The Minister of Defence have an exciting opportunity for someone to join the News Team in the Directorate of Defence Communications (DDC) as a Senior Communications Officer. The post holder has responsibility for the grid, acts as Press Secretary for the Defence Minister of State in the House of Lords, and leads on the climate change and sustainability news portfolio. This is an important, fast-paced and varied role which works with a range of key stakeholders including Number 10 Downing Street (No.10), Ministers, senior Military Officers and members of the Senior Civil Service.

The post holder is the main link between the MOD and the No.10 Strategic Planning Unit and with colleagues in other Government departments to manage and coordinate communications activity across Defence and Government. The role is part of the News team, and links closely with the Events, Campaigns and Strategic Communications Teams within DDC as well as internal and external MOD stakeholders, Parliamentary team and Private Offices to remain aware of and negotiate Defence communications activity. As the Press Secretary for Defence Minister of State in the House of Lords, the post holder would coordinate and manage the Minister’s media activity and have responsibility for the climate change and sustainability portfolio in the news team, with many opportunities to get involved in other News team activity.

The successful candidate will take part in the press office out-of-hours duty rota, which will require occasional overnight stays in MOD accommodation.

This post would suit someone keen to be at the heart of Government communications. You should be keen, ambitious, have sound judgement and the ability to negotiate with peers and senior staff. In return, you will be provided an excellent understanding of how Government communications works in a key Whitehall department with a unique and friendly mix of civilian and military staff. You will line manage one Assistant Communications Officer.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Key responsibilities:

Coordination of communications activity:

·       Act as the single point of contact for communications planning with No.10 and other Government departments. Represent MOD at weekly No.10 strategic communications planning meetings. Produce weekly briefings for No.10 on defence activity. Coordinate forward planning and recess grids and briefing on announcements for Defence and No10.

·       Liaise with other government departments (OGDs) on joint and related activity (particularly Cabinet Office; Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; Her Majesty’s Treasury and Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy). Act as the point of contact for MOD and provide requested information to departments.

·       Manage and maintain the department’s communications activity working with the Assistant Communications Officer through the MOD grid and other planning tools. Schedule and coordinate MOD events and announcements through liaison with the DDC team, Parliamentary team, Private Offices and the No.10 Strategic Communications Unit, commissioning and delivering briefings as required

·       Regular horizon scanning of Defence related items. Alert colleagues within the department to communications threats and opportunities and instigate activity to deal with these.

·       Effective development of a long-term strategic communications planning processes and tools working with DDC’s Strategic Communications team, including managing the MOD Communications & Engagement Tracker ensuring coordination with the eight-week grid. Review and update tracker usability, layout and functions in conjunction with technical staff.

·       Provide agenda for and attend weekly planning meeting for DDC and top offices to discuss past and forthcoming activity and implications. Contribute to other meetings including daily News meetings and fortnightly planning meetings to provide an overview of Ministerial and departmental activity and coordinate and share intelligence on wider Government business.

Communications delivery:

·       Act as the single DDC News point of contact for MinLords Office as Press Secretary, providing trusted advise and support on communications issues.

·       Work with News team colleagues to deliver outputs that promote and protect the reputation of the department, on the climate change and sustainability brief and wider.

Stakeholder networking:

·       Maintain and develop close working relationships with key stakeholders including No.10, Cabinet Office and OGDs.

·       Maintain and develop close working relationships with colleagues across all areas of MOD and wider Defence family (including Defence Equipment and Support; Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Defence Infrastructure Organisation).

·       Be a key point of contact for, and provide professional and comprehensive communications planning advice to Ministers, Chiefs and senior officials

Line management:

·       Provide effective management of one Assistant Communications Officer (ACO), giving day-to-day support and advice as required.

Essential criteria include:

·       Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

·       The discretion to handle classified and sensitive information.

·       Confidence and good judgement.

Desirable criteria include:

·       A proven record of working either in a media/press office environment.

·       Experience in planning and coordinating communications outputs.

Applications will be sifted against

Candidates are required to provided a personal statement and CV for the initial application.

At application Candidates will be required to provide a Statement of Suitability with a maximum word limit of 500 words