Royal Air Force - Communications Manager

London (region), South East England

Job Summary The Royal Air Force (RAF) Air Media and Communications organisation is responsible for the delivery of communications that influence how people inside and outside the RAF understand, engage with, and think about us.

We work closely with the Ministry of Defence communications team, other communications teams across the Armed Forces, and the wider RAF Family of organisations that support our Whole Force.

Air Media and Communications is part of the Government Communication Service. We use the OASIS framework for strategic communications and the four communication competences of Insight, Ideas, Implementation, and Impact.

We are seeking an ambitious, creative, and digitally driven Communications Manager to join our dynamic team within the Royal Air Force (RAF). This role offers an exciting opportunity to help shape and deliver engaging content while contributing to the RAF’s broader communications strategy.

As part of the RAF’s communications team, you will work closely with the strategy team to assist in delivering the RAF Communications Strategy, ensuring consistent, high-quality messaging across a range of platforms and to a variety of internal and external audiences. Your role will involve writing digital content for senior leaders, assisting in the development of communications plans for campaigns, and helping to think creatively about new ways to launch campaigns and reach diverse audiences.

You will play an integral role in the communications community across government and will have the opportunity to contribute to maintaining the RAF’s reputation as a centre of excellence.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job Description Supporting the Strategy &​ Plans Team

• Assist with the delivery of the RAF Communications Strategy, forming strong relationships with the RAF communications network and advising on output.
• Write compelling digital content for senior leaders, ensuring consistency and alignment with RAF objectives.
• Support the development and implementation of communications plans for campaigns, collaborating with cross-government stakeholders, RAF communicators, and external partners.
• Represent the Strategy &​ Plans Team at external meetings or forums. Providing comprehensive feedback to support subsequent actions for the team.
• Supporting the Insight, Data and Evaluation manager with routine data analysis of Air Media content.

Supporting the RAF’s Communication Team

• Think creatively and contribute ideas to launch new campaigns and engage target audiences across digital and social media channels.
• Organise and chair regular team meetings, driving productivity and collaboration.
• Manage administrative tasks efficiently, ensuring all processes are completed in a timely and organised manner.
• Build and maintain partnerships with cross-government colleagues, stakeholders, and the RAF media &​ communicators network.
• Manage communications processes within the team, ensuring colleagues are kept up to date with any changes in policies or processes.
• Identify practical issues and risks in RAF communications, develop mitigation actions, and monitor them on an ongoing basis.

You may be expected to participate in a shared out of hours on call rota for which additional payments will be made.

Supporting the Strategy &​ Plans Team

• Assist with the delivery of the RAF Communications Strategy, forming strong relationships with the RAF communications network and advising on output.
• Write compelling digital content for senior leaders, ensuring consistency and alignment with RAF objectives.
• Support the development and implementation of communications plans for campaigns, collaborating with cross-government stakeholders, RAF communicators, and external partners.
• Represent the Strategy &​ Plans Team at external meetings or forums. Providing comprehensive feedback to support subsequent actions for the team.
• Supporting the Insight, Data and Evaluation manager with routine data analysis of Air Media content.

Supporting the RAF’s Communication Team

• Think creatively and contribute ideas to launch new campaigns and engage target audiences across digital and social media channels.
• Organise and chair regular team meetings, driving productivity and collaboration.
• Manage administrative tasks efficiently, ensuring all processes are completed in a timely and organised manner.
• Build and maintain partnerships with cross-government colleagues, stakeholders, and the RAF media &​ communicators network.
• Manage communications processes within the team, ensuring colleagues are kept up to date with any changes in policies or processes.
• Identify practical issues and risks in RAF communications, develop mitigation actions, and monitor them on an ongoing basis.

You may be expected to participate in a shared out of hours on call rota for which additional payments will be made.

Person specification

Essential Requirements

• Experience working in a professional communications team.
• Experience developing and delivering communications plans or campaigns
• A passion for, and knowledge of, best digital content practice, emerging trends, and the latest tools for content creators.
• Experience with stakeholder engagement, managing relationships and working with multiple teams to deliver media output.

Desirable Requirements

• Understanding of the Government Communications Service operating models and principles.
• Content generation (e.g. copy, photography, infographics and videos).
• Demonstrable experience of working on PR campaigns.
• Intermediate skills level with MS Office.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Government Communications Service- Insight
• Government Communications Service- Implementation

Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,927 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements 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.

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.

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.

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Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be sub