AMS PSR

On behalf of AWE, we are looking for a Principal Communications Manager (Inside IR35) for a 9 month contract on a hybrid basis (3 days from Aldermaston / Paddington, remainder WFH/remote)

PLEASE NOTE: SC Clearance is an essential requirement for this role; as a minimum you must be eligible and willing to undergo these checks

What if you could work on something that you can’t test… but cannot afford to fail? Something that could have spent years on a submarine, is launched into outer space (where the temperature is below -250c), comes hurtling through the atmosphere, being heated up and shaken and then must work? Some challenge.

That’s exactly what the team of over 6,500 people at AWE do every day: delivering important work, in support of the most important mission – keeping the nation safe.

AWE plays a crucial role in national nuclear security. Their role in nuclear deterrence and their specialist technical assistance to nuclear threat reduction is vital in the defence against the most serious threats faced by the UK. Working to support the defence of our country, AWE has a clear mission: to keep everyone, the environment, their products and information, sites, and everything around them, safe and secure.

The role:

To provide communications and engagement leadership, consultancy, plans and measurable deliverables to support audience engagement in the AWE story through effective communications activity that results in the desired outcomes (in terms of think, feel and do) across all stakeholder groups.

Key Accountabilities:

• Shapes and delivers plans to meet business priorities and objectives taking account of key stakeholders and audiences.
• Applies detailed knowledge of diverse range of stakeholder groups to draft messages and content that achieve communications objectives.
• Develops measures, evaluates data and brings insight to recommend improvements to communications campaigns and plans.
• Applies project management skills to identify and overcome obstacles to delivery.
• Applies communications skills to convey difficult messages in a simple manner.
• Enhances written or visual materials with business objectives and the target audience in mind.
• Works across the Corporate Affairs function to make optimal use of skills, capabilities and channels to deliver communications objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maximises the effectiveness of our internal and external channels – ensuring best and up-to-date practices
• Works with the business to understand what needs to be communicated to whom and when, ensuring clear, timely communications
• Provides insights and advice on creating behaviour change through communication, taking account of stakeholder and audience communication needs.
• Using the OASIS framework, takes a brief, extracts insights about the communications objective(s) required on each project.
• Using the OASIS framework, develops and delivers communications plans to meet strategic priorities and objectives. Undertakes regular review of plan to ensure it meets objectives; adjusts the plan to suit need as necessary.
• Promoting understanding of the business’s priorities.
• Upholding a strong AWE brand (corporate identity)
• Supporting a strong employer brand
• Writes and edits copy that aligns to the company’s core narrative, business strategy and the Corporate Affairs strategy and principles; uses visual techniques to make communications stand out.
• Makes effective use of measures to evaluate communications and contribute to continuous improvement activity in Corporate Affairs.
• As part of the Corporate Affairs on-call team, effectively respond to emergency and business continuity situations.
• Follows the polices and processes adopted by the Corporate Affairs function.

Essential:

• Experience within government communications
• Strategic communications experience
• Extensive Stakeholder Management & Engagement
• Extensive experience with Press / Media / PR
• Has held managerial / senior communication roles

Desirable:

• Experience with the OASIS Framework
• Defence sector experience

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

AWE’s ambition is to create workplaces that recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and where people feel able to be themselves at work. They strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants.

Disability Confident 

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, AWE guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.

This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply.

Armed Forces Covenant 

AWE guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following “this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different.