Head of Marketing and Communications

Primary Location United Kingdom-London

Schedule Full-time

Application Deadline 07-Sep-2026, 10:59:00 PM

Salary (Pay Basis) 8,877.91Pound Sterling (GBP) Monthly

Grade NATO Grade G20

Clearance NATO SECRET

The post is budgeted from 1 January 2027, and the successful candidate is expected to start employment as soon as possible thereafter.

1. OVERVIEW OF DIANA

NATO DIANA is the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic, a NATO body dedicated to finding and accelerating innovation to provide decisive defence and security effects for the Alliance, while fostering deep-tech innovation.

NATO DIANA is comprised of a Board of Directors, representing all 32 nations, and an operational team referred to as the DIANA Executive (“DX”). Operating from three offices in Europe and North America, the DX leverages a network of military end users, world-leading accelerator sites, test centres, professional mentors and experts, and Allied expertise to accelerate the most innovative technologies from across the NATO Alliance. DIANA is a dynamic, agile workplace, which strives for innovative thinking, diversity, and performance excellence across all teams. To achieve our mission, DIANA is committed to providing our people with an environment that is positive, inclusive and collaborative.

2. OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE

The Head of Marketing and Communications provides strategic leadership for DIANA's communications, marketing, brand, and stakeholder engagement activities, enhancing awareness of DIANA's mission, programmes, and innovators across the Alliance and wider innovation ecosystem. Leading a distributed team across London, Halifax, and Tallinn, the incumbent serves as the principal advisor to senior leadership on communications, reputation management, and strategic engagement, while overseeing campaigns, media relations, digital communications, events, and corporate messaging.

*Reserve candidates may be considered for similar posts in Estonia or Canada, if appropriate.*

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (Deputy Director).

Duties of this role include:

• Lead, and continually refine NATO DIANA's marketing, communications, branding strategies in support of organisational priorities and objectives.

• Lead communications aspects of issues management and reputational risk, advising senior leadership on emerging communications challenges and appropriate response strategies.

• Lead proactive and reactive media relations strengthening DIANAs visibility and public profile.

• Oversee DIANA's digital communications strategy, including its website, social media channels, and digital engagement activities.

• Advise senior leadership and DIANA staff on public engagements, stakeholder communications, branding, and strategic messaging.

• Oversee the development of strategic narratives, storytelling, content, and multimedia products that communicate DIANA's mission, impact, and achievements.

• Oversee communications, marketing, and media engagement activities supporting organisational events, military exercises and innovator demonstrations.

• Proactively identify and advise on engagement strategies with key audiences in support of DIANA’s adoption efforts.

• Establish and maintain communications, branding, and editorial standards that ensure a consistent and professional representation of DIANA across all internal and external communications.

• Collaborate with HR and the COO on internal communications, ensuring staff understand DIANA’s mission, direction, major organisational developments and external messaging priorities.

• Lead and develop a distributed team of communications professionals across multiple locations

• Oversee external suppliers, agencies and creative support where required, ensuring value for money, quality control and careful stewardship of public funds.

• Establish and monitor communications metrics, audience insights and campaign performance to assess impact and inform future planning.

• Perform any other related duties as may be required.

3. ROLE REQUIREMENTS, QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

The incumbent must have:

• A Master’s degree at a nationally recognised University in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism, International Relations or a related discipline and 5 years post-related experience OR a Bachelor’s degree with 8 years post related experience.

• A minimum of 5 years of work experience in senior roles with a combination of marketing and communications.

• Demonstrated knowledge of defence and military innovation.

• Demonstrated experience leading a communications, marketing, public affairs, or stakeholder engagement function, including the leadership and development of multidisciplinary teams and the management of external suppliers or agencies, within a complex, fast-paced, high-profile, or multinational environment.

• Proven experience developing and executing integrated marketing and communications strategies for diverse audiences.

• Strong media relations and issues management experience, including the ability to advise senior leaders on reputational risk and public messaging.

• Experience overseeing digital channels, social media, websites, campaign content, multimedia products and/or brand assets;

• Experience using measurement, analytics or audience insights to assess communications impact and inform future activity;

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing and reviewing strategic communications, speeches, presentations, and materials for senior leadership and external stakeholders.

• Possess the following minimum levels of NATO’s official languages (English/French): V (“Advanced”) in one; and I (“Beginner”) in the other.

NOTE: Most of DIANA’s internal work is conducted in the English language.

DESIRABLE

The following would be considered an advantage:

• Experience communicating innovation, emerging and disruptive technologies, dual-use technology, start-up ecosystems or defence technology;

• Experience working within an international organisation, multinational environment, national government, defence department, military organisation, or similarly complex stakeholder environment.

• Knowledge of NATO institutional framework, policies and procedures.

COMPETENCIES

The incumbent must demonstrate:

• Organizational and Environmental Awareness: Understands the wider mission and considers the impact of their actions on others.

• Initiative & Responsibility: Takes ownership and accountability.

• Adaptability & Flexibility: Embraces change, adjusts priorities as needed, and continues to deliver results in evolving environments.

• Impact & Influence: Builds trust and buy in through confident and persuasive communication.

• Stakeholder Management: Builds strategic relationships and drives collaborative outcomes.

• Leading & Developing Other: Leads and develops others through coaching, empowerment, and feedback.

• Self-awareness and a Learning Mindset: Seeks opportunities to learn, reflects on experience, and applies learning to improve outcomes.

4. WHAT WE OFFER

• Genuinely meaningful work as part of the newest unit within the most successful alliance in history.

• Tax-free salary.

• Household and children’s allowances and privileges for expatriate staff including expatriation and educational allowances (where applicable) and additional home leave.

• Excellent private health insurance scheme.

• NATO pension scheme.

• Generous annual leave of 30 days plus official holidays.

• Flexible working conditions and a smoke-free office in London.

• Opportunities for learning and development.

For further information please see the full job description on our recruitment portal.