Head of Communications

What if you could work with remarkable people on extraordinary things? What if the end result was something a little bit special? What if your role was mission critical?

For nearly 70 years, AWE has been at the forefront of nuclear weapons research and development. We have a critical mission: to provide the warheads for the UK’s ultimate deterrent - Trident. We also use our unique skills to provide wider UK government with counter-terrorism and nuclear threat reduction solutions.

It takes a special sort of person to work at AWE. What if that person was you?

AWE are looking for a Head of Communications for our infrastructure programme. This position will be part of the Corporate Affairs leadership team.

The Head of Communications will provide overall leadership and direction for all communication and cultural activities for AWE’s infrastructure programme. The role will direct, manage and influence communications and engagement with internal and external stakeholders to build awareness, understanding and engagement with the infrastructure programme. The role has overall accountability for defining the strategic plan and delivery for all communications to build and maintain a positive reputation, creating the conditions in which the programme can be delivered.

Location - Reading / Basingstoke area

Package - Competitive leadership salary depending on experience, performance related bonus, flexible benefit scheme

As part of our People Promise, AWE (one of the best 25 big companies to work for in the UK) has a range of benefits to suit you. These include:

- Time to recharge your batteries with 270 hours of annual leave (plus every other Friday off work)
- Consideration for flexible working arrangements so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle.
- Opportunities for Professional Career Development that include funding for the annual membership of a relevant professional body, access to mentors and training
- Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services
- A generous defined contribution Group Personal Pension (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your own contribution)
- Life Assurance
- Discounts - access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending
- Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring for your family
- A host of voluntary & core benefits to suit your health and wellbeing - more information available on our careers site

What will you be required to do?
- Develop and oversee delivery of an integrated communications strategy that is fully aligned to the infrastructure programme’s overall objectives, as well as the People, Community Engagement and Consenting strategies
- Lead, manage and develop the infrastructure programme communications team with clear objectives and development, linked to the delivery of communications and engagement objectives
- Develop and embed a culture that provides a line of sight for employees with AWE’s vision, supported by the values and behaviours expected in AWE to deliver it
- Plan and support the execution of integrated, multi-channel campaigns (CRM, Social, Paid Digital and Loyalty) to drive awareness of the infrastructure programme, working with the Corporate Affairs team, and ensuring that appropriate level of support is planned for campaigns
- Working with creative agency/in house design studio to develop innovative, relevant and compelling content to support the creative approach
- Develop a pipeline of key messages, success stories and focal points for activity / milestones across priority campaigns
- Work closely with the Head of Community Relations and Head of External Communications to ensure strategies, messaging and activity align and that each workstream enhances and complements the other
- Oversee the development of evaluation metrics to measure the effectiveness and impact of communications and engagement, to drive continuous improvement across the lifetime of the programme
- Plan the infrastructure programme communications budget and manage activities within forecasts, ensuring best value for money
- Educated to degree level or equivalent experience
- Application of external communications techniques/practices
- Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, including editing and copywriting
- Strong organisational and project management skills
- Strong influencing and relationship building skills, with the ability to win confidence and trust
- Proven experience of designing and delivering effective external communications strategies to support business objectives
- Proven experience of growing digital channels and implementing best practice
- Experience of working with different stakeholders and partners to align communications planning and activity to common objectives
- Experience of delivering crisis communications/emergency response
- Experience using insights and analysis to inform communications strategy a