Head of Communications & Engagement
Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, GB, PE28 2EA
Who we are
VIVO provides facilities management and accommodation maintenance for the UK military and its partners. VIVO embodies both experience and innovation.
What we do
We put our Customers and Families First. They are the driving force behind everything we do. We drive forward improvements for them to ensure the service they receive, whether reactive repairs or a major project, is completed safely and on time. In order to achieve this, we have 4 core values: open, caring, agile and collaborative. These are at the heart of everything we do.
Location: Home based, but candidates must be based in Central England
Permanent, full time
Salary: Up to £80,000 + Companycar/Car allowance
We’re looking for a Head of Communications & Engagement to lead the voice, presence, and strategic influence of VIVO across the Defence estate. This is a pivotal, national role for someone who thrives on driving change, building trust, and delivering high-impact communications across a complex, high-profile environment. If you’re ready for the next step in your communications career—especially if you have experience in regulated or public service sectors—this could be the opportunity to shape the narrative of one of the UK’s most critical infrastructure partnerships.
The Role
This role places you at the centre of VIVO’s external and internal communications strategy. You’ll develop and lead a cohesive communications programme that supports our business goals, strengthens our relationship with Defence customers, and ensures consistency in tone, messaging, and brand identity. You’ll be the strategic lead on everything from media relations and digital channels to internal engagement, crisis communications, and stakeholder briefings.
You’ll oversee all aspects of communications planning for major initiatives such as operational transformation, contract mobilisation, and estate improvement. Representing the voice of VIVO both internally and externally, you’ll help build visibility across the Defence and FM sectors through thought leadership, events, and targeted campaigns. You’ll also act as a key advisor on reputational risk, media protocol, and public-facing communications, often under tight deadlines.
Stakeholder engagement is at the heart of this role. You’ll work closely with the MOD, DIO, service families federations, and other public-sector stakeholders, turning insight into communications that foster trust and improve satisfaction. Internally, you’ll lead initiatives that connect our people to our mission and values—especially across our dispersed, operationally focused teams.
You’ll also oversee the development of digital communications platforms, ensuring relevance, accessibility, and usability. From brand management to content planning, you’ll ensure all materials reflect VIVO’s values and high standards—whether they’re going to employees, customers, or the public. This includes governance of externally facing outputs like FOI responses, customer briefings, and official publications.
As a leader, you’ll inspire a high-performing Communications & Engagement team, ensuring alignment with business priorities while supporting their professional development. You’ll support major change programmes with tailored engagement strategies and track your team’s impact through robust KPIs and analytics.
What You'll Bring
To thrive in this role, you’ll need a degree (or equivalent experience) in communications or marketing, along with significant senior-level experience in corporate communications within a public sector, Defence, or regulated environment. You should be confident influencing at the highest levels and able to navigate formal protocols with ease. Experience managing reputational risks, translating complex operational programmes into clear messaging, and leading communications in a matrixed or joint-venture business are also key.
You’ll need excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills, digital fluency, and a strategic mindset with strong commercial and political awareness. We’re looking for someone who is collaborative, action-oriented, and passionate about delivering meaningful engagement—especially with the Armed Forces community we serve.
This is a national role with travel to VIVO and Defence sites, sometimes at short notice, and requires flexibility to respond to evolving priorities. As our contract portfolio continues to grow beyond £700m annually, the scope and influence of this role will expand too.
If you’re looking for a meaningful leadership position where your expertise in communications can directly impact lives, trust, and infrastructure across the UK, we’d love to hear from you.
What We Offer
- 25 days annual leave
- 6% employee matched pension contribution
- Single private medical cover
- Life assurance 2x annual salary
- Company car/car allowance
VIVO Defence Services
The role you have applied for is with VIVO Defence Services, a joint venture between Serco and EQUANS. By applying for this role, please be aware that information contained within your CV may be shared between VIVO Defence Services, Serco and EQUANS during the recruitment process.
At VIVO, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. Therefore, we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool.
We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working and operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly a Disability Confident Leader. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview. If candidates wish to request extra time to apply then they should contact 0345 010 4000 and ask to speak to a VIVO Recruiter.
