Job summary
Barts Health NHS Trust is seeking an experienced and strategic Head of Research Communications to lead our research communications function. This senior role sits within our group communications and engagement leadership team, working to promote and position Barts Health as a leader in health research and innovation.You will be responsible for raising the profile of the trust's diverse research portfolio -- from the Academic Centre for Healthy Ageing and Barts Life Sciences to the NIHR Barts Biomedical Research Centre and Clinical Research Facility. By developing and delivering joined-up strategies, you will highlight the impact of research for patients, staff, and partners, ensuring our story reaches internal and external audiences effectively.
The postholder will be a trusted adviser to senior leaders, research teams, and academic partners, providing expert communications counsel and ensuring that research is integral to staff engagement, stakeholder collaboration, and public understanding. As part of the senior communications team, you will also contribute to trust-wide campaigns and participate in the on-call rota.Interview date: 9th December 2025
Main duties of the job
As Head of Research Communications, you will:o Lead the development and delivery of an integrated research communications strategy that strengthens Barts Health's reputation as a centre of excellence in research and innovation.o Provide strategic communications advice to senior leaders and act as a member of key research and hospital management groups.o Work closely with hospital and research leaders to engage staff in research activity and champion the role of research in improving patient care.o Manage and develop a multidisciplinary communications team, providing clear direction, professional support, and opportunities for growth.o Partner with colleagues across the trust to ensure research messages are integrated into broader organisational campaigns.o Build strong relationships with research funders, academic institutions, media, political stakeholders, and partner organisations.This is an opportunity for a dynamic, collaborative leader to influence research on a large scale, working with some of the UK's most prestigious academic and clinical partners.
About us
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within Barts Health at this band.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This is an exciting opportunity for a communications professional with significant experience in media, stakeholder engagement, and digital channels, ideally with a background in health or research communications. You will be based at our Canary Wharf offices but will work across our hospital sites, collaborating with world-leading clinicians and researchers.
We are dedicated to being an outstanding place to work and will work with you to get the best experience. We know flexible working is not a one size fits all and will mean something different to everyone. We are inclusive, so if you are interested in flexible working, please speak to the recruiting manager.
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This is an exciting opportunity for a communications professional with significant experience in media, stakeholder engagement, and digital channels, ideally with a background in health or research communications. You will be based at our Canary Wharf offices but will work across our hospital sites, collaborating with world-leading clinicians and researchers.
We are dedicated to being an outstanding place to work and will work with you to get the best experience. We know flexible working is not a one size fits all and will mean something different to everyone. We are inclusive, so if you are interested in flexible working, please speak to the recruiting manager.
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience in external and internal communications, including media relations, stakeholder engagement, public affairs and digital channels
- Research experience in a clinical or academic environment
- Research communications experience in a clinical or academic environment
Skills
Essential
- Highly developed interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships at senior levels and provide confident, strategic communications advice
- Skilled in managing media relations, including acting as a spokesperson, drafting statements and handling high-profile or sensitive enquiries
Knowledge
Essential
- Strong understanding of how to engage a wide range of stakeholders effectively across different settings and channels
Qualifications
Essential
- Postgraduate research qualification, e.g. PhD or equivalent experience of own research in a science or health related discipline
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience in external and internal communications, including media relations, stakeholder engagement, public affairs and digital channels
- Research experience in a clinical or academic environment
- Research communications experience in a clinical or academic environment
Skills
Essential
- Highly developed interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships at senior levels and provide confident, strategic communications advice
- Skilled in managing media relations, including acting as a spokesperson, drafting statements and handling high-profile or sensitive enquiries
Knowledge
Essential
- Strong understanding of how to engage a wide range of stakeholders effectively across different settings and channels
Qualifications
Essential
- Postgraduate research qualification, e.g. PhD or equivalent experience of own research in a science or health related discipline
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).
