At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead AALTO’s public affairs strategy and shape corporate communications.
- Company: Join AALTO, a pioneering Airbus subsidiary in Stratospace technology.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, 25 days holiday, private medical insurance, and more.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth and innovation in a cutting-edge field.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in aerospace while influencing key stakeholders.
- Qualifications: Senior experience in public affairs and exceptional communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 51750 - 63250 £ per year.
AALTO, a global leader in Stratospace.
Based in Farnborough, AALTO is an Airbus subsidiary that manufactures, operates, and delivers services with its solar-powered, stratospheric platform: Zephyr.
Zephyr’s persistence enables continuous flight for months at a time.
Its current flight-time record of over 67 days in the stratosphere.
From above 60,000+ft, or 20km above ground, AALTO can deliver several applications including direct-to-device connectivity and high-resolution Earth observation.
AALTO operates in a new operational layer between most of air traffic and low-Earth orbit, Stratospace.
This is where high-altitude platforms led by Zephyr deliver services to commercial and government partners.
We can help monitor environments, observe borders, track natural disasters and connect unconnected communities.
Join us as we create a new domain of aerospace: Stratospace.
You’ll be part of a highly-skilled, innovative and passionate group of people – Team AALTO.
Together, we can Unlock Stratospace.
About The Role
The Public Affairs & Communications Director will shape AALTO’s reputation and stakeholder influence as the business scales Stratospace.
Reporting to the VP Sales and Marketing and partnering closely with the CEO, the role leads public affairs, communications and senior stakeholder engagement across priority markets.
This is a high-profile opportunity for a strategic leader who can secure trust, influence complex environments and support AALTO’s commercial and regulatory success.
Responsibilities to include
- Lead AALTO’s global public affairs strategy, securing regulatory access and market confidence.
- Build trusted senior relationships with governments, regulators and political stakeholders in priority markets.
- Define AALTO’s external narrative around funding, operations, commercial progress and strategic milestones.
- Lead corporate communications across media, executive positioning, employee engagement and leadership messaging.
- Partner with the CEO and CFO on investor communications, fundraising narratives and strategic positioning.
- Support market entry and growth through focused political engagement, advocacy and stakeholder mapping.
- Act as a senior spokesperson and prepare leaders for high-stakes media and external engagements.
- Shape executive communications for employees, board audiences and leadership forums.
- Own crisis communications and issues management, advising leaders on sensitive reputational matters.
Skills and Knowledge Required
- Senior experience across government relations, public affairs and corporate communications.
- Proven ability to influence senior external decision-makers and advise executive teams.
- Strong communications judgement across policy, commercial, investor, media and employee audiences.
- Exceptional writing skills, including speechwriting, scripting and executive messaging.
- Commercial acumen and understanding of how reputation supports growth and market access.
- Ability to balance strategic storytelling with regulatory sensitivity and operational credibility.
- Deep crisis communications and issues-management expertise.
- Credible leadership capability with strong relationship-building skills.
- Track record managing senior media relationships and corporate reputation.
- Experience engaging senior government, regulatory, trade body and industry stakeholders.
- Comfort operating with pace, ambiguity and influence in an evolving business.
In addition to an attractive market-aligned salary, we offer
In addition to an attractive market-aligned salary, we offer
- Rewarding Excellence: Benefit from our short-term incentive plan that rewards your hard work and dedication.
- Enjoy Your Time Off: Benefit from 25 days of holiday to relax and recharge.
- Stay Healthy: We’ve got your health covered with private medical insurance, along with dental and optical cash back.
- Secure Your Future: Take advantage of our personal pension plan to ensure a comfortable retirement.
- Peace of Mind: Our income protection and life assurance schemes are there to support you when you need it most.
- Getting around: Drive the latest vehicles with our discounted salary sacrifice scheme.
- We Care About You: Our employee assistance programme is always available to provide the support you need.
- Perks Galore: Enjoy a range of employee discounts via Perkbox, from household goods to travel!
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Public Affairs & Communications Director employer: AALTO
AALTO HAPS Ltd. is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and innovative work environment where employees can thrive in their careers. With a strong focus on professional growth, competitive benefits including a flexible work schedule and a pension plan, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, AALTO fosters a culture of collaboration and excellence. Located at the forefront of aerospace technology, employees have the unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking projects that redefine connectivity in the stratosphere.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Public Affairs & Communications Director
✨Get Involved in PR Events
Dive into local PR meetups and workshops. Events like these are perfect for getting your face out there, chatting with industry pros, and spotting potential job openings at companies like AALTO. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to learn about trends and make lasting connections.
✨Showcase Your PR Skills
Start building your personal brand as a PR ace. Use platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn to share your thoughts on current events or PR campaigns you admire. Tagging companies you want to work for, like AALTO, can catch their eye—especially if your insights resonate!
✨Leverage Your Network
Reach out to friends, family, or connections in the PR field. Even a casual chat can lead to opportunities. If you've got mutual contacts, ask for introductions when applying. Personal recommendations can give your application a nice little boost!
✨Tailor Your Approach
When applying for a full-time PR role, make sure to research AALTO inside and out. Understanding their campaigns, values, and style allows us to directly align our application and impress during interviews. Don't hesitate to apply through our website—going direct can make a real difference!
We think you need these skills to ace Public Affairs & Communications Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Get Your Story Straight:In public relations, storytelling is everything! Make sure your CV highlights your experience in crafting compelling narratives and managing media relations. Share specific examples of campaigns you've worked on, and don’t forget to include any press coverage you've generated—it's impressive proof of your skills!
Show Off Your Communication Skills:Since PR is all about communication, we want to see your best writing samples. Include pieces like press releases, blog posts, or social media content that you've created. This gives us a taste of your voice and your ability to convey messages clearly and effectively, which is crucial for a role in this field.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be more than just a recap of your CV; it’s your chance to shine! Emphasise why PR excites you and how your background fits with the mission of AALTO. Show us that you’ve done your homework and speak to why you’re passionate about the work we do.
Connect the Dots:When you’re writing your application, think about how your past experiences link to the responsibilities of the role. Mention any internships, volunteer work, or projects that involved public speaking, event planning, or strategic communication. This will help us see how you can seamlessly bring your skills into a full-time position at AALTO.
How to prepare for a job interview at AALTO
✨Master the Art of Storytelling
In public relations, storytelling is key. We should prepare compelling narratives about past campaigns or projects we’ve worked on. Think about how we can illustrate our impact and creativity in those stories—be ready to discuss specific examples that showcase our skills in managing media relationships and crafting messages.
✨Know Your PR Tools Inside Out
Familiarity with PR tools like Cision or Meltwater is crucial. We need to be able to discuss how we’ve used these tools in past roles or projects. If we've worked on media lists, press releases, or analytics reports, let’s have those experiences ready to share along with metrics we’ve achieved to back up our claims.
✨Stay Current with Industry Trends
We’ve got to stay sharp on the latest trends and events impacting the public relations field. Having a few insights ready about recent campaigns or shifts in media landscapes can show that we’re engaged and knowledgeable. This will also help us make connections between our experiences and the current state of the industry.
✨Showcase Our Versatility
As full-time PR professionals, we need to demonstrate our adaptability. Be ready to talk about how we've handled challenging situations, managed crises, or adapted strategies on the fly. Employers will appreciate our ability to pivot and find solutions under pressure, so let’s have those scenarios at our fingertips to discuss.
