Job summary
A rare opportunity to lead a phenomenally successful and high profile communications team.
We are seeking a highly motivated, creative and inspirational Head of Communications to take a pivotal role in leading our communications service. An excellent story-teller and highly skilled communicator you will have a proven track record of providing leadership and professional advice and expertise, whilst delivering highly effective communication and engagement strategies which are purposeful, data driven and accessible.
We are a values-led organisation and are looking for someone who can build relationships at pace, internally and externally, whilst being a champion for the communications. This is a 1 year secondment opportunity covering a secondment (that may extend).
In order to optimise team effectiveness for a communications team that is supports the business operations for two hospitals and their services, colleagues are required to be based in Coventry for a minimum of 4 days per week.
Reporting to the Director of Marketing and Communications, you will be a kind, compassionate leader who continues cultivating a culture of high performance, collaboration and innovation to optimise team and individual talent. The team of 7 delivers a full range of communications including plans, internal communications for 11,000 staff, media relations, social media, external relations, marketing campaigns, design, photography, video, and supports operational communications.
Main duties of the job
The Head of Communications will work within a corporate communications team to deliver impactful, evidence-based messaging and story-telling that resonate with our audiences. This senior role will support the many innovations and transformations our organisation is involved with across all aspects of communications and marketing. We don't expect you to have all the skills listed below but our team is able to offer this full range of advice and expertise to our Trust:
Specialisms/Competencies
Strategic advice and support
Internal communications and employee engagement
Media relations and social media
Social media
Stakeholder relations and management
Issues and crisis management
Events management and marketing
Campaigns
Branding, design and corporate identity development
Performance reporting for the comms service
Policies, standards and evaluation of activity
Insight and marketing research
Public and patient engagement
Operational Management
Programme Management
Strategic Partnerships
Organisational Development
Consultations
Media planning
Monitoring (channels)
Communications Training
About us
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as Good by the Care Quality Commission in August 2025, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.
We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.
Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.
We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence designated organisation - please click the link for further details about this prestigious award. Pathway To Excellence - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (uhcw.nhs.uk)
By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.
The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care. We will create an environment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation's core values.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Communications and Relationship Skill
- Supporting Director of Communications this role is responsible for development, implementation and evaluation of communications strategies, plans, projects, campaigns for UHCW Trust
- Provide communications, marketing communications and media, reputation management advice and training to Executive Team and senior colleagues including Director of Communications and Marketing and other senior managers; deputise for Director of Communications
- Act as communications link between organisation and stakeholders including local community, government departments, professional bodies, local and national government
Knowledge, Training and Experience
- To deliver strategic priorities as part of UHCW strategy to build a positive reputation and help the Trust realise our ambition as an organisation to be a national and international leader in healthcare
- A key communications management role in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the communications service leading and supporting 5 communications staff and ensuring activities are planned, coordinated and as efficient and effective as possible.
Planning and organisational Skills
- Oversight, development, monitoring and delivery of long term strategic and communications plans, often involving changing situations and environmental factors
- Partnership Liaison - Act as a communications link between organisations and stakeholders including local community, government departments, professional bodies, local and national government.
- Evaluating and reporting on metrics that demonstrate the value the communications function delivers and identify areas and plans for improvement.
Physical Skills
- Creative responsible for ensuring that messages are effectively presented with high quality design and design solutions that achieve the right impact in print, video and images. Oversight of our corporate digital asset management (photography, video) in accordance with GDPR.
Responsibility for Patient/Client Care
- Patient communications maintaining an overview on quality of communications for patients and their access to information, putting the patient first in all that we do.
- Respond to patients and issues relating to communications service concerns (e.g. Clinical Service Reviews, Court Cases)
- Work with patients on the development of communications e.g. patient stories
Responsibility for Policy/ Service Development
- Improvement as one of five partners with Virginia Mason Institute in Seattle USA, this role will work closely with our Innovation Hub and improvement teams to showcase our journey of improvement across all services.
Responsibility for Financial and Physical Resources
- Resource management responsible for effective management of resources including procurement, supplier management and communications budget.
Responsibility for Human Resources
- Lead, manage, motivate and develop the comms team to maintain the highest standard of staff morale and create a climate characterised by high standards, openness and living the Trust values.
- Ensure communications team personal and professional development through review, appraisal, objective setting and personal development plans.
- Training and Service Quality: Ensuring consistent quality of service delivery through governance (policies), standards, staff training and assurance of communications and engagement plans. Production of regular reports on performance and delivery of the communications service.
For further details of the role please see the attached job description.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Communications and Relationship Skill
- Supporting Director of Communications this role is responsible for development, implementation and evaluation of communications strategies, plans, projects, campaigns for UHCW Trust
- Provide communications, marketing communications and media, reputation management advice and training to Executive Team and senior colleagues including Director of Communications and Marketing and other senior managers; deputise for Director of Communications
- Act as communications link between organisation and stakeholders including local community, government departments, professional bodies, local and national government
Knowledge, Training and Experience
- To deliver strategic priorities as part of UHCW strategy to build a positive reputation and help the Trust realise our ambition as an organisation to be a national and international leader in healthcare
- A key communications management role in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the communications service leading and supporting 5 communications staff and ensuring activities are planned, coordinated and as efficient and effective as possible.
Planning and organisational Skills
- Oversight, development, monitoring and delivery of long term strategic and communications plans, often involving changing situations and environmental factors
- Partnership Liaison - Act as a communications link between organisations and stakeholders including local community, government departments, professional bodies, local and national government.
- Evaluating and reporting on metrics that demonstrate the value the communications function delivers and identify areas and plans for improvement.
Physical Skills
- Creative responsible for ensuring that messages are effectively presented with high quality design and design solutions that achieve the right impact in print, video and images. Oversight of our corporate digital asset management (photography, video) in accordance with GDPR.
Responsibility for Patient/Client Care
- Patient communications maintaining an overview on quality of communications for patients and their access to information, putting the patient first in all that we do.
- Respond to patients and issues relating to communications service concerns (e.g. Clinical Service Reviews, Court Cases)
- Work with patients on the development of communications e.g. patient stories
Responsibility for Policy/ Service Development
- Improvement as one of five partners with Virginia Mason Institute in Seattle USA, this role will work closely with our Innovation Hub and improvement teams to showcase our journey of improvement across all services.
Responsibility for Financial and Physical Resources
- Resource management responsible for effective management of resources including procurement, supplier management and communications budget.
Responsibility for Human Resources
- Lead, manage, motivate and develop the comms team to maintain the highest standard of staff morale and create a climate characterised by high standards, openness and living the Trust values.
- Ensure communications team personal and professional development through review, appraisal, objective setting and personal development plans.
- Training and Service Quality: Ensuring consistent quality of service delivery through governance (policies), standards, staff training and assurance of communications and engagement plans. Production of regular reports on performance and delivery of the communications service.
For further details of the role please see the attached job description.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
Experience
Essential
Knowledge
Essential
Skills
Essential
Commitment to Trust Values
Essential
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
Experience
Essential
Knowledge
Essential
Skills
Essential
Commitment to Trust Values
Essential
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).
