The Forces Employment Charity (FEC) is looking for a confident and experienced Communications/PR professional to join our Charity’s busy and ambitious Marketing and Communications team.

The Marketing and Communications team exists to increase the visibility of the Forces Employment Charity and our vision to deliver specialist knowledge and experience to bridge the gap between military life and civilian employment and deliver life-long support for veterans, their partners and dependants. We also support veterans in touch with the justice system via our work delivering NOVA across the UK. This role is responsible for telling the inspiring and powerful stories of our clients and the wider military community that we support across the UK while securing high-profile, impactful coverage to raise awareness of our work and brand.

This role will be within the Marketing, Communications, and Fundraising directorate and report to the Marketing, Communications, and Fundraising Director.

It is a Part-time permanent role, working 3 days/ 21 hours per week, with a salary of £35,000 - £40,000 pro rata, depending on experience. The role is hybrid, mainly home-based, with travel to our head office in London twice a month and other limited travel when required.

Key Responsibilities

• The primary point of contact for all PR communications, you’ll help develop and execute forward-thinking PR plans and strategies for the organisation.
• You’ll be responsible for implementing and managing a comprehensive and proactive PR activity schedule for the Charity, crafting compelling content to entice journalists and the media to support our work, and responding reactively to requests the Charity receives.
• You will own the Charity’s case study management process and be responsible for ensuring easy access to our client stories for use across the organisation, partners, funders, media and the annual Impact Report.
• Support the Marketing, Communications and Fundraising Director to plan and deliver the strategic stakeholder engagement plan.
• Identifying, recruiting and stewarding relevant celebrities to support key FEC activities.
• You will champion best practices in PR and drive effective, integrated campaigns across the UK, ensuring a cohesive approach to both traditional and digital media.
• Dive into projects such as our 140thAnniversary, Month of the military Child and planning for the annual Armed Forces Day celebration.
• You’ll drive forward our work to raise awareness of the barriers facing the military community seeking employment or involvement in the justice system and help get these issues on the national agenda.
• You will stay current with industry trends and provide insights to the wider team as needed.
• Engaging audiences through strategic PR efforts to drive our mission to reach and support as many people as possible.
• You will enjoy working with different teams across the organisation to promote FEC campaigns focusing on employment, the barriers faced by all members of the military community, research and regional support.

General Responsibilities

• Participate in the charity’s appraisal scheme.
• Be familiar with all charity policies and own the Media Policy, working with staff to ensure compliance of the policy when required.
• Carry out other duties that are reasonably to be considered within the scope and purpose of the job and aptitudes of the job holder.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential competencies

• A seasoned communications professional with previous experience delivering high-profile and effective PR campaigns, across different channels to achieve the greatest impact.
• Previous experience of responding to reactive media enquiries on a variety of different subjects and ability to work to tight deadlines.
• Experience handling issues and crisis communications, as well as dealing with sensitive issues.
• Experience delivering an ambassador programme and working with celebrities and influencers.
• You will be flexible and adaptable, work well under pressure, and be able to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Experience interviewing people sensitively, managing their stories and delivering the required consent process whilst adhering to GDPR rules.
• Exceptional communication skills - both written and verbal.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including proven ability to negotiate with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Confident, self-motivated and proactive with the ability to use initiative and take responsibility for developing and implementing plans.
• Possess tact and diplomacy and can communicate at all levels within an organisation and with external agencies, partners and clients.
• Well-organised and collaborative with the ability to prioritise, manage a busy workload and multitask.

Desirable competences

• Experience of working for a charity.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• A good working knowledge of the UK Armed Forces.
• Empathy with and a good understanding of ex-Forces personnel and the challenges they can face.

Forces Employment Charity is an equal opportunities employer and values having a diverse workforce. We actively encourage applications from all qualified candidates.

If you meet the criteria and are passionate about this role, we encourage you to apply. Theclosing datefor the position is Midnight,3 January 2024.

Please note that this job advert may close early if a suitable candidate is found. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis as applications are received.