UK Ministry of Defence
Navy - Communications Planning Manager
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Whale Island, Portsmouth PO2 8ER
Job Summary
At Navy Command, we lead, support, and sustain the Royal Navy (RN) across every theatre of operations. We coordinate the people, platforms, and missions that keep the Fleet ready for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. Together, we uphold centuries of naval tradition while driving innovation that ensures the RN’s readiness to protect our nation and secure our future.
You will be responsible for key planning outputs that sit at the heart of RN communications activity, helping colleagues across the organisation anticipate opportunities, align campaigns and amplify the stories that matter most. You will also get to work on broadcast opportunities including books, TV programmes, documentaries and films.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Part time roles may be considered above 30 hours per week.
Job Description
With an instantly recognisable brand, RN Communications and Influence (RN Comms) is charged with protecting and improving the reputation of the organisation. Through a well-developed comms strategy, the 40-strong team work together to protect and increase levels of favourability and understanding amongst the RN’s target audiences. This is achieved via:
- Planning and Evaluation. Developing essential messaging and communications plans to ensure coherent communications across all channels, which are underpinned by ongoing evaluation.
- Content Creation. Creating impactful and engaging communications content and governing current owned channels and digital transformation.
- Campaigns. Driving proactive storytelling about the successes of and future ambitions of the RN both internally and externally.
- Reputation. Protecting the RN reputation and brand across all proactive outputs and reactive media queries.
Our outputs form a coordinated process which starts with planning and is underpinned by Insight, Data, Evaluation and Analysis (IDEA) in order to deliver effective communication campaigns for the organisation.
This Is a High-visibility Role With Responsibility For Key Planning Outputs That Sit At The Heart Of RN Communications Activity, Helping Colleagues Across The Organisation Anticipate Opportunities, Align Campaigns And Amplify The Stories That Matter Most. You Will:
- Spot and develop creative PR opportunities from across the organisation to champion the brand, reach new audiences and align activity with RN Senior Leadership Team (SLT), Directorate of Defence Communications (DDC) and No.10 priorities
- Lead the development of communications plans, using planning tools to shape SMART objectives and working with colleagues to bring audience insight and emerging trends into every plan
- Help drive campaign evaluation and reporting, demonstrating impact, engagement and the value of communications activity
- Support and advise on the planning of internal and external communications activity, helping shape priorities across the portfolio
- Work closely with the central Government comms team, Directorate of Defence Communications (DDC) and wider Defence partners to plan major events and high-profile activity
- Identify where new communications and campaign plans are needed across the wider RN network to support delivery of Command Plan objectives
- Build compelling short- and long-term campaign plans alongside subject matter experts, using the Government Communications planning approach and input from RN Comms, DDC and other Defence organisations
- Provide line management for the Planning Officer role
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Broadcast management. You will act as the first point of contact for broadcast opportunities including books, TV programmes, documentaries and films. You will project manage each request from initial scoping through to approval/decline. In instances of larger projects, you may be project lead throughout the entire duration of the opportunity.
BRIDGE. You will provide communications support for Op BRIDGE planning and delivery (the events following the death of senior members of the Royal Family).
The Planning Manager reports to the Comms Strategy Team Leader, providing an overview of projects status, project outputs and new planning requirements from within RN Comms and DDC.
This post carries responsibility to be part of the RN Comms on-call duty roster.
This Is a High-visibility Role With Responsibility For Key Planning Outputs That Sit At The Heart Of RN Communications Activity, Helping Colleagues Across The Organisation Anticipate Opportunities, Align Campaigns And Amplify The Stories That Matter Most. You Will:
- Spot and develop creative PR opportunities from across the organisation to champion the brand, reach new audiences and align activity with RN Senior Leadership Team (SLT), Directorate of Defence Communications (DDC) and No.10 priorities
- Lead the development of communications plans, using planning tools to shape SMART objectives and working with colleagues to bring audience insight and emerging trends into every plan
- Help drive campaign evaluation and reporting, demonstrating impact, engagement and the value of communications activity
- Support and advise on the planning of internal and external communications activity, helping shape priorities across the portfolio
- Work closely with the central Government comms team, Directorate of Defence Communications (DDC) and wider Defence partners to plan major events and high-profile activity
- Identify where new communications and campaign plans are needed across the wider RN network to support delivery of Command Plan objectives
- Build compelling short- and long-term campaign plans alongside subject matter experts, using the Government Communications planning approach and input from RN Comms, DDC and other Defence organisations
- Provide line management for the Planning Officer role
Broadcast management. You will act as the first point of contact for broadcast opportunities including books, TV programmes, documentaries and films. You will project manage each request from initial scoping through to approval/decline. In instances of larger projects, you may be project lead throughout the entire duration of the opportunity.
BRIDGE. You will provide communications support for Op BRIDGE planning and delivery (the events following the death of senior members of the Royal Family).
The Planning Manager reports to the Comms Strategy Team Leader, providing an overview of projects status, project outputs and new planning requirements from within RN Comms and DDC.
This post carries responsibility to be part of the RN Comms on-call duty roster.
Person specification
We Are Looking For Someone With Experience:
- Working in a communications (or similar business function) role
- Working with stakeholders
- Developing communications strategies/plans
- Conducting quantitative and qualitative primary research & data analysis
- Writing evaluations/reports
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together
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We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
Communicating and Influencing
Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,927 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
- 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
- Market-leading employer pension contribution of 28.97%
- Personal & professional development
- Alternative working patterns for many roles
- Access to a confidential, professional support service
- Discount schemes
- Bicycle / season-ticket loans
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
- Special paid leave to volunteer (up to 6 days a year)
Our headquarters in Portsmouth offers an impressive range of on-site facilities including a gymnasium, tennis courts, and other sporting facilities, a children’s nursery, a bistro restaurant, a shop and plenty of car parking spaces.
In Navy Command we believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you’ll be supported through your learning journey and your career. This can include working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking an apprenticeship as part of your role.
You’ll have access to a variety of qualifications pathways ranging from GCSE/A-Level equivalent all the way up to master’s degree, depending on your role, your previous skills and your experience. Some qualifications even include “on-the-job” training which means minimal disruption to your working day but maximum impact.
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
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