes checks available in country and in the UK, dependant on the security level required for the role and the candidate’s profile and UK footprint.

You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.

The British Embassy Bahrain is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local labour law.

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.