DE&S Deputy Director of Communications & Engagement

This is an opportunity to join a critical post in an organisation making a material difference to defence of the UK homeland, at a hugely pivotal moment in its development, looking both externally across wider MOD and UK defence, and internally to our change programme.

To be successful you will have experience of operating at a strategic level in a large and complex organisation and working effectively as part of a multidisciplinary leadership team, often managing competing priorities across a range of internal and external stakeholders.

You will demonstrate the ability to be a key player in the DE&S business, leading communications and engagement activity across the business, meeting both corporate requirements and delivering enabling services.

Defence Equipment and Support delivers and sustains capability for His Majesty’s Armed Forces. We also play a major role in the prosperity of the UK by spending £8 billion every year on UK contracts, supporting more than 88,000 jobs.

As a leader in the business, you will also have a pivotal role in creating a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can flourish, supporting transformation of the business, and specifically the corporate organisation.

This is an exciting time for DE&S, and we look forward to discussing with you how you might become part of our journey during the recruitment process.

The Deputy Director of Communications and Engagement has the following areas of responsibility:

• Lead activity to build and protect DE&S’ reputation, developing and executing DE&S’ communications and engagement plan, to deliver on organisational objectives, aligned to Departmental objectives and Ministerial direction (interface via DDC).
• Develop and embed approaches to improve DE&S’ brand to aid attraction to the organisation, engage employees, build advocacy amongst stakeholders, maintain mission partner confidence and ultimately deter our enemies. This will need proactive management of stakeholders, both internally and externally, to enhance the reputation of DE&S with credibility and confidence.
• Lead delivery of services to meet Department of State responsibilities, to manage parliamentary correspondence, meet transparency obligations, and assure effective public scrutiny of the organisation, including timely and accurate responses to FOI, PQ and TAO correspondence; effective planning and management of Ministerial Submissions across the organisation; and effective preparation and briefing of Seniors Civil Servants for meetings with parliamentarians and public scrutiny interventions.
• Aligned to communications plan, develop and deliver campaigns and communications, engagement and policy secretariat outputs, to meet the needs of the organisation and its stakeholders, aligned to DDC guidelines, mobilising delivery across the organisation. This includes: the development and implementation of communications plans; delivery of large-scale events; delivery of publications; and management of communications channels to reach and positively engage DE&S staff.
• Act as the Authority for both Communications and Policy Secretariat sub-professions establishing standards, articulating resources and training needs, owning related processes and procedures and overseeing policy and related Enabling Services, in line with the maturing Corporate Portal and DE&S’ end to end services.
• Mobilise effective stakeholder engagement for DE&S across the Department, wider Government and externally, and individually build and maintain excellent stakeholder relationships, including with counterpart roles in industry.
• Oversee effective delivery of 24/7 news service in partnership with DDC, in order to respond to external issues with consistent messaging, professionally presented and accurate releases and statements which build and protect the organisation’s reputation.
• Responsible for key DE&S assets including DE&S Internet and DE&S Intranet.
• Provide advice and briefings up to CEO level.