Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust

Public Involvement and Community Engagement Manager

The closing date is 02 March 2026

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic Public Involvement and Community Engagement Manager to shape and co-ordinate the public involvement and community engagement strategy for the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North East and North Cumbria.

Home - ARC (https://arc-nenc.nihr.ac.uk/)

Our vision is to achieve: Better, fairer health and care, at all ages and in all places. We work in partnership across academic institutions, health and care organisations, local authorities and with a wide range of public partners.

Working as part of the ARC's Leadership Team you will lead and deliver the ARC's Public Involvement and Community Engagement strategy in collaboration with colleagues and public partners.

We are fully committed to equality, diversity and inclusion principles and welcome applications from individuals with a wide range of lived and professional experience.

Main duties of the job

Develop and implement the ARC public involvement and community engagement action plan to ensure the ARC and its services locally and regionally incorporate true public and community involvement and engagement
Contribute to the national ARC public involvement network as the ARC's representative.
Lead the development of the ARC's Public Involvement and Community Engagement strategy and action plan in conjunction with the host trust and ARC Leadership Team.
Manage the activities of a part-time involvement administrator.
Lead and deliver regional events for communities, professionals and the public including coordinating the development of the programme with input from themes and public partners.
Arranging meetings and coordinate documentation to support meetings across teams including accurately recording actions and decisions, and tracking completion
Working closely with regional and national public involvement groups to share best practice and contribute to improvements in the sector
Lead the Public Advisory and Young Public Advisory Networks (in collaboration with research fellows) and assisting with the ongoing development and coordination of the groups.
Working with public partners to gather feedback on their experience to inform ARC programmes of work.
Liaise with the national ARC network, colleagues, local NHS organisations, and the Department of Health and Social Care to co-ordinate high profile public involvement and community engagement projects.

About us

We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

NHS Employees identified as at risk of compulsory redundancy and those eligible for the NENC Re-Deployment careers hub will receive prior consideration.

Date posted

10 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum (pro rota for part-time role)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

5 years

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share

Reference number

263-SS26-009-MG

Job locations

St Nicholas Hospital

Jubilee Road

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE3 3XT

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please find attached job description for full details.

Advertising date : 10th February 2026

Closing date : 2nd March 2026

Interview date : 16th March 2026

We welcome your application.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please find attached job description for full details.

Advertising date : 10th February 2026

Closing date : 2nd March 2026

Interview date : 16th March 2026

We welcome your application.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

oEducated to Masters Level or Equivalent Experience

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

oProfessional experience of working in partnership with community and/or public groups.
oExperience of successfully developing and implementing public involvement and engagement strategies.
oExperience of communicating with professionals, patients and the public using a wide range of media.
oOrganisation and time management skills to manage and deliver a range of initiatives and projects to tight deadlines.
oExcellent level of IT skills, including Microsoft Office, PowerPoint and Spreadsheets.
oExperience of managing a team
oWilling to undertake necessary additional training

Desirable

oExperience of contributing to regional and national strategy in relation to public involvement and community engagement.

Skills and Competencies

Essential

oProven interpersonal and communication skills to work with academic, clinical and management
ocolleagues at all levels across a range of organisations including voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations, community groups and the public.
oProven organisational skills
oProven ability to use initiative, think strategically, and take a proactive approach to problem solving
oAbility to exercise judgements when dealing with requests and queries
oAbility to manage competing priorities and to tight deadlines

Personal Qualities

Essential

oWillingness to work across community and research locations as per the needs of the ARC.
oWillingness to work responsively to meet the changing needs of a wide range of partners and the funders.

Other

Essential

oAbility to travel within the region and to national meetings to meet the requirements of the post.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

oEducated to Masters Level or Equivalent Experience

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

oProfessional experience of working in partnership with community and/or public groups.
oExperience of successfully developing and implementing public involvement and engagement strategies.
oExperience of communicating with professionals, patients and the public using a wide range of media.
oOrganisation and time management skills to manage and deliver a range of initiatives and projects to tight deadlines.
oExcellent level of IT skills, including Microsoft Office, PowerPoint and Spreadsheets.
oExperience of managing a team
oWilling to undertake necessary additional training

Desirable

oExperience of contributing to regional and national strategy in relation to public involvement and community engagement.

Skills and Competencies

Essential

oProven interpersonal and communication skills to work with academic, clinical and management
ocolleagues at all levels across a range of organisations including voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations, community groups and the public.
oProven organisational skills
oProven ability to use initiative, think strategically, and take a proactive approach to problem solving
oAbility to exercise judgements when dealing with requests and queries
oAbility to manage competing priorities and to tight deadlines

Personal Qualities

Essential

oWillingness to work across community and research locations as per the needs of the ARC.
oWillingness to work responsively to meet the changing needs of a wide range of partners and the funders.

Other

Essential

oAbility to travel within the region and to national meetings to meet the requirements of the post.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Nicholas Hospital

Jubilee Road

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE3 3XT

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Nicholas Hospital

Jubilee Road

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE3 3XT

Employer's website

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