UK Ministry of Defence
Head of Air and Space Media & Communications (RAF)
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Job Summary
This role is based at RAF High Wycombe, but regular attendance at MOD Main Building, London is required. There is an expectation that a minimum of 60% of working time will be spent in the office.
In Air and Space Media and Communications, we have the privilege of telling impactful, engaging stories about the RAF that have an international reach, with the goal of increasing understanding of the role the RAF plays in protecting the nation, now and in the future. From the counter-drone operations in the Middle East to the defence of Space, we get to work on high profile and interesting campaigns that you don’t find elsewhere.
Our people are our most valued asset, and our internal communications are as important as those global media moments. As leader of this brilliant Whole Force team of Regulars, Reservists and Civilians, you will be their biggest champion and a passionate advocate for the Royal Air Force. It’s a challenging role that can be hugely demanding at times, but it’s also rewarding, exciting and fulfilling, crucial to positioning the RAF as part of a Joint global UK Defence narrative that deters our adversaries and celebrates our alliances.
Job Description
- Leadership of Air M&C, and professional leadership of the Communications function across the Air Command.
- Represent Air M&C in senior relationships within RAF and externally with suppliers, MOD, Government Communications Service and professional bodies. Engagement with senior stakeholders on challenging topics is a critical part of this role, and you will need to build trust and credibility quickly.
- Directing and delivering the RAF Communications Strategy, tracking the impact of our outputs against objectives on a quarterly basis and agreeing changes to our strategic direction as part of the RAF senior leadership team.
- Provide communications advice to the Air and Space Executive Committee.
- Full oversight of a complex operating model including internal and external communications, high profile content production and RAF ceremonial activities.
- Business management, including financial and resourcing modelling and forecasting, management of c£4m budget overall.
- As required, deputise for Assistant Chief of Air Staff where required and provide cover for your colleagues, both as a senior member of the RAF, a senior Civilian in Air and a member of the MOD communications community.
Person Specification
- Strategic Communications Leadership: Extensive experience of developing and delivering impactful communications strategies within complex organisations, ensuring communications activity supports organisational objectives and adapts to changing priorities.
- Senior Stakeholder Influence and Counsel: Proven ability to advise and influence senior stakeholders, building trusted relationships and providing strategic counsel on high-profile, complex and sensitive issues to achieve organisational objectives.
- Leadership of High-Performing Teams: Demonstrable experience of leading and developing high-performing multidisciplinary teams, driving continuous improvement, building capability and fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture.
- Strategic Judgement and Organisational Impact: Strong strategic thinking and communications judgement, with the ability to align communications activity to organisational priorities, balance competing demands and deliver measurable outcomes.
- Leading Through Change and Ambiguity: Demonstrable resilience and adaptability, with experience of leading teams and communications activity through change, uncertainty and evolving priorities whilst maintaining focus, momentum and delivery.
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Benefits
- Salary: £95,000
- Pension: Ministry of Defence contributes £27,521 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
- Learning and development: Tailored to your role
- Work environment: Flexible working options
- Inclusion and diversity: A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- Pension: A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Selection Process Details
To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process accessed via the Civil Service Jobs portal. This should be completed no later than 23:55 on 25th October 2026 and will involve providing the two documents which are weighted equally:
- A CV (no more than 2 pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
- A Personal Statement (no more than 2 pages) providing tangible examples that clearly evidence how you meet the essential criteria for the role.
Air Vice-Marshal Cab Townsend is delighted to be hosting an informal online Q&A session on 20 October 2026, 15:00-15:30 to share more about the Head of Media & Communications (SCS1) role, the team, and the opportunities and challenges that come with it. There will also be plenty of time for your questions.
You can join the session at this link. Attendance is completely optional and plays no part in the formal assessment process. If you experience any issues accessing the session, please contact Nicola.mcnamee100@mod.gov.uk.
External candidates who join the MOD and are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
For further information about the role and full application process, please refer to the candidate pack attached below. If you wish to receive any material in a different format for accessibility, then please contact People-CivHR-SCSCandidateSupport@mod.gov.uk.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
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Security
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)
- 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 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: SCS Recruitment Team Email: People-CivHR-SCSCandidateSupport@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment Team
Email: People-CivHR-SCSCandidateSupport@mod.gov.uk
Further Information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact People-CivHR-SCSCandidateSupport@mod.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission.
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