Head of External Affairs & Communications in London

Location: London / Hybrid

Reports to: CEO (Growth area)

Function: Marketing & External Affairs

About Skyral

Skyral is building defence-grade modelling, simulation and digital twin technology for complex, high-stakes environments. Our software helps organisations understand complexity, test decisions before they are made, and prepare for futures that are increasingly uncertain, contested and fast-moving. We work with defence, government and commercial partners to deliver technology that supports better planning, training, decision-making and operational readiness.

The role

The Head of External Affairs will be responsible for shaping how Skyral shows up externally: what we say, where we say it, who hears it, and why it matters. This is a senior, hands-on role for someone who can move confidently between strategy and execution. You will set the communications agenda, manage agency partners, support the executive team, and ensure Skyral’s narrative is consistently sharp, credible and commercially useful. You will oversee external communications across press, public affairs, web, social, events, conferences, sales collateral and investor-facing materials. You will also work closely with business development, product, solutions architects and the executive team to ensure Skyral is positioned effectively with customers, partners, investors, government and the wider market.

Key responsibilities

• Communications, PR and media
  • You will lead Skyral’s communications strategy and external narrative, ensuring the business has a clear, differentiated and compelling position in the market.
  • Responsibilities include:
  • Developing, agreeing and delivering Skyral’s annual communications strategy and business narrative.
  • Managing the PR agency, including pitch strategy, media engagement and delivery.
  • Drafting, reviewing and approving press releases, editorials, blogs, commentary and thought leadership.
  • Preparing and briefing executives for media interviews, external engagements and speaking opportunities.
  • Building and managing relationships with journalists, including off-the-record and background briefings.
  • Ensuring Skyral’s media presence supports business priorities, commercial growth and strategic positioning.
• Public affairs and stakeholder engagement
  • You will lead Skyral’s public affairs activity, ensuring the business is well-positioned with government, defence and policy audiences.
  • Responsibilities include:
  • Briefing MPs, civil servants and senior government officials on Skyral’s technology, priorities and relevance.
  • Managing the public affairs agency and ensuring activity is aligned with business priorities.
  • Developing and delivering public affairs strategy in support of commercial, policy and reputational goals.
  • Preparing executives for government, parliamentary and senior stakeholder engagements.
• Events and conferences
  • You will steer Skyral’s events and conference strategy, ensuring the business shows up with impact at the moments that matter.
  • Responsibilities include:
  • Developing and delivering Skyral’s major conference and events strategy.
  • Managing company attendance at key industry events, including planning, logistics, messaging and follow-up.
  • Owning VIP events and senior stakeholder engagements.

What we are looking for

We are looking for someone who combines strategic judgement with strong execution. You should be comfortable advising senior leaders, managing agencies, writing sharp copy, building external narratives, and getting the details right. The ideal candidate will have:

• Significant experience in external affairs, strategic communications, public affairs, corporate communications, defence, technology or government-facing sectors.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, with the ability to produce high-quality press releases, speeches, articles, social posts, web copy and sales materials.
• Strong media judgement and experience managing journalists, PR agencies and media opportunities.
• Experience briefing senior executives for external engagements, interviews, speeches or stakeholder meetings.
• A strong understanding of public affairs, government engagement and policy audiences.
• Experience managing events, conferences or senior stakeholder engagements.
• The ability to translate complex technology into clear, commercially relevant messaging.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities at pace.
• Confidence working with senior internal stakeholders, including executives, business development teams, product teams and technical experts.
• A high bar for quality, detail and consistency.

Experience in defence, national security, government, emerging technology, AI, simulation, digital twins or enterprise software would be highly advantageous.