Government Relations and Communications Manager

Government Relations and Communications Manager

Permanent

Full Time

Competitive salaries and excellent benefits including up to one day's paid leave each year to undertake volunteering opportunities

The Manufacturers' Organisation | Make UK

Make UK Defence is the UK’s leading champion for the defence SME and supply chain community. We work at the heart of a fast-evolving and strategically vital sector, supporting businesses that deliver innovation, economic growth and critical capability for the UK Armed Forces.

We are now looking for a Government relations and Communications Manager to lead and shape our communications activity, helping to expand our profile and influence across government, parliament, industry and the media.

As Communications Manager, you will lead Make UK Defence’s communications work, building our brand and amplifying our voice as a trusted trade body. Reporting to the Senior Policy and Communications Manager and working closely with the wider Membership and Marketing teams, you’ll deliver high-impact communications campaigns and showcase the cutting-edge work being done across the UK defence supply chain.

You will also act as a key representative for Make UK Defence, engaging directly with government and external stakeholders. This is an exciting opportunity to join a rapidly growing team at a critical moment for the UK defence sector.

• Lead and deliver Make UK Defence’s communications strategy, running campaigns across national, regional and local press, as well as trade and broadcast media.
• Develop and maintain a strong, confident voice for the organisation through effective and compelling communications.
• Work closely with the Marketing Manager to enhance social media output and member communications.
• Conduct proactive media monitoring and horizon scanning to identify emerging issues, trends and opportunities for our members.
• Support the Senior Policy and Communications Manager in building and maintaining strong relationships with government departments, policymakers, foreign embassies and key stakeholders.
• Contribute to the development of high-quality policy proposals that represent and reform the defence supply chain.
• Work collaboratively across Make UK Defence and the wider Make UK organisation to ensure joined-up communications activity.

Essential experience and skills

• Proven experience in a communications, public relations agency or media environment.
• Proven experience delivering high-quality communications campaigns.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong attention to detail.
• Confidence in pitching stories and engaging effectively with journalists.
• An understanding of the defence industry and the defence supply chain.
• Experience or knowledge of how government and policy making works.

With over 125 years of experience, Make UK is a leading provider of essential business support and a champion for manufacturing industry in the UK. Make UK has the close ear of Government and is a trusted provider of essential services for world leading manufacturing companies across the country. Everything we do is designed to inspire British manufacturers to compete, innovate and grow.

Make UK staff enjoy a good benefits package and values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Benefits to include, but not limited to: no bank holiday/weekend work, flexible hours, health cover, matched pension contributions up to 8%, and life assurance.

We are committed to supporting the Armed Forces Community and we recognise the contribution that Service personnel, both regular and reservist, veterans and military families make to our organisation and have pledged to support this by signing up to the Armed Forces Covenant.

Due to volume of applications, if you do not hear back within 5 working days please assume that you have been unsuccessful at this time.

Applications also welcome on the link below: