Job summary
Do you want to work in one of the busiest press offices in the NHS?
We're looking for an experienced Senior Media Officer who will form a key part of our media team in the heart of London. You will identify proactive media opportunities to promote and enhance the Trust's reputation and have the opportunity to lead on media work to showcase our hospitals and services. As well as proactive media projects, you will also manage a wide range of media enquiries, working with senior and clinical colleagues, and oversee filming across our sites.
Our press office is one of the busiest in the NHS as our hospitals and staff are often in the news. The press office team works in a fast-paced environment with responsibility for not only proactive and reactive media work but also running the Trust's X and Instagram accounts, and ensuring that senior management and clinical staff are briefed on media interest in the Trust. In this exciting role, you will also write for our publications and support high-profile visits and events at the Trust.
Main duties of the job
The person
- Experience working in a busy press office, with a good understanding of current affairs and ideally with a good knowledge of the NHS;
- Demonstrable experience of developing story and campaign ideas to achieve positive media coverage;
- Excellent written and oral communication skills;
- Effective use of all media channels - print, broadcast and digital, including social media;
- Adept at working with and commanding the confidence of senior colleagues, clinicians and external stakeholders;
- Ability to prioritise a busy workload and work efficiently to manage proactive and reactive media work promptly.
About us
We are one of the UK's largest trusts and have one of the busiest press offices in the NHS. The Trust delivers hospital and community services inthe heart of London and our reputation for service quality, teaching and research is second to none. We are also part of King's Health Partners, one of England's 8 accredited Academic Health Sciences Centres. Working closely with our partner organisations means we are at the forefront of service innovation and medical breakthroughs.
The press office is part of our award-winning communications team. The team works closely together, providing plenty of opportunities to develop new skills.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Summary
The Senior Media Officer will form a key part of the media team in providing a proactive, professional, 24/7 media relations and issues management service, which includes proactive and reactive media work and updating of the Trusts X and Instagram feeds, and providing both counsel andoperational support to staff at all levels across the Trust.
The post holder will:
- Develop key relationships within the organisation to source proactive opportunities to promote and enhance the Trusts reputation with all media audiences. Ensure media activity supports the Trusts corporate objectives, clinical priority areas, organisational values and promotes its position as one of the worlds leading providers of health care, professional education and academic research
- Maintain an understanding of the national news agenda and use this to identify opportunities to promote and enhance the Trusts reputation
- Maintain the Trusts X and Instagram accounts on a day to day basis and work with the wider communications team to forward plan social content and activity in line with the Trusts corporate objectives and key clinical priority areas
- Inspire trust and confidence internally and externally in the expertise and professionalism of the communications department
- Play a vital role within the team, providing a first point of contact for journalists, writing for Trust publications, prioritising a busy workload and acting on their own initiative. Promote key messages and ensure their application across all channels, including social media which is increasingly important.
Key relationships
Developing key relationships and networks within the department, across the Trust, Kings Health Partners and with external stakeholders, are essential to the successful delivery of duties and responsibilities.
Internal
- Director of Communications
- Colleagues in the central communications department, as well as Evelina London and Heart, lung and critical care communications colleagues
- Guys & St Thomas Charity, Evelina London Childrens Charity and Guys Cancer Charity communications colleagues and fundraising team
- Trust Executives and Directors
- Trust Chairman and Non-Executive Directors
- Clinical Directors, Heads of Nursing and General Managers
- Site Nurse Practitioners
- Trust charity engagement team
- Security team
- Corporate departments leads and staff
- Information Governance lead
- Kings Health Partners
External
- Local and London media contacts
- National media health specialists
- Specialist media, including medical, nursing, scientific and management publications
- NHS England (national and London)
- Department of Health and Social Care
- Local Integrated Care Boards
- MPs, local authorities and the GLA
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Summary
The Senior Media Officer will form a key part of the media team in providing a proactive, professional, 24/7 media relations and issues management service, which includes proactive and reactive media work and updating of the Trusts X and Instagram feeds, and providing both counsel andoperational support to staff at all levels across the Trust.
