Main purpose of job:
Be part of the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade’s (BIST) mission to drive more trade and investment between North America and the UK. With a mature, high spending consumer market and an open, liberal economy, world-class talent and a business-friendly regulatory environment, the UK is the leading destination for foreign investment in Europe, and the second highest investment destination in the world. The UK is also the world’s sixth largest exporter and the second largest services exporter.
We employ over 130 people across North America, all dedicated to increasing economic growth to ensure businesses thrive, markets are competitive, and consumers are protected. We seek talented team members with the passion and drive to help us in our mission to build a global appetite for British goods and services; drive investment; negotiate trade deals and open markets; and promote free trade, economic security and resilient supply chains (see www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-innovation-science-and-trade)
This is an exciting and rewarding role, developing and implementing an annual media and communications plan to promote UK trade and investment interests within Canada, directly supporting the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade's objectives. This comprehensive plan will drive lead generation and highlight trade and investment successes through diverse communication strategies, including media engagements, press briefings, and targeted social media activity. Analysing the Canadian media landscape and social media trends to provide senior leaders with strategic communications advice for maximising their reach and impact.
We tell our story effectively and engagingly, explaining why it is important and supporting the overall objective to drive UK trade and investment. As part of the Department of Business, Innovation, Science and Trade's North American network, the Communications team is vital in promoting and supporting BIST activity to various stakeholders.
We use our owned communications channels and earn media coverage to highlight our network's work to remove trade barriers, help UK and Canadian businesses grow, and promote the UK as a top destination for international investment.
The communication team works closely with media outlets and partners across Canada and the UK to ensure our messages land with our target audience and measure the outcomes of our communications activity. The team has delivered a variety of high-profile activities, from ministerial visits to tradeshows and trade missions, resulting in a wide range of media coverage and generating trade and investment leads.
Roles and responsibilities:
- Develop and execute strategic insight-led campaigns that ignite interest in UK trade and investment across Canada, leading the delivery of the BIST Canada comms plan and supporting core scripts.
- Produce high-quality written content for external communications channels, including social media, and work with international, regional and consumer media to deliver stories that extend our reach to new audiences.
- Capture captivating photographs and videos of high-level events and visits, fuelling the narrative across various channels.
- Creating engaging social media posts to high-quality content creation using platforms like Canva, you'll command a diverse storytelling toolkit.
- Support the delivery of impactful events across Canada and trade missions, showcasing the UK's strengths.
- Work with the Head of Communications, BIST North America and FCDO Head of Communications to forge vital partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, media partners, and government officials to amplify your message.
- Be a strategic communication advisor and empower the BIST Head of Canada with insightful communication strategies, ensuring their voice resonates with target audiences.
- Champion collaboration by connecting the teams across the BIST, FCDO, and other organizations worldwide, building lasting relationships to achieve shared goals.
- Manage work to a deadline, focusing on delivering campaign objectives.
- Work with other team members to evaluate and report campaign progress and outcomes and embed learning into ongoing work.
- Work together with Internal Comms to highlight the collaboration of BIST staff in comms projects.
- Support cross-team projects to advance UK economic and trade policy goals.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
As a valued member of our team, we will help you to achieve your goals through continuous
professional development.
Resources managed (staff and expenditure):
- This role will have no management responsibilities but will be responsible for the collective management of the BIST North America MarComms budget for associated costs.
Essential qualifications, skills and experience
- Adaptable, collaborative, and strong team player able to work at pace.
- Great communication skills and experience of producing content for a variety of channels.
- Strong written skills and the ability to get to grips with complex trade policy issues.
- Content capture capabilities (smartphone) and basic editing on platforms such as Canva.
- Creativity and keenness to develop and deliver innovative, low and no cost external communication campaigns, using earned media coverage, digital and internal channels.
- Proactive, with good organisational and planning skills.
- Able to develop good working relationships inside and outside HMG network.
- Understanding of insight, data, and evaluation to measure and inform communications outcomes and a keenness to act on results to improve future activity.
- Confident presenting and giving advice to senior stakeholders.
- Experience of producing content for a variety of media outlets and digital platforms.
- Enthusiasm for working for the UK Government and with international partners.
- Must be able to attend events outside of office hours and undertake travel within the North America and the UK up to 10% of your time.
Desirable qualifications, skills and experience
- Content capture capabilities camera and video camera, or keen to learn.
- Digital editing skills or keen to learn editing suites such as Adobe.
- Understanding of the business environment in Canada.
Required behaviours
Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together
Application deadline
10 September 2026
Grade
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Type of Position
Full-time, Fixed Term
Working hours per week
37.5
Duration of Post
12 months
Location (City)
Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto or Vancouver
Salary
CAD $8,096.58 monthly
Start Date
19 October 2026
End Date
22 October 2026
Other benefits and conditions of employment
Applicants must have the legal status to live and work in Canada.
Applicant is expected to appear in person for approx. 60% of week but working from home is permitted and encouraged when realistic to do so.
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.
Please note, the salary is non-negotiable.
The British Embassy Network offers a strong benefits package. This package includes generous vacation and leave time, flexible working patterns, and enriching learning and development opportunities.
Additional information
Closing date of receiving applications is before 23:55 (Vancouver local Time) on 10th September 2026
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.
Working patterns:
This role is 37.5 hours a week, Monday to Friday. The consulate does not have a long working hours culture. The UK in Canada Network offers an excellent benefits package. This package includes generous vacation and leave time, flexible working patterns, and enriching learning and development opportunities.
The British High Commission and its Canada Network of Consulates embraces hybrid working. Flexible working options available upon approval of line manager. The British Consulate’s current policy asks staff to work in the office 40-60% of time, with the remainder available to work from home. We are an organization that also recognises the critical value of teamwork, and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly.
Successful candidate must be willing to undertake occasional travel in North America and to the UK and to represent BIST and the British Consulate at external functions (during working hours and very occasionally evenings)
Learning and development opportunities:
The British High Commission and its Canada 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.).
