Digital Communications Officer

On behalf of UKFE, we are looking for a Digital Communications Officer - Inside IR35 for a contract until 31st March 2027 working on a Hybrid basis (3 days per week on site in West Burton and remaining WFH)

Our context

Fusion offers the potential for significant quantities of low-carbon, inherently safe, abundantly fuelled, baseload energy, supporting sustainable climate action and energy independence . While the technical challenge remains high, confidence is increasing, and the rewards of realising fusion are almost incalculable. Anticipated to come online for commercial purposes in the middle of this century, fusion offers a viable means to sustainable net zero in the UK and globally, as well as to increased energy security. The UK is currently a world leader in fusion research and development and in the drive to realise commercially viable energy from fusion, a sector with an estimated value of £tns per year.

STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is the UK’s flagship national programme to deliver a prototype fusion energy plant, targeting 2040, and a path to commercial viability of fusion. STEP is deliberately bold and ambitious and seeks people who want to be part of a world-changing endeavour and who have credible and relevant experiencing in delivery. The STEP programme will be delivered by a newly formed organisation – UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) – a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). UKIFS has been established to lead a collaborative team of partners, with specialist engineering and construction organisations, alongside UKAEA as the fusion partner, coming together to deliver the programme.

What you’ll be doing

The UKIFS Communications team truly is at the heart of the organisation and actively shapes and influences at all levels, operating in an energising, complex , and mission driven environment. Digital and Site Communications Officer is a vital role in the UKIFS organisation, supporting many aspects of communications and engagement in and around the site at West Burton in North Nottinghamshire, as well implementing our wider approach to social media and ensuring that we’re telling our story effectively to key audiences.

You will lead on the development and continuance of excellent stakeholder relationships across regional and local government and the community. This role will be integral to the development of the team at site, including the integrated delivery team made up of industry partners. Local community engagement will be an important factor in navigating the complex planning requirements around the site, that will ultimately enable the approval of the prototype power plant construction.

The role will also involve supporting the implementation of our wider External Communications Strategy, by developing and managing all digital communications, including innovative campaigns and content across social media and the STEP website. You will use your expertise and experience of managing different social platforms to deliver compelling content for a range of audiences.

The main duties and responsibilities of the Digital Communications Officer would be to:

- Lead and manage UKIFS' digital communications channels, including the website and social media platforms, delivering engaging content, campaigns, and measurable audience growth.
- Drive the review, development, and continuous improvement of the website and digital communications strategy to increase brand awareness, stakeholder engagement, and message penetration.
- Own and manage STEP's social media presence, creating and publishing platform-specific content while acting as the organisation's subject matter expert on digital communications.
- Lead the planning and delivery of public consultation activities, events, and communications materials to support the Development Consent Order (DCO) application process.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with local stakeholders, community groups, and government representatives, acting as a trusted ambassador for STEP and UKIFS.
- Establish and manage processes for handling public enquiries, feedback, compliments, and complaints, ensuring accurate record-keeping, reporting, and continuous improvement.
- Plan and deliver local community engagement events, managing associated communications assets, AV equipment, and feedback mechanisms to maximise community reach and positive sentiment.
- Demonstrate a proactive leadership mindset by championing organisational values, fostering collaboration and inclusion, and maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and stakeholder engagement.

Essential:

- Degree qualification with additional demonstrable experience working within a comms team and leading on key projects
- Experience of organising community and/or stakeholder events
- Demonstrable experience of working in complex , matrixed, programmatic environments
- Proficiency with content management systems (CMS), social media platforms, and analytics tools.
- Demonstrable understanding of government structures and the role national, regional, and local government play in a project like STEP
- Proven relationship builder with stakeholders at all levels
- Excellent communication skills – both written and verbal
- Ability to act as an ambassador for the programme
- Creative and innovative thinker

Desirable:

- CIPR qualified, or other relevant communications qualifications
- Previous experience of working on significant infrastructure projects
- Experience of working on Development Consent Orders.
- Experience with graphic design tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite) and video editing software and the ability to produce high quality output

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".