We are looking for a full time Public Relations Officer to join the PR and Public Affairs Team at SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. The role supports the delivery of compelling and hard-hitting media campaigns to raise awareness of the services SSAFA provides for Armed Forces personnel, veterans, and their families. It supports a range of fundraising initiatives and events from finding stories to sell-in at both a regional and national level and working with the media to facilitate interviews.  

Central to the role is relationship management and stakeholder engagement. The successful candidate will have the ability to build strong, collaborative relationships with key national and regional media and will successfully build contacts throughout SSAFA, including our volunteer network, as well as other organisations across the military and wider-welfare charity sector.  

While this role is based in our London office, there will be the flexibility to work remotely. There will also be the requirement for out of hours press office cover. 

About the team 

Though a small team, the PR and Public Affairs team has a wealth of experience with a varied and interesting remit incorporating media relations, reputation management, celebrity and political engagement, content, and case study development.  

The team sits in the wider Fundraising, Marketing, and Communications Directorate, and working collaboratively across all departments means the PR Officer role is exposed to a wide range of skillsets and will be fully immersed in the inner workings of the team with regular meetings and workshopping ideas.  

About you 

We are looking for an innovative problem solver and an exceptional self-starter who works well alone and as part of a team. We want someone who brings ideas to the table, can adapt quickly to changing events and priorities, and has a nose for a good story and an eye for detail.  

Ideally, you’ll have at least two years’ work experience in Public Relations and come armed with examples of campaigns that you’ve worked on or ideas that you’ve made real. Experience collaborating across teams is essential as well as a willingness to learn about, and enhance, a wide range of activity that SSAFA undertakes.  

About SSAFA 

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is a trusted source of support for serving personnel, veterans, and their families in their time of need. In 2022 our trained teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 59,000 people, including veterans, serving personnel (regulars and reserves) and their families. Since 1885 we have provided welfare and wellbeing assistance that is tailored to our Armed Forces community. We know about the unique demands of service life, whether in the UK or overseas, and we continue to meet the demand for support to enable the entire Armed Forces family to thrive. SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person and their family, any time they need us and in any way they need us. 

Diversity and Inclusion at SSAFA 

SSAFA exists to support a diverse range of beneficiaries within the armed forces community, and we believe diversity within our teams is key to ensuring we can deliver our services effectively. We thrive on differences and believe it is critical to our success as a worldwide charity. SSAFA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We therefore encourage applications from all genders, races, religions, ages, and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with disabilities, and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our business. 

SSAFA is committed to using the Disclosure & Barring Service to ensure we, as an employer, safeguard those we serve.  

Further information about the role 

If you have any queries or would like to speak to someone about this role, please contact Andrew Johnstone on Andrew.Johnstone@ssafa365.org.uk for an informal discussion.  

Download the full job description here

Review the benefits that SSAFA have to offer here

No agencies please. Any unsolicited submissions from agencies will be accepted as a direct application from the candidate and no fees will be payable. 

How to apply 

Click on 'Start your application' now. 

If you need any adjustments to support you with the application process, please contact recruitment@ssafa.org.uk  

Closing date: Midnight on 6th December. SSAFA reserves the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. 

Interviews: Week commencing 11th  December