Army - Head of News

Job summary

The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, with responsibility for an annual budget of over £10bn, the Army is a major part of the Ministry of Defence and one of its largest operating centres who employ around 12,000 Civil Servants located at over 300 locations supporting the 110K regular and reserve soldiers across the Army. This Civil Service workforce is diverse, with many different functions and professions ranging from police officers, security guards, trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced communications professional to join the British Army Communications team as Head of News. This senior role will lead on all news management and media relations activity, ensuring the Army's story is told effectively across national, regional and specialist media outlets.

Working at the heart of defence communications, you will shape the media narrative around the Army's operations, people and values, supporting strategic objectives whilst maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and propriety. You will lead a team of 17 communications professionals across the UK and Germany, manage complex and fast-moving news stories, and advise senior military leaders on media strategy and reputation management.

This role requires someone who thrives under pressure, demonstrates sound editorial judgement, and can balance the need for transparency with operational security considerations. You will be comfortable operating in a 24/7 news environment and responding to breaking stories with pace and precision.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The Head of News is responsible for leading the British Army's news and media relations function, ensuring proactive and reactive media engagement that supports the Army's reputation, recruitment, and operational effectiveness.
You will play an active role in the senior management team overseeing Army Communications, deputising for the SCS1 Head of Communications at key meetings with senior army commanders and civil servants when needed. Developing media strategies, cultivating relationships with journalists and broadcasters, coordinating responses to media enquiries, and ensuring the Army's voice is heard on issues that matter to defence and national security.
You will provide strategic direction for the Army's news function, ensuring alignment with wider Defence communications objectives and government priorities. With direct line management responsibility for seven senior staff members, you will foster a collaborative culture that promotes professional excellence, innovation and continuous improvement across your geographically dispersed team.
The role demands excellent news judgement, strong leadership skills, and the ability to operate effectively in a complex, hierarchical organisation whilst maintaining the agility required in modern media relations. You will take part in the Army's duty rota, which will include out-of-hours working.

Proactive Media Relations -

Develop and implement proactive media strategies to promote positive coverage of Army activities and achievements in international, national and regional press as well as online outlets and platforms. Plan and execute comprehensive press releases highlighting operational successes, personnel stories, and institutional developments in support of communications aims.
Organise and manage media facilities including press conferences, interviews, visits, and embedded journalism opportunities. Build and maintain strong relationships with defence correspondents, specialist journalists, and key media stakeholders. Working with digital and campaigns teams, develop innovative handling plans and ideas across traditional and online platforms to ensure a wide variety of audiences are reached with Army messaging.

Reactive Media Handling -

Manage complex, sensitive and time-critical media enquiries relating to Army operations, personnel matters, and institutional issues. Provide expert media advice to senior Army leadership, including briefing commanders and ministers on media implications. Brief and prepare Army spokespeople for interviews, providing advice on opportunities as well as risks.
Coordinate with MOD news team in London to ensure consistent messaging and avoid conflicting narratives. Lead crisis communications response for Army-related incidents, working within established crisis communication protocols. Take part in the Army's duty rota which will include out-of-hours working.

Strategic Communication -

Contribute to the development of Army communication strategies that support key objectives around recruitment, retention, security, people and growth to increase public understanding of the Army. Work collaboratively with MOD communications colleagues to ensure coordinated messaging across all Defence communications.
Provide expert counsel on reputation management and strategic narrative development. Support the delivery of government communication priorities as outlined in the annual Government Communication Plan.

Leadership & Management -

Play an active role in the senior management team overseeing Army Communications. Deputise for the Communications team leaders at key meetings with senior army commanders and civil servants when needed. Provide strategic direction for the Army's news function, ensuring alignment with wider Defence communications objectives and government priorities.

Lead, inspire and develop a team of 17 communications professionals located across the UK and Europe, with direct line management responsibility for seven senior staff members. Foster a collaborative culture that promotes professional excellence, innovation and continuous improvement. Ensure team members maintain the highest standards of propriety and ethics in accordance with the Civil Service Code.

Person specification

Essential Skills Required:

• Significant media relations experience in fast-paced environments.
• Evidence of leading and developing teams, with the ability to motivate others, delegate effectively, and build capability across geographically dispersed teams.
• Demonstrate sound editorial judgement, particularly when handling sensitive or contentious issues.
• Substantial experience of coordinating complex responses across multiple stakeholders

Desirable:

• Previous experience working in defence communications or knowledge of the military environment.
• Understanding of defence and security issues, the media landscape in this area, and the sensitivities around operational security.
• Experience of working collaboratively across government departments and agencies.
• Formal training or qualifications in crisis communications, issues management or related disciplines.
• Previous experience working within the Government Communication Service or in a central government communications role, demonstrating familiarity with cross-government processes, standards and the GCS Strategy.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Leadership

Technical skills

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

• Insight - Competency Framework - technical specifications - GCS)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,630, Ministry of Defence contributes £17,854 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

The Army 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 Army civil servants include:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Highly competitive pension scheme
• Personal and professional development of skills
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
• Learning and Development

We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.

A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future career.

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.

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 Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Things you need to know

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 subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

At application stage you will be assessed against the following:

• Your CV
• Personal Statement - of no more than 750 words detailing how you meet the essential skills criteria
• Behaviour - Leadership

Where a large number of applications are received, an initial sift will be conducted based on the evidence you provide in support of Leadership.

Your Personal Statement and CV will only be reviewed if you are successful at this initial sift.

At interview stage you will be assessed against the following behaviours alongside the evidence provided in your CV, Personal Statement and technical competencies.

• Behaviour - Delivering at Pace
• Behaviour - Leadership
• Behaviour - Seeing the Bigger Picture
• Technical - Insight - Competency Framework - technical specifications - GCS) - https://www.communications.gov.uk/publications/competency-framework/

Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date. Interview dates are to be confirmed and will be held in person. We endeavour to keep to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs.

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 in to 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. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It 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.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Alex Schillemore
• Email : Alex.Schillemore100@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.

Attachments

20240307-ArmyTLBEVP Opens in new window (pdf, 3932kB)EXTERNAL PACK Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Candidate Information updated Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)