Deputy Head of Government Relations - Submarines in Derby

A Deputy Head of Government Relations opportunity has become available at Rolls Royce Submarines Ltd. The organisation operates in a complex multi-stakeholder environment with multiple interactions with government. As the Deputy Head of Government Relations, you will be based at either our Derby or London locations. You will work closely with the Head of Government Relations and will have responsibility for developing and managing relationships with key defence and security stakeholders.

Why join Rolls-Royce? At Rolls-Royce we are proud to be a business that has truly helped to shape the modern world and are committed to always being a force for progress; powering, protecting, and connecting people everywhere. By joining Rolls-Royce, you'll have the opportunity to work on world-class solutions, supported by a culture that believes individuality is our greatest strength, and all perspectives, experiences and backgrounds help us innovate and enable our high-performance culture.

As the Deputy Head of the RRSL Government Relations you will play a key role in ensuring the executive team has access to the policy, political and government insights required to support decision-making, create an effective and positive relationship with the government, and shape the policy environment in support of priority programmes and campaigns. In this role you can be based out of Derby or London, with likely frequent travel between the two locations and occasional overseas travel.

What you will be doing:

• Support the ongoing development of the Government Relations function and deputise for the Head of Government Relations when necessary, drawing on deep experience and understanding of how government works, particularly on issues relating to defence and security.
• Take specific responsibility for developing and managing relationships with key defence and security stakeholders inside and outside government, building on an established network and experience of working in this field.
• Take the lead on providing government relations support for the delivery of AUKUS objectives, working with UK, US and Australian stakeholders to support programme and campaign teams to unblock issues and build presence in areas crucial to delivery of our objectives.
• Engage with wider stakeholder groups in the defence and security space, including relevant agencies, Parliamentary bodies, and think-tanks.
• Advise executive decision makers, challenge thinking and be able to quickly get up to speed on complex issues, being able to operate independently and distil key information succinctly and accurately.
• Work closely with the wider RR business to maximise use of Group resources, synchronise messages and identify opportunities for engagement to achieve RRSL strategic objectives.
• Coordinate effectively with strategy, marketing, and comms teams to shape and amplify messaging to key stakeholders.
• Represent RRSL at external facing events to build wider awareness of relevant geopolitical issues, maintain and develop skill sets and build a trusted network of contacts.
• Draw on background skills and knowledge to better support the business, seeking to deepen your own knowledge of the wider political and policy landscape that shapes the environment in which RRSL operates, identifying opportunities, risks and threats.
• Ensure compliance with Rolls-Royce ethics policy, rules and guidance relating to working with government officials and politicians. Uphold Rolls-Royce values and standards.

Position Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a STEM subject and/or Political Science, International Relations, Public Policy, Economics, Business Strategy or a related field.
• Experience in security and defence policy or a related role in a government setting, corporate, consultancy or think tank.
• Strong understanding of the defence nuclear enterprise, security landscape and key international relationships.
• Demonstrated experience drafting policy papers, position statements, and executive-level briefing materials.
• Proven ability to manage complex, cross-functional projects from inception to delivery.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging senior executives, government officials, and external experts.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distil complex geopolitical and policy issues into clear, actionable insights.
• Sound judgement, discretion, and the ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters.

Preferred Requirements:

• Master's degree (or equivalent) in a STEM subject and/or International Relations, Public Policy, Security Studies, or a related discipline.
• Experience working across multiple regions or in a multinational organisation.
• Established network within policy, diplomatic, or geopolitical risk communities (e.g. government, multilateral institutions, think tanks, risk consultancies).

To work for Rolls-Royce Submarines you need to hold a Security Check (SC) clearance without any caveats to that clearance. Rolls-Royce will support the application for Security Clearance if you don’t currently already have this in place. Due to the nature of work the business conducts and the protection of certain assets, you must hold a UK nationality. Any dual nationals will require additional scrutiny and background checks prior to commencing work with RRSL.

Our vision is to ensure that the excellence and ingenuity that shaped our history continues into our future. Our multi-year transformation programme aims to turn Rolls-Royce into a high-performing, competitive, resilient and growing company. Join us, and it can be your future vision too.

Rolls-Royce are committed to being a respectful, inclusive, and non-discriminatory workplace where individuality is valued, diverse perspectives fuel innovation, and everyone can thrive.

As part of our selection process, candidates in certain locations may be asked to complete an online assessment, which can include cognitive and behavioural aptitude testing relevant to the role. If required, full instructions for the next steps will be provided.