The post holder will:
- Develop key relationships within the organisation to source proactive opportunities to promote and enhance the Trusts reputation with all media audiences. Ensure media activity supports the Trusts corporate objectives, clinical priority areas, organisational values and promotes its position as one of the worlds leading providers of health care, professional education and academic research
- Maintain an understanding of the national news agenda and use this to identify opportunities to promote and enhance the Trusts reputation
- Maintain the Trusts X and Instagram accounts on a day to day basis and work with the wider communications team to forward plan social content and activity in line with the Trusts corporate objectives and key clinical priority areas
- Inspire trust and confidence internally and externally in the expertise and professionalism of the communications department
- Play a vital role within the team, providing a first point of contact for journalists, writing for Trust publications, prioritising a busy workload and acting on their own initiative. Promote key messages and ensure their application across all channels, including social media which is increasingly important.
Key relationships
Developing key relationships and networks within the department, across the Trust, Kings Health Partners and with external stakeholders, are essential to the successful delivery of duties and responsibilities.
Internal
- Director of Communications
- Colleagues in the central communications department, as well as Evelina London and Heart, lung and critical care communications colleagues
- Guys & St Thomas Charity, Evelina London Childrens Charity and Guys Cancer Charity communications colleagues and fundraising team
- Trust Executives and Directors
- Trust Chairman and Non-Executive Directors
- Clinical Directors, Heads of Nursing and General Managers
- Site Nurse Practitioners
- Trust charity engagement team
- Security team
- Corporate departments leads and staff
- Information Governance lead
- Kings Health Partners
External
- Local and London media contacts
- National media health specialists
- Specialist media, including medical, nursing, scientific and management publications
- NHS England (national and London)
- Department of Health and Social Care
- Local Integrated Care Boards
- MPs, local authorities and the GLA
Person Specification
Qualifications / Education
Essential
- Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience)
- Evidence of continued learning/development
- Excellent IT skills
Desirable
- Post graduate communications qualification
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of developing story and campaign ideas
- Experience of implementation of media relations policy
- Experience of media relations
- Proven experience of creating opportunities and working collaboratively with internal and external partners
- Influencing and persuasion skills
Desirable
- Experience of working in the NHS
- Experience working in a complex organisation
- Experience of crisis management
Skills
Essential
- Ability to command the confidence of colleagues and staff
- Ability to think and plan and to prioritise work programmes in the face of competing demands
- Ability to manage and deliver to deadlines within resources
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- A good understanding of the NHS and the changing environment
- Demonstrable utilisation of all media channels - print, broadcast and digital
- Evidence of ability to deliver against targets
- Excellent numerical, verbal and critical reasoning
- Effective negotiation and influencing skills
- Able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information
- Knowledge of Contensis or similar content management system
Desirable
- Understanding of the current health policy developments
Person Specification
Qualifications / Education
Essential
- Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience)
- Evidence of continued learning/development
- Excellent IT skills
Desirable
- Post graduate communications qualification
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of developing story and campaign ideas
- Experience of implementation of media relations policy
- Experience of media relations
- Proven experience of creating opportunities and working collaboratively with internal and external partners
- Influencing and persuasion skills
Desirable
- Experience of working in the NHS
- Experience working in a complex organisation
- Experience of crisis management
Skills
Essential
- Ability to command the confidence of colleagues and staff
- Ability to think and plan and to prioritise work programmes in the face of competing demands
- Ability to manage and deliver to deadlines within resources
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- A good understanding of the NHS and the changing environment
- Demonstrable utilisation of all media channels - print, broadcast and digital
- Evidence of ability to deliver against targets
- Excellent numerical, verbal and critical reasoning
- Effective negotiation and influencing skills
- Able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information
- Knowledge of Contensis or similar content management system
Desirable
- Understanding of the current health policy developments
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.
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.
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).
