Length of employment: Job Summary: Do you want to work for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and care for the Defence Estate? DIO enables Defence to live, work, train and deploy, all with sustainability in mind. From net carbon zero accommodations to runways for the F35 fighter jets; our outputs are unique in the UK and across the globe! Learn more about Defence Infrastructure in our Candidate Information Guide attached. This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. Job Description: We are looking to recruit an ambitious and enthusiastic External Affairs Assistant to join our busy and vibrant team. This is an exciting post that will join a small, highly motivated External Affairs team within the wider Corporate Communications department. The team is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with influential stakeholders and organisations in order to increase advocacy for DIO. It is also responsible for creating and disseminating communications to Service personnel and their families on news regarding Service Family Accommodation (SFA). This role will support the team in building and maintaining relationships, sharing compelling content and disseminating messages through stakeholder channels about how DIO supports the UK Armed Forces. You will have the opportunity to work with a range of corporate communications channels and gain experience of stakeholder engagement. This role would suit someone with previous communications experience looking to develop their skillset further in stakeholder management within the Government communications profession. 25 days annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years' service Learning and development tailored to your role Alternative working practices such as working from home A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave Most sites have free car parking, Sports & Social Clubs, Gym, on site shops and subsidised canteens 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). 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. Essential Able to support the team in building and maintaining relationships with customers, suppliers and external partners. Can support the team in gathering customer and stakeholder insights. Able to draft and support the production of key outputs like regular stakeholder briefings and newsletters. Able to draft and support the creation of content for an external website. Able to support the marketing of events to increase the number of attendees. Can use insight to increase the understanding amongst senior leaders and staff of customer and stakeholder perceptions of the organisation. Can provide support to the team to create engaging outputs using a range of digital applications like Microsoft Office and other Content Management Systems. Can support the coordination of meetings and identify opportunities to cascade messages and align activity with key stakeholders. Will champion the continuous development of External Affairs as outlined in the GCS Modern Operating Model to establish common engagement principles and best practice to improve the quality of stakeholder engagement across DIO. Is open to occasional travel if required. Desirable May have a relevant qualification in Communications or a related field. May have experience in website development. Please ensure that at the application and interview stages of the campaign you review the Success Profiles Framework to assist you in the demonstration of your skills and experience. Your suitability for the role will be assessed using the Success Profile elements that have been chosen for this campaign. Each element will be scored accordingly, and the successful candidate will be appointed on merit. Applications will be sifted on all Success Profile elements, but in the event of a high number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted on the personal statement. In this instance the remaining elements will be tested at interview. When giving examples for your application, please ensure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected. At application you will be assessed against the following: Behaviours: Delivering at Pace You will also be required to provide: A CV detailing your job history and previous skills and experience (this should be no longer than two pages) A personal statement (no more than 500 words) which should demonstrate your experience of building and maintaining relationships and creating engaging content. Guidance is given below. Technical: GCS Competency Framework - Implementation: Engaging People - Leading and Communicating When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected. Candidates who are invited to interview will be asked to complete a short written exercise on the day. There is nothing to prepare in advance. Following the short written exercise, you will have your interview. You will be assessed against the following. Behaviours: Managing a Quality Service Delivering at pace Technical: GCS Competency Framework - Implementation: Engaging People - Leading and Communicating 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 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:. 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.