Content & Media Relations Manager – Helicopters & Cyber
Location: Yeovil or Bristol
Job Goals
* Develop the Leonardo brand, primarily by raising the profile of our UK onshore helicopter business and our UK-based cyber & security capabilities.
* Help win campaigns in the UK, including major competitions where the Government is the customer.
* Help win export campaigns for our UK-produced products around the world.
* Support the advancement of Leonardo’s global image in concert with international colleagues.
Leonardo UK, part of the international Leonardo group, employs 8,200 people at eight sites around the UK. Our Helicopters UK business area encompasses around 3,300 people, primarily based in Yeovil, and our Cyber & Security business has 300 people based in Bristol. We are uniquely positioned as the UK’s only end-to-end helicopter provider, meaning that we design, manufacture and support helicopters in-country. With over 100 years of heritage in Yeovil, the town is officially recognised as ‘the Home of British Helicopters’. Our Cyber and Security business is relatively small, but rapidly growing (doubling in size to £85 million in 2023, up from £42m in 2020), and already provides services to a number of government and civil customers. We are keen to grow both businesses, which naturally requires strong communications support.
As a member of Leonardo’s Communications team, you will play a major role in how the business and its products are perceived by our audiences. We are a small team with a strategic impact and plenty to do, which we deliver through having a friendly and supportive culture where we all pitch in. You can expect this role to be interesting, varied and fulfilling.
You will have a good deal of autonomy to deliver results in the way that suits you best, including day-to-day organisation and location, benefitting from Leonardo UK's flexible custom working model. One caveat is that we would expect you to spend a minimum of two days per week at our Helicopters site in Yeovil to ensure that you’re building strong relationships with the team on-site.
Writing and relationship-building are the two primary skills we need for this role. Relationship building to gain insight and access into the business in order to tease out and build stories. Then writing skills to translate these stories into copy that is ready to publish across external and internal channels (with a dash of diplomacy to get them over the line in the face of sometimes-competing interests).
On the media relations side, we would be keen for you to build links with journalists that we already know well as well as reach out and develop relationships where we haven’t been before. Our ambition is to expand our broadcast and national press coverage, building on our very successful results gained throughout our AW149 New Medium Helicopter campaign.
Job Description
* You will work with senior sales/business development people and technology experts across Leonardo’s ‘Helicopters UK’ and ‘Cyber & Security’ business areas to develop narrative and messaging for relevant audiences, then deliver these messages across a range of appropriate external communications channels.
* The UK team is part of a transnational corporate communications function based at our global headquarters in Rome, so you will work closely with this team to ensure cross-company alignment and provide relevant support.
* A primary responsibility will be to plan, write, develop, edit and agree quality content suitable for external (media, digital) and internal (intranet) channels.
* You will build or further develop relationships with a range of media (national, trade and broadcast) and work with them to package and place positive stories that support the campaign objectives of the business.
Key Responsibility Areas
* Work across the Leonardo Helicopters UK and Cyber & Security UK businesses to identify stories, write and approve content; support the production of multimedia content (videos, podcasts, infographics) with the support of the relevant functions/dedicated teams at corporate level;
* Be a point of contact for the corporate business communications team (Rome head office) for Leonardo’s UK-based helicopters and cyber & security businesses;
* Support the development of the global Leonardo brand and the team in Rome where relevant, for example with stories that originate Internationally but have a UK impact (e.g. Air Ambulance services, which are provided in the UK using Leonardo helicopters manufactured in Italy);
* Support the Managing Director Helicopters UK with external communications, including speechwriting, video scripting, comments etc;
* Work with national, trade and broadcast media to package, sell and develop positive stories about Leonardo. Ensure that subsequent media coverage is widely distributed with respective teams;
* Attend trade shows in the UK and abroad on behalf of the team when relevant;
* Coordinate with the wider communications team on events being held on-sites, and abroad, ensuring opportunities are maximised;
* Maintain relationships with senior figures across the business, reporting and creating a vital network through which to maintain a flow of information.
Skills, Qualifications And Knowledge Required
* A qualification and/or experience in journalism, communication, public relations or English would be an advantage.
* Exceptional writing, editing and proofreading skills are essential, as well as the ability to source stories from employees.
* Familiarity and a good level of ability with social media and video channels.
* Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills in order to interface comfortably at every level of the business and coordinate with the rest of the UK communications team and the corporate communications team in Rome.
* Creativity to enable you to devise and implement communication strategies.
Security Clearance
You must be eligible for full security clearance. For more information and guidance please visit this link.
Life at Leonardo
With a company funded benefits package, a commitment to learning and development, and a flexible approach to working hours focused on the needs of both our employees and customers, a career with Leonardo has never offered as many opportunities or been more accessible to as many people.
* Flexible Working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us.
* Company funded flexible benefits: Access to private healthcare, dental schemes, Workplace ISA, Go Green Car Scheme, technology and lifestyle options (£500 annual allowance).
* Holidays: 25 days plus bank holidays, option to buy/sell leave and to accrue up to 12 additional flexi leave days per year.
* Pension: Award winning pension scheme (up to 15% employer contribution).
* Wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme with access to free mental health support, financial wellbeing support and network groups to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to diversity & inclusion (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
* Lifestyle: Discounted Gym membership, Cycle to work scheme.
* Training: Free access to more than 4000 online courses via Coursera and Linkedin Learning.
* Referral Incentive: You can earn a reward for successfully referring a friend or family member.
* Bonus Scheme: In place for all employees at management level and below.
For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.
Leonardo is a global high-tech company and one of the key players in Aerospace, Defence and Security. Headquartered in Italy, Leonardo has over 45,000 employees, of which 8,000 are based at 8 sites throughout the UK.
At Leonardo UK, we believe that a diverse and inclusive work environment unlocks our people’s full potential and drives innovation and creativity. We work hard to offer a welcoming, accessible and inclusive place to work for all of our people, creating a culture where everyone can thrive, feel safe and have a sense of belonging and connection.
This is a great opportunity to bring your talents and form an integral part of Leonardo’s future. We can help you develop your skills and offer great opportunities to develop and grow, so why not join us.
Primary Location
GB - Yeovil - Lysander Rd
Additional Locations
GB - Bristol Building
Contract Type
Hybrid Working
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