Strategic Communications Manager

Perks and Benefits

• Flexible working hours
• Work from home option
• Healthcare
• Life Insurance
• Wellness programs
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• Extra holiday
• Sabbatical Opportunities
• Professional development
• Paid volunteer days
• Salary sacrifice
• Team social events
• Extracurricular clubs
• Cycle to work scheme

Job Description

Strategic Communications Manager

At the Satellite Applications Catapult, our mission is to grow the UK economy by supporting our best companies to accelerate the invention and adoption of space data and technology. We are looking for a Strategic Communications Manager who can amplify our influence and ensure that our expert voice is heard in the places where innovation, policy, investment and impact intersect.

This role is for a highly skilled communications expert who can shape strategic narratives and content, connect with high-value audiences across government, industry, academia and media, and ensure that our messages are relevant, compelling, and timely. The ideal candidate will understand the policy, innovation and technology landscape we work in, and know how to build the right partnerships, place our experts in key conversations and strengthen our position as a national asset.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy and Planning

• Develop and deliver clear, achievable strategic communications strategies in collaboration with business teams for the Catapult’s major interventions, covering Missions, Defence, Business Growth and Corporate Communications.
• Act as a senior communications representative and advisor with members of the Leadership Team to ensure visibility of plans and delivery and to ensure delivery against objectives.
• Hold budget responsibility for activity areas.

Thought Leadership

• Deliver highly relevant, expert content to establish our credibility with key audiences.
• Create ongoing thought‑leadership campaigns that highlight expertise and influence key audiences, supporting uptake of space data and technology.
• Develop articles, white papers, video, podcast, op‑eds, media engagement, webinars and events to maximise visibility.

Media

• Build relationships with journalists, editors, podcast hosts and media outlets relevant to innovation, sustainability, space, data, infrastructure and future economy.
• Use media channels regularly to land thought‑leadership pieces and provide expert commentary on the space sector.
• Act as a spokesperson with media on behalf of the Catapult from time to time.
• Monitor media landscape, engage reactively and proactively, and prepare key messages and FAQs.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with Partnerships, Policy and Place team to deliver stakeholder activities.
• Map key stakeholders for each major intervention area.
• Lead round‑tables, 1‑on‑1 meetings and parliamentary receptions to educate stakeholders.

Team Management

• Lead the Digital Team to ensure effective delivery of digital activities and collaborate with other business teams.
• Develop staff toward broader strategic priorities.
• Manage the Graphic Designer to ensure timely delivery of design work.

Person Specification

Essential Skills and Experience

• At least 8 years experience in a strategic communications role, ideally in innovation, science, technology, public policy or adjacent sectors.
• At least 5 years managing media relationships across national and trade titles, with demonstrable pitching and placing of key stories and op‑eds.
• Experience using strategic communications to build and maintain reputation, trust and relationships with stakeholders, especially Government departments.
• At least 5 years acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders and C‑Suite representatives on communications activities in B2B and B2G settings.
• Significant experience developing and delivering impactful strategies with measurable revenue or policy outcomes in an innovation environment.
• Experience managing multi‑functional teams, including people‑manager team members.
• Demonstrable copywriting, editing and verbal communication skills across broad audiences.
• Experience of the UK innovation ecosystem, public policy cycles, and the role of space and data.

Desirable

• Experience in space or other deep‑tech companies, government agencies, think tanks or public sector partners.
• Established network of media and policy contacts.

Who You Are

• Strategic thinker with a hands‑on approach, comfortable at senior advisory and day‑to‑day delivery levels.
• Collaborative, curious and proactive, with strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Passionate about innovation, impact and the transformative power of space.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced environment with shifting priorities.

About Us And How We Work

We strive to create a high‑trust, high‑performance and inclusive environment that enables team members to bring their whole selves to work. Our shared values are:

• We care – for our people, partners and planet.
• We connect – and engage with people and ideas.
• We learn – and grow, as people and as an industry.

Underpinning this is our belief in great teams. Our combined efforts will always deliver outcomes beyond that of any individual, providing we are honest through debate, experiment and reflect, and create shared resolutions in support of our purpose. Live these values, work to our principles, take ownership to deliver, and you will thrive with us.

This job description outlines the skills and experience we think are needed to perform in this role. If you believe you can deliver, we want to hear from you.

Hybrid Policy

We offer a hybrid policy designed around collaboration: one anchor day per week working with your direct team and another flexible day per week for collaboration or working with other colleagues.

Important Notice

We use tools to detect plagiarism and the use of AI or chatbots for applicant answers. If plagiarism or AI use (such as ChatGPT) is found in your application, you will not be considered for this or future roles within the Satellite Applications Catapult.

Visa and Sponsorship

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce. We welcome candidates from all corners of the globe; however, our ability to offer sponsorship will depend on the level of interest for our roles and salary level.

Support and Training

If you need additional support during the application process, please reach out and connect. We also invite you to share feedback via Applied.

We offer study support (at our discretion) and on‑the‑job training will be provided.