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Location
About the job
Job summary
The Royal Navy Communications and Influence (RN Comms) team is seeking a dynamic and motivated Senior Communications Manager for their fast paced and high-profile Corporate Communications and Reactive News team.
The successful candidate will have specific responsibility for advice and communications relating to issues impacting the reputation of the Royal Navy at home and around the globe.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week and is based out of Navy Command Headquarters in Portsmouth.
Job description
What you will be doing:
The Royal Navy and associated agencies are subject to intense public, parliamentary and media scrutiny. The post holder is responsible for the overall quality and output of the Corporate Communications and Reactive News team, engaging across the RN and MOD and ensuring overall alignment with the RN Comms strategy and Defence Communications strategy and messaging.
You will:
- Provide professional and comprehensive communications advice to senior military officers, officials, special advisors, and RN Units.
- Manage communications surrounding matters which have the potential to be reputationally damaging to the RN, including personnel, operational, policy security issues.
- Produce relevant and timely lines to take/Defensive News briefs for those emerging or policy issues, briefing to senior levels in person when needed.
- In time of crisis or period of significant media activity, support the overall RN Comms effort, ensuring coherent messaging and providing fast paced proactive media advice and material.
- Maintain a good working relationship with key local and regional media outlets and defence specialists.
- Support RN media facilities and carry out media minding duties when required.
- As a strong team player, act as a role model, offer guidance and support to colleagues in their day-to-day work and help to develop them over time.
- Have the leadership skills to provide direction and focus to your team to ensure outputs are delivered in a timely and accurate manner and provide advice to others.
- Be part of an on-call roster dealing with a range of enquiries across the breadth of Royal Navy and associated departments, working alongside the Defence Directorate of Communications.
Person specification
Essential criteria include:
- Excellent understanding of the media and social media landscape.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- The ability to pay attention to detail and absorb complex information at pace to inform and produce plain language communications that clearly articulate the Royal Navy’s objectives and policy.
- The discretion to handle classified and sensitive information pertaining to policy or personnel issues.
- Confidence and strategic judgement, as successful candidates will be required to become a trusted adviser to senior military officers and staff.
- The ability to work effectively with a wide variety of personalities and experience.
Desirable criteria include:
- A proven record of working either in a media/press office/corporate communications environment, or in defence policy areas.
- Experience of news management in PR or journalism.
- Experience of using social media.
- Experience of Government Communications Service and Modern Communications Operating Model.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Leadership
- Seeing the Big Picture
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £43,080, Ministry of Defence contributes £11,631 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
As a civil servant in Navy Command, you will be part of a forward-looking organisation with inclusive workplace policies, excellent career prospects, and a job that makes a difference.
Navy Command prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.
Other benefits for Navy Command civil servants include:
- 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
- A very competitive pension scheme
- Personal & professional development
- Alternative working patterns for many roles
- Access to a confidential, professional support service
- Discount schemes
- Bicycle / season ticket loans
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
- Special paid leave to volunteer up to 6 days a year
Our headquarters in Portsmouth also offers an impressive range of on-site facilities including a gymnasium, tennis courts, and other sporting facilities, a children’s nursery, a bistro restaurant, a shop and plenty of car parking spaces.
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Please note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Candidates will be required to provide a CV to include: job history, qualification details and previous skill and experience.
Candidates will be required to provide a 500 word statement of suitability. Please provide evidence of experience relevant to the role.
We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of gender and ethnic group. Appointment will be based on merit alone.
At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours: -
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Leadership
- Seeing the Bigger Picture
At Interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours: -
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Leadership
- Seeing the Bigger Picture
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.
The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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Job contact :
Recruitment team
