At a Glance
- Tasks: Create engaging RAF work experience opportunities for students and develop innovative recruitment strategies.
- Company: Join the RAF and be part of a mission-driven organisation shaping future careers.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel opportunities, and a chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Opportunity for national travel and collaboration with universities and learning organisations.
- Why this job: Inspire the next generation and promote exciting RAF careers through dynamic engagement projects.
- Qualifications: Experience in education or engagement roles, with strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 49500 - 60500 £ per year.
Subject to formal establishment amendment, a vacancy has arisen for a Group Captain (Any Profession) to serve as Assistant Head Future Workforce Engagement at HQ Air & Space Command on a Full Time Reserve Service (Limited Commitment) Terms and Conditions of Service (TCoS), with an initial proposed start date of 01 December 2026 (or later, subject to candidate status).
AHd FW Engagement will have overall responsibility for RAF engagement activities, including those that support recruitment undertaken by the Armed Forces Recruitment Service (AFRS) commencing in 2027. Strat RE will comprise of 3 elements: Engagement (inc Recruiting Support Group); Future Engagement Projects; Youth STEM Team. The overall aim is to engender interest in RAF careers for both future potential candidates and the wider UK population.
Key deliverables will include investigating, developing, and delivering a wide range of in-person and virtual RAF work experience opportunities and engagement for school-aged students and pre-/post-graduates. These opportunities will include:
- Develop RAF work experience and engagement opportunities for school-aged and university students.
- Deliver and maintain an RAF virtual work experience capability representing RAF Professions on a commercial website.
- Create a virtual work experience alumni that has routine news and information feeds to connect the cohort with the RAF.
- Create and sponsor supporting policies and procedures for both engagement, virtual work experience, and unit-based work experience.
- Engage with external learning organisations in support of delivering engagement programmes, noting that this will require national travel.
- Work alongside universities to create work-related assignments, also known as micro-internships.
- Investigate the feasibility of work placements within the RAF for post-graduate students.
- Deliver and further develop STEM engagement with school-aged students.
- Develop, implement, sustain, and then exploit the RAF Armed Forces Foundation Year (AFFY) Scheme subject to strategic direction. On completion of the ‘pilot’ course, an estimate should then be conducted to evaluate the benefits of increasing candidate numbers post-workforce balance in 2030 in order to create a national scheme that engenders a wider experience of military service.
- Deliver an annual schedule of Town Show engagement events under the auspices of Op Cloudburst.
- Deliver an annual schedule of engagement school visits under the auspices of Op Prosperity.
- Coordinate with MSHQ and HQ AIR People Policy teams to influence TCOS changes that will facilitate new initiatives.
- Liaise with R&S/AFRS to ensure solutions are both suitable and sustainable to improve future recruiting.
Assistant Head Future Workforce Engagement employer: Serve
Joining the team at Northwood HQ as an SO2 IWC Ops Delivery offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the mission of the IWC while enjoying a supportive work culture that values collaboration and professional growth. Employees benefit from structured development pathways, flexible working arrangements, and the chance to engage in high-level strategic operations that directly impact the Joint Force. With a commitment to excellence and a focus on employee well-being, Northwood HQ stands out as an exceptional employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in defence operations.
