Chief Community Relations Advisor United States Visiting Forces Support Group

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for a driven individual, with exceptional leadership and communication skills to be part of the USVF Support Group team. The USVF refers to American military personnel who are stationed at bases across the UK, due to close military alliance and historical relationships between the US and the UK.

This position is based at RAF Mildenhall, one of the USVF exclusive use bases, and is responsible for the day‑to‑day leadership, coordination, and strategic direction of community relations activity in support of the USVF across the United Kingdom. The USVF Support Group also includes RAF Commanders, who act as a military liaison at each USVF station, and Business Support, Business Management and Engagement Teams, who are responsible for administrative support to the civil servants embedded within the US workforce at each of the stations and directly supporting the USVF mission.

The British American Community Relations Team's aim is to maximise the mutual understanding between United States Visiting Forces (USVF) and the British communities in which they live and work. This team directly enables the USVF to deliver effective operational outputs in a permissive and supportive environment across the entire spectrum of local, regional and national engagement activities, engendering strong and harmonious relationships to encourage collaborative partnerships.

The postholder acts as the senior advisor to the United States Country Representative (USCR), the overall US lead in the UK, and the commanders across the various USVF bases, to ensure coherent engagement and messaging across the US Visiting Forces UK presence.

They will also act as the senior advisor to the British American Committee chairs, ensuring coherent engagement with UK communities, host‑nation stakeholders, and civic organisations across the span of the USVF bases.

The Chief Community Relations Advisor (CCRA) provides cover for the geographically dispersed team, i.e. in times of absence of a Community Relations Advisor, and supports surge capacity to a specific base or senior leadership team should the need arise.

While the main responsibilities are outlined above, the role holder may be required to perform other duties commensurate with the grade and purpose of the role, as required by the needs of the business.

Regular travel to the USVF sites will be required to carry out this role.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week, increasing to 45 hrs (net) when the All Hours Allowance is taken into account.

Job description

This post's primary functions include:

Strategic Leadership and Coordination

• Lead the day‑to‑day community relations operations across the UK USVF locations, ensuring coherence.
• Keep abreast of developments within the USAF/USAFE which could have an impact at a local level e.g. future plan.
• Understand the US Country Representative’s priorities and ensure that the community engagement strategy supports these and identifies opportunities to optimise engagement and relationships that directly support these priorities.
• Identify and map key stakeholders and influencers to enhance strategic engagement for the USVF.
• Keep apprised of the US/UK relationship at the international level and the sensitivities that could impact the community relations programme.
• Ensure a consistent and coordinated approach to major issues affecting all USVF locations.

Senior Advisory Responsibilities

• Act as the primary Community Relations Advisor to the US Country Representative and key leadership staff within their headquarters.
• Formulate and implement an engagement strategy (updated frequently) which sets out engagement objectives, identifies key stakeholders and influences and includes an engagement activities database and suggested demarcation of effort between the US Country Representative and other Wing Commanders.
• Provide expert advice on UK etiquette, protocol, customs, and community expectations.
• Translate the UK stance and viewpoint on sensitive issues and assume the role of ‘critical friend’ to the USVF.
• Offer guidance and support to committee chairs throughout their tenure, helping them deliver effective and culturally attuned community engagement.
• By using the intelligence gathered from the CRA network, report community relations issues which have the potential to cause reputational risk or negative media coverage.

External Engagement and Representation

• Foster strong relationships with UK civic leaders, local authorities, community groups, and other key stakeholders.
• Oversee the British American Committee chairs and facilitate their honorariums, ensuring that they understand the requirement to meet UK and US policy regulations when undertaking their duties
• Represent the organisation at high‑level engagements, ceremonies, and events.
• Promote positive host‑nation relations and enhance the public understanding of the US Visiting Forces presence in the UK.
• Deliver and continue to enhance the leadership programme, Leadership Connect, for US and UK participants.

Policy, Governance, and Assurance

• Ensure community relations activity aligns with USVF policy, national regulations, and host‑nation expectations.
• Provide high‑quality reports, briefings, and recommendations to senior leaders.
• Act as a point of assurance for community issues across all UK USVF locations.

Person specification

A key and vital role within the USVF Support Group, the successful candidate will have experience of leading a team, particularly managing multi-site or geographically dispersed teams, with strong interpersonal skills that support the development and fostering of positive working relationships. They will be highly organised, proactive and able to manage competing priorities. They will be able to work independently with autonomy, with the capacity to work at pace and under pressure to be able to complete tasks within short time frames, whilst maintaining strong collaboration across multiple organisations.

They will have proven experience in community relations, stakeholder engagement, diplomacy or public affairs, with a strong understanding of UK civics, cultural norms, protocol and etiquette.

This role is suited to someone who has developed communicating, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence and credibility to provide advice, guidance and reasonable challenge when required, across a range of grades and military ranks. They will be able to problem solve effectively, applying policies and guidance to make evidence-based decisions. They will have the ability to develop strategic engagement plans and deliver organisational‑level coordination and be experienced representing senior leaders or organisations in complex or sensitive environments.

The post holder works directly for Group Captain USVF Support Group, apprising the incumbent of the status of the UK-US community relations across the UK at a local, regional and national level.

Additional requirements for the role:

• Frequent UK travel.
  • A full driving licence is essential due to regular travel to the USVF sites across the UK, many of which are remote and not easily accessible via public transport.
  • Overnight stays will be necessary at times.
• Representative duties.
• Flexibility for short‑notice engagements.
• Requirements to work evenings, weekends or Bank Holidays on occasion

Licences

Full UK Driving Licence

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• Highly competitive Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• 25 days paid annual leave rising to 30 days on completion of 5 years’ service
• In addition to 8 public holidays per year you will also receive leave for HM The King’s birthday
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Café and shop on site

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).

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 and Experience.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability ( 500 Word count ).

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV, Statement of suitability and the following:

• Leadership
• Communicating & Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

If there are a large number of applicants, the sift will only take into account CV, experience, personal statement and 2 behaviours (leadership and communicating and influencing).

At interview, you will be assessed against the following:

• Leadership
• Communicating & Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Managing a Quality Service

Interviews will be conducted upon conclusion of the sift and successful candidates will be given 5 working days’ notice.

All applicants will be contacted via Civil Service Jobs to advise of the outcome.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

Interviews will take place face to face at RAF Mildenhall.

See here for a guide to Civil Service applications.

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

Open to UK nationals only.

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 : Sal Davidson
• Email : sal.davidson751@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

20230201 - Air Command's Applicant Guide Opens in new window (pdf, 499kB)Candidate Information 2025 Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)Revised Terms and Conditions of Service Opens in new window (docx, 48kB)MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)