Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic, helpful, and proactive team player to join our friendly, experienced, and dynamic communications team at Northampton General Hospital.
You will be creative, resilient, and team-oriented, with a strong interest in storytelling, engagement, and two-way communications techniques. The role will cover various aspects of internal, external, and digital communications. You will be part of a team creating engaging content and visuals that inspire interest and support colleagues and our community with clear messaging from their local hospital.
The role requires an experienced and/or graduate level professional, with an understanding of communications, media and content gathering.
Main duties of the job
A self-starter, you will be responsible for creating high-quality and creative written, audio and visual content to engage both internal and external audiences.
This could be writing press releases or internal updates, creating video content, animations or graphics for the website or social media channels, producing eye catching screensavers or video messages for staff or taking photos at staff events.You will also support events including staff awards, VIP visits, local stakeholder engagement and working with partners across healthcare and the wider community to support with local campaigns and initiatives.
You will act as a brand guardian ensuring content is produced in line with NHS and our own hospital brand guidelines. As well as this you will obtain quotes and coordinate print and design work, and use a variety of tools including Microsoft Office, Canva and the Adobe Creative Suite.
The role requires you to have, or gain, an understanding of the NHS, current issues and the aims and objectives of the organisation, and commercial awareness to work effectively with suppliers and contractors to obtain best value for money.
About us
Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.
Our Excellence Values
Compassion
Accountability
Respect
Integrity
Courage
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.
We are a Defence positive trust, supporting our reservists, veterans, spouses and partners.
The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.
We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.
We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds.This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Actively seek, plan, develop and produce multi-media communications content, ranging from social media soundbites and vlogs, through to informative short films to highlight service developments or staff achievements.
Plan, develop and produce engaging and accurate written communications content, ranging from press releases to newsletter updates
Support the creation and delivery of the staff newsletters and internal communications
Interpret and simplify complex information to create engaging communications material, ensuring that messaging is easily understood and accessible by a diverse range of audiences
Deliver assigned projects, leading on successful completion within agreed timescales and budget.
Support the videography and photography of events such as staff award presentations and staff briefings.
Support and advise departments on communications and engagement, ensuring that projects are planned, managed and delivered effectively
Proactively plan, produce and publish material to enhance communications and engagement tools and activities, e.g. websites, intranet, social media, events and campaigns.
Assist in the development and implementation of communication and engagement standards, helping to ensure standards are met and maintained and services are enabled to improve communications and engagement within their teams.
Subject to skill availability/training, provide support to develop screensavers, animations and other graphics.
Monitor the hospital social media channels and flag urgent issues
Manage the communications and engagement team inbox, deciding on the appropriate action for each communication/request, allocating to team members and monitoring and following up responses
Create and upload weekly screensavers in PowerPoint, in line with UHN branding
Using database software to keep the press queries log up to date
Keep the NGH staff Facebook group membership list up to date
Contribute to and administrate the communications and engagement planning grid, which enables the proactive management of activity across the Group-wide team
Ensure that urgent queries or issues are escalated to the appropriate team member
Distribute posters and other materials across the hospital site and manage hospital noticeboards
Answer phone calls and take the appropriate action, e.g. passing on messages/answering queries
Prepare presentations and other materials as directed
Photocopying, printing and laminating posters
Represent the communications and engagement team at meetings across UHN and provide relevant specialist advice.
Support communications and engagement colleagues in the delivery of other communications and engagement activity as appropriate.
Evaluate your work with continuous improvement in mind.
Provide a professional, responsive service with respect to handling phone calls and emails
Administer procurement arrangements, e.g. arranging purchase orders and processing invoices, ensuring that stationery requirements for the team are met
Collate information for reports and generate reports as required
Ensure confidential and sensitive information is kept secure and meets GDPR requirements
Undertake any other duties which might reasonably be required and which are commensurate with the grade of this post
Job description
Job responsibilities
Actively seek, plan, develop and produce multi-media communications content, ranging from social media soundbites and vlogs, through to informative short films to highlight service developments or staff achievements.
Plan, develop and produce engaging and accurate written communications content, ranging from press releases to newsletter updates
Support the creation and delivery of the staff newsletters and internal communications
Interpret and simplify complex information to create engaging communications material, ensuring that messaging is easily understood and accessible by a diverse range of audiences
Deliver assigned projects, leading on successful completion within agreed timescales and budget.
Support the videography and photography of events such as staff award presentations and staff briefings.
Support and advise departments on communications and engagement, ensuring that projects are planned, managed and delivered effectively
Proactively plan, produce and publish material to enhance communications and engagement tools and activities, e.g. websites, intranet, social media, events and campaigns.
Assist in the development and implementation of communication and engagement standards, helping to ensure standards are met and maintained and services are enabled to improve communications and engagement within their teams.
Subject to skill availability/training, provide support to develop screensavers, animations and other graphics.
Monitor the hospital social media channels and flag urgent issues
Manage the communications and engagement team inbox, deciding on the appropriate action for each communication/request, allocating to team members and monitoring and following up responses
Create and upload weekly screensavers in PowerPoint, in line with UHN branding
Using database software to keep the press queries log up to date
Keep the NGH staff Facebook group membership list up to date
Contribute to and administrate the communications and engagement planning grid, which enables the proactive management of activity across the Group-wide team
Ensure that urgent queries or issues are escalated to the appropriate team member
Distribute posters and other materials across the hospital site and manage hospital noticeboards
Answer phone calls and take the appropriate action, e.g. passing on messages/answering queries
Prepare presentations and other materials as directed
Photocopying, printing and laminating posters
Represent the communications and engagement team at meetings across UHN and provide relevant specialist advice.
Support communications and engagement colleagues in the delivery of other communications and engagement activity as appropriate.
Evaluate your work with continuous improvement in mind.
Provide a professional, responsive service with respect to handling phone calls and emails
Administer procurement arrangements, e.g. arranging purchase orders and processing invoices, ensuring that stationery requirements for the team are met
Collate information for reports and generate reports as required
Ensure confidential and sensitive information is kept secure and meets GDPR requirements
Undertake any other duties which might reasonably be required and which are commensurate with the grade of this post
Person Specification
Education, Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Degree level education or equivalent knowledge and skills gained through any combination of alternative study, or employment experience.
- Communications and engagement qualification or equivalent experience
- Evidence of continued professional development in communications, PR and marketing, keeping abreast of latest developments and best practice
Desirable
- Member of appropriate professional body (CIPR, CIM).
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a relevant communications, PR, marketing and/or engagement role(s).
- Demonstrable experience of managing communications in a complex and challenging environment
- Experience of working with the media and handling potentially sensitive media enquiries
- Experience in delivering communications projects and campaigns, thinking creatively to deliver return on investment for customers
- Experience of monitoring/evaluating communications activity
- Knowledge of how to create an effective communications and engagement plan
- Experience of working in a deadline-driven, and customer-focused environment, delivering a high volume of work within timescales, deadlines and within budget
- Experience of maintaining and developing communications and engagement channels
Desirable
- Experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment
- Experience of managing communications and engagement projects and campaigns
- Experience in creating communications and engagement plans
- Knowledge and understanding of the NHS and how it is organised
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to prepare concise, effective messaging and content
- Highly developed communication skills
- Ability to tailor content to suit different audiences and different channels
- Ability to prepare concise, effective messaging and content
- Ability to turn complex information into interesting, engaging and easy-to-understand copy, e.g. storyboards
- Ability to prioritise and manage own workload, working to tight and often changing timescales
- Knowledge of communications planning techniques, tools and processes
- Ability to make informed, effective decisions about the approach to be taken
- Able to engender trust and confidence and demonstrate integrity when providing advice and support
- Excellent interpersonal and listening skills with the ability to influence and negotiate
- Problem-solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
- Creative skills with an eye for detail
Desirable
- Creative communications skills
- Experience of setting up and implementing internal processes and procedures
- Experience of content management systems (CMS)
- Experience in the digital environment
Personal Qualities & Attributes
Essential
- A team player with the ability to work under own initiative.
- Self-motivated, co-operative, and adaptable to change
- Confident & calm under challenging situations
- Motivated, helpful, and approachable
- Forward thinking, innovative, creative, and enthusiastic
- Resilient and professional
- Has a keen eye for design and detail
- Willing to work flexibly at times. This may include infrequent weekend/evening work and occasional travel
- Willingness to engage in varied activity and to support different members of the team
Person Specification
Education, Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Degree level education or equivalent knowledge and skills gained through any combination of alternative study, or employment experience.
- Communications and engagement qualification or equivalent experience
- Evidence of continued professional development in communications, PR and marketing, keeping abreast of latest developments and best practice
Desirable
- Member of appropriate professional body (CIPR, CIM).
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a relevant communications, PR, marketing and/or engagement role(s).
- Demonstrable experience of managing communications in a complex and challenging environment
- Experience of working with the media and handling potentially sensitive media enquiries
- Experience in delivering communications projects and campaigns, thinking creatively to deliver return on investment for customers
- Experience of monitoring/evaluating communications activity
- Knowledge of how to create an effective communications and engagement plan
- Experience of working in a deadline-driven, and customer-focused environment, delivering a high volume of work within timescales, deadlines and within budget
- Experience of maintaining and developing communications and engagement channels
Desirable
- Experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment
- Experience of managing communications and engagement projects and campaigns
- Experience in creating communications and engagement plans
- Knowledge and understanding of the NHS and how it is organised
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to prepare concise, effective messaging and content
- Highly developed communication skills
- Ability to tailor content to suit different audiences and different channels
- Ability to prepare concise, effective messaging and content
- Ability to turn complex information into interesting, engaging and easy-to-understand copy, e.g. storyboards
- Ability to prioritise and manage own workload, working to tight and often changing timescales
- Knowledge of communications planning techniques, tools and processes
- Ability to make informed, effective decisions about the approach to be taken
- Able to engender trust and confidence and demonstrate integrity when providing advice and support
- Excellent interpersonal and listening skills with the ability to influence and negotiate
- Problem-solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
- Creative skills with an eye for detail
Desirable
- Creative communications skills
- Experience of setting up and implementing internal processes and procedures
- Experience of content management systems (CMS)
- Experience in the digital environment
Personal Qualities & Attributes
Essential
- A team player with the ability to work under own initiative.
- Self-motivated, co-operative, and adaptable to change
- Confident & calm under challenging situations
- Motivated, helpful, and approachable
- Forward thinking, innovative, creative, and enthusiastic
- Resilient and professional
- Has a keen eye for design and detail
- Willing to work flexibly at times. This may include infrequent weekend/evening work and occasional travel
- Willingness to engage in varied activity and to support different members of the team
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).
