Senior Brand and Communications Manager (Defence & Government Services)

Job Introduction

Want to work for a top 50 Employer for Women? At Sodexo, we provide services at 2,300 client sites across the UK and Ireland, including offices, hospitals, schools, defence sites, prisons, sporting events and visitor attractions. With 34,000 employees we believe our people are the key to our success. So join us as a Senior Brand and Communications Manager and be responsible for developing and delivering an internal and external communication strategy that fully supports the global Defence/Government strategy.  Excellent social media skills are required and a strategic overview to help drive the new ways of working that are required in this segment. You also need to be mobile to travel to offices in Tidworth at least once a week.

We are a key partner to the Ministry of Defence, running services at major UK and overseas military bases which improve quality of life for our military personnel. The impact of change and uncertainty as consolidation occurs throughout the armed forces, set against a backdrop of today’s rapidly changing world, makes the preservation of high standards even more important than ever. We are dedicated to delivering the best quality as well as cost-efficiency in the delivery of infrastructure, facilities management, catering, retail and leisure services to the armed forces community

Role Responsibility

Strategic thinking:

Play a pivotal role in the strategic development of the Defence segment in the UK & Ireland.

Regularly report to the board on activity undertaken in accordance with the segment strategy – demonstrate successes and challenge thinking

A big part in a big team:

Work with Brand & Communications colleagues across the UK & Ireland and play a crucial role in the on-going development of our brand strategy for Sodexo UK & Ireland

Global network:

Work as part of a global Brand & Communications team to ensure our quality of life positioning outcomes are relevant, tangible and understandable for our clients and consumers

Liaise with global stakeholders to ensure the segment communications strategy and objectives are understood

Innovation and development:

Look to develop existing external relationships and nurture new and exciting opportunities to communicate about the outcomes we achieve

Develop focus on return on investment and implement new mechanisms to prove the segment benefit of the communications activity undertaken

Balance the traditional communications requirements of the Sodexo Defence business with the need to continue to develop modern, consumer-focussed communications brand awareness activity

Behaviours:

Challenge the status quo

Use strong influencing skills to leverage the power of the global Brand & Communications function to the benefit of the Defence segment

The Ideal Candidate

• Professional or higher qualification in internal communications or corporate communications
• Demonstrable experience of internal and external Communications either in-house or agency ideally working within a complex environment.
• Excellent communicator, both verbally and in writing with the ability and gravitas to operate at all levels of the business
• Experience of working in a similar environment / Defence knowledge would be extremely advantageous.
• Creative flair to develop engaging communications
• Strong skills and experience in managing many projects simultaneously
• Demonstrable experience of developing and executing on communications plans that utilise a wide variety of media, including new media particularly social networking sites, blogs, content communities and other social media platforms.
• Some experience of crisis communication and change management
• Full driving licence with the ability to travel between London and Tidworth Offices weekly

About the Company

Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults within a regulated activity. Certain roles will require applicants to undergo screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and/ or Disclosure Scotland.