We are hiring: Senior Consultant – Defence, Aerospace and Security Communications

About the agency

CMS Strategic is a London-based specialist agency for the global defence, aerospace and security sectors. At a key time of growth, an opportunity is now available for a senior communications consultant to join the team.

The successful candidate must be able to undertake a variety of activities to support a busy and productive business.

Job Summary

This role will lead on a selection of client accounts, develop strategic communications plans, and ensures the successful delivery of high-quality public relations and public affairs campaigns. This role is responsible for managing client relationships, overseeing account teams, driving business growth, and delivering measurable results that align with clients’ commercial and reputational objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Client Leadership

• Serve as the senior strategic advisor for a portfolio of client accounts.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term client relationships.
• Lead regular client meetings, presentations, and strategic reviews.
• Anticipate client needs and provide proactive communications counsel.
• Manage crisis communications and reputation management initiatives when required.

Strategic Communications

• Develop integrated PR and communications strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Oversee campaign planning, execution, and evaluation.
• Identify newsworthy opportunities and create compelling media narratives.
• Advise clients on corporate communications, thought leadership, executive profiling, and stakeholder engagement.

Media Relations

• Build and maintain relationships with key journalists, editors, influencers, and industry stakeholders.
• Secure high-quality media coverage across print, broadcast, online, and social media.
• Oversee the development of press releases, media materials, speeches, opinion pieces, and briefing documents.

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop account managers, executives, and junior team members.
• Allocate resources across accounts to ensure effective delivery.
• Conduct performance reviews, coaching, and career development planning.
• Foster a collaborative and high-performing team culture.

Account Management

• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to a high standard.
• Monitor account profitability and manage budgets effectively.
• Oversee reporting, campaign measurement, and client evaluation.
• Ensure quality assurance across all client deliverables.

Business Development

• Identify opportunities to grow existing client accounts.
• Lead or support new business pitches and proposal development.
• Build strong industry networks and represent the agency at events.
• Contribute to marketing and thought leadership initiatives.

Financial Management

• Manage account budgets and forecasting.
• Monitor revenue, profitability, and utilisation.
• Ensure accurate billing and financial reporting.
• Support annual business planning and revenue targets.

Skills and Experience

Essential

• Significant experience in public relations, communications, or corporate affairs, ideally in Defence.
• Experience managing multiple high-profile client accounts.
• Excellent strategic planning and problem-solving skills.
• Strong media relations and political network.
• Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Proven leadership and people management experience.
• Experience managing budgets and commercial performance.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.

Desirable

• Experience across agency-side corporate communications roles.
• Crisis communications experience.
• Experience delivering integrated communications campaigns.
• Familiarity with media monitoring and analytics tools.

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking
• Client relationship management
• Commercial awareness
• Leadership and coaching
• Influencing and negotiation
• Excellent communication skills
• Decision-making
• Project management
• Creativity and innovation
• Resilience under pressure

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Client satisfaction and retention
• Revenue growth within existing accounts
• New business wins
• Campaign effectiveness and measurable outcomes
• Media coverage quality and reach
• Team engagement and development
• Account profitability
• Delivery against budgets and timelines

Qualifications

Relevant professional qualifications are advantageous.

Reporting To

• Managing Director
• Chief Operations Officer

Direct Reports

• Account Managers
• Senior Account Executives
• Account Executives

Typical Salary (UK)

Agency: highly competitive

Ready to make an impact?

If you’re an experienced communications professional with the strategic insight, leadership skills and sector knowledge to help ambitious organisations succeed, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today by sending your CV and a short covering note explaining why you’d be a great fit for CMS Strategic.

Apply now