Communications Officer

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

The Communications Officer will support regional and national communications as part of the NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) Communications Team, which is dispersed across the 12 Regional RDNs (RRDNs) and the RDN Coordinating Centre (RDNCC). The Communications Officer will report to the Communications Manager and support the provision of a high quality, professional and proactive communications service to the RDN regionally and nationally.

The Communications Officer will seek to adopt and share the best practice approach to their work and support the RDN in achieving its objectives and ensuring it delivers the best communications service, including developing new channels and opportunities to reach colleagues and communities, where engagement and involvement is needed the most.

Main duties of the job

  • Business Planning
  • Information & Administration
  • Operational Management
  • Service Improvement & Development
  • Performance Management
  • Life Sciences Industry
  • Financial Management Responsibilities
  • Continuous Improvement
  • Communication & Stakeholder Management (NHS And Non-NHS)
  • Ensuring Patient, Carer And Public Inform And Influence Delivery Of RDN Strategy
  • Corporate Governance

About us

From October 2024, the current NIHR Clinical Research Network will be changing to become the NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN). The RDN will build on the successes of the CRN in supporting the effective and efficient initiation and delivery of funded research across the health and care system in England for the benefit of patients, the health and care system and the economy. The RDN will support:

  • Clinical trials and other well-designed health and social care research studies (including studies that are delivered outside of an NHS setting);
  • Public health studies that require the recruitment of individuals within an NHS setting (that is, acute, ambulance, mental health, community or primary care) or an episode of care which involves contact with the NHS.

Date posted

31 December 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£44,806 to £53,134 a year Per annum incl. HCA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

196-RD227

Job locations

Guy's Hospital

Great Maze Pond

London

SE1 9RT


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Support the development, implementation and evaluation of communications projects, including events and campaigns across the full range of media and communication channels, ensuring that information is tailored appropriately for the targeted recipients
  • Liaise with health and care staff, patients, service users, general public, commercial organisations, academia and other interested parties with a view to actively increasing the profile of the RDN regionally and nationally by developing strong partnerships and working relationships
  • Identify, translate and disseminate complex messages about RDN services and NIHR activity into clear and compelling communications messages, demonstrating RDNs impact for a range of stakeholders including patients, carers and the public
  • Work with the Study Participation Inclusion and Stakeholder Engagement functions to maintain effective relationships with customers and stakeholders
  • Support the Communications Manager in the development of policy in relation to communications activities
  • Support the Communications Manager in the development and implementation of policies within their area of responsibility and input into the development of national policies and guidelines
  • Support projects to launch new initiatives for dissemination of impact and for patient and public engagement and involvement
  • Support the development of communications, marketing and media handling advice for managers, staff and committees

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Support the development, implementation and evaluation of communications projects, including events and campaigns across the full range of media and communication channels, ensuring that information is tailored appropriately for the targeted recipients
  • Liaise with health and care staff, patients, service users, general public, commercial organisations, academia and other interested parties with a view to actively increasing the profile of the RDN regionally and nationally by developing strong partnerships and working relationships
  • Identify, translate and disseminate complex messages about RDN services and NIHR activity into clear and compelling communications messages, demonstrating RDNs impact for a range of stakeholders including patients, carers and the public
  • Work with the Study Participation Inclusion and Stakeholder Engagement functions to maintain effective relationships with customers and stakeholders
  • Support the Communications Manager in the development of policy in relation to communications activities
  • Support the Communications Manager in the development and implementation of policies within their area of responsibility and input into the development of national policies and guidelines
  • Support projects to launch new initiatives for dissemination of impact and for patient and public engagement and involvement
  • Support the development of communications, marketing and media handling advice for managers, staff and committees

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

  • Degree level education and/or equivalent level of qualification or relevant experience (e.g. Health; Media / Journalism / Web publishing)

Desirable

  • Background in research and development, science or healthcare
  • European Computer Driving Licence

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Relevant experience in a relevant speciality i.e. public relations, communications, marketing and/or journalism to post graduate level or demonstrable experience. This must include social / web-based media
  • Demonstrable experience in a large, complex organisation
  • Experience of inter-agency working involving multiple and diverse partners
  • Proven experience of working successfully as part of several teams
  • Experience of managing a customer-focused service
  • Experience of managing a wide range of complex duties

Desirable

  • Experience of working at a similar level in the NHS or other healthcare environment
  • Experience of providing communications support to a local authority
  • Good understanding of the health and care research environment

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Ability to work autonomously and to exercise initiative, with creativity, drive and flexibility
  • Excellent organisational skills
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Proficiency in preparing communication materials eg website copy and newsletter articles, and their distribution
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Ability to operate at all levels throughout an organisation
  • Ability to write concise and clear reports and to write Standard Operating Procedures
  • Ability to prepare and deliver presentations to a high standard
  • Ability to plan, manage and deliver projects and activities, involving multiple agencies and individuals and to tight deadlines
  • Media handling skills
  • Ability to communicate complex information to a range of audiences at all levels within the organisation and externally
  • Excellent IT literacy including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or equivalent Google applications and relevant design packages e.g. Adobe InDesign, CANVA
  • Attention to detail
  • Ability to manage challenging and stressful situations
  • Strong problem-solving skills

Desirable

  • Staff training skills

Values and Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Compassionate
  • Understanding of change and adaptable
  • Politically aware
  • Resilient and calm under pressure
Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

  • Degree level education and/or equivalent level of qualification or relevant experience (e.g. Health; Media / Journalism / Web publishing)

Desirable

  • Background in research and development, science or healthcare
  • European Computer Driving Licence

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Relevant experience in a relevant speciality i.e. public relations, communications, marketing and/or journalism to post graduate level or demonstrable experience. This must include social / web-based media
  • Demonstrable experience in a large, complex organisation
  • Experience of inter-agency working involving multiple and diverse partners
  • Proven experience of working successfully as part of several teams
  • Experience of managing a customer-focused service
  • Experience of managing a wide range of complex duties

Desirable

  • Experience of working at a similar level in the NHS or other healthcare environment
  • Experience of providing communications support to a local authority
  • Good understanding of the health and care research environment

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Ability to work autonomously and to exercise initiative, with creativity, drive and flexibility
  • Excellent organisational skills
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Proficiency in preparing communication materials eg website copy and newsletter articles, and their distribution
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Ability to operate at all levels throughout an organisation
  • Ability to write concise and clear reports and to write Standard Operating Procedures
  • Ability to prepare and deliver presentations to a high standard
  • Ability to plan, manage and deliver projects and activities, involving multiple agencies and individuals and to tight deadlines
  • Media handling skills
  • Ability to communicate complex information to a range of audiences at all levels within the organisation and externally
  • Excellent IT literacy including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or equivalent Google applications and relevant design packages e.g. Adobe InDesign, CANVA
  • Attention to detail
  • Ability to manage challenging and stressful situations
  • Strong problem-solving skills

Desirable

  • Staff training skills

Values and Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Compassionate
  • Understanding of change and adaptable
  • Politically aware
  • Resilient and calm under pressure

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Guy's Hospital

Great Maze Pond

London

SE1 9RT


Employer's website

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Guy's Hospital

Great Maze Pond

London

SE1 9RT


Employer's website

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Communications Manager

Lewis Deakin

lewis.deakin@nihr.ac.uk

Date posted

31 December 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£44,806 to £53,134 a year Per annum incl. HCA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

196-RD227

Job locations

Guy's Hospital

Great Maze Pond

London

SE1 9RT


Supporting documents

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