Andover, SP11 8HT
We are passionate about Smarter Working and believe that a combination of flexible working practices, digital technology and modern workspaces will give you the opportunity to enjoy a healthy work-life balance, while ensuring you deliver your outcomes effectively and efficiently – we expect you to know where to be to have the most impact, balancing your individual needs with that of your team and the organisation. However, recognising the benefits of face to face working, especially for new joiners, there is an expectation that you would be in the office at least 60% of the time (3 days a week).
Job Summary
Army Communications is based in Andover at the British Army Headquarters. We have an exciting and crucial vacancy for an experienced communications professional to lead our strategic campaigns.
Army communications tells the Army's story using a wide range of creative approaches to communication on a multitude of channels, from traditional press to social media. Our work provides the opportunity to make a real difference.
To find out more about what we do, visit the British Army website Homepage, The British Army which has over 15 million visits a year, or our social media channels which have some of the biggest audiences in government – we’re currently active on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn and YouTube.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job Description
This is a high-profile role that requires a strategic thinker with a passion for creative storytelling, audience insight, and innovation in communications. This role is key in shaping how the British Army is perceived by the public, using both traditional and digital media to deliver measurable impact.
The Head of Campaigns brings Army strategic messaging to life by developing campaigns that target new and traditional audiences. You will lead the strategic development and delivery of high-impact communications campaigns. This role reports to the Deputy Head of Strategic Communications and sits within the Communications and Engagement team. You will oversee a team of four Campaign Managers, ensuring the successful planning, execution, and evaluation of multi-channel campaigns that enhance the Army’s reputation and engage our audiences.
Key Responsibilities:
* Lead all aspects of the development and execution of integrated communications campaigns to promote the British Army using Government Communications Service methodologies.
* Build a close relationship with British Army recruitment communications and marketing teams to find ways to maximise effects.
* Manage, mentor, and inspire the team of Campaign Managers, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and high performance.
* Identify and attract new audiences through targeted and innovative approaches, ensuring diversity in communications channels.
* Establish KPIs, monitor campaign effectiveness, and use data-driven insights to optimise performance and maximise reach and engagement.
* Provide regular reports on effectiveness of campaigns to Army Communications and Engagement leadership.
* Champion the Government Communication Service methodologies across Army Communications and Engagement and the wider army.
* Stay ahead of industry trends, new technologies, and best practices in marketing and communications to keep Army campaigns at the forefront of innovation.
This is a high-profile role that requires a strategic thinker with a passion for creative storytelling, audience insight, and innovation in communications. This role is key in shaping how the British Army is perceived by the public, using both traditional and digital media to deliver measurable impact.
The Head of Campaigns brings Army strategic messaging to life by developing campaigns that target new and traditional audiences. You will lead the strategic development and delivery of high-impact communications campaigns. This role reports to the Deputy Head of Strategic Communications and sits within the Communications and Engagement team. You will oversee a team of four Campaign Managers, ensuring the successful planning, execution, and evaluation of multi-channel campaigns that enhance the Army’s reputation and engage our audiences.
Key Responsibilities:
* Lead all aspects of the development and execution of integrated communications campaigns to promote the British Army using Government Communications Service methodologies.
* Build a close relationship with British Army recruitment communications and marketing teams to find ways to maximise effects.
* Manage, mentor, and inspire the team of Campaign Managers, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and high performance.
* Identify and attract new audiences through targeted and innovative approaches, ensuring diversity in communications channels.
* Establish KPIs, monitor campaign effectiveness, and use data-driven insights to optimise performance and maximise reach and engagement.
* Provide regular reports on effectiveness of campaigns to Army Communications and Engagement leadership.
* Champion the Government Communication Service methodologies across Army Communications and Engagement and the wider army.
* Stay ahead of industry trends, new technologies, and best practices in marketing and communications to keep Army campaigns at the forefront of innovation.
Person specification
Essential Skills Required:
* We are seeking a creative and strategic leader with a proven track record in delivering successful, insight-driven marketing and communications campaigns.
* Extensive experience in campaign management, marketing, or communications, ideally in a leadership role.
* Strong team management skills, with the ability to develop and motivate a high-performing team.
* A deep understanding of audience insight and behaviour, with experience in using research and data to inform campaign strategies.
* A creative mindset with experience in overseeing content creation, storytelling, and brand campaigns.
* Expertise in marketing (both digital and traditional) and PR
* Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage and influence at all levels.
* Experience of managing funding lines, gaining appropriate approvals, tracking expenditure and effectively prioritising resources to align with strategic priorities.
* The ability to project manage, prioritise and balance communications campaigns.
Desirable Skills:
* Knowledge of the defence sector or government communications.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Leadership
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* GCS Competencies - Government Communications Service - Ideas
* GCS Competencies - Government Communications Service - Implementation.
Alongside your salary of £59,690, Ministry of Defence contributes £17,292 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.
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.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
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.
At application stage you will be assessed against the following:
* CV
* Behaviour - Leadership
* Personal Statement - 750 words providing evidence that you have the knowledge and recent practical experience for each of the following selection criteria in your application:
o Extensive experience in campaign management, marketing, or communications, ideally in a leadership role.
o Demonstration of strong team leadership, capable of cultivating and inspiring a high-achieving team.
o Showcase a creative approach with a proven track record in managing content creation, storytelling, and brand.
o Demonstrate proficiency in digital and social media marketing, alongside experience in traditional advertising and PR, with a dedication to continuous professional growth.
o Illustrate excellent stakeholder management capabilities, adept at engaging and influencing at all levels.
Applications will be sifted using the CV, Personal Statement, and Behaviour that have been chosen for this campaign, but in the event of there being a high number of applications, a sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement.
At interview stage you will be assessed against the following:
* Behaviour - Leadership
* Technical - GCS Competencies - 1) Government Communications Service Ideas and 2) Government Communications Service - Implementation.
* Presentation - You will be asked to deliver a 5-min presentation showcasing a successful campaign that you have delivered.
https://gcs.civilservice.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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
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.
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.
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 the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
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. #J-18808-Ljbffr