Job summary
We're looking for a proactive and enthusiastic External Communications Officer to play a pivotal role in the wider communications team. Reporting into the External Communications Lead this role will be a terrific opportunity for someone who is creative and ambitious.
TheExternal Communications Officer will be required to demonstrate excellent understanding of media relations and strong experience of working with staff of all levels to create new and exciting ways to generate stories and deliver media.
This will be an exciting challenge for someone who is bursting with creativity is a strong communicator and has a passion for the work that we do here at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Main duties of the job
The External Communications Officer will juggle multiple priorities and manage relationships within the hospital and the Children's Charity, becoming a link to clinicians and the press office, meeting and getting to know patients and their families, understanding procedures and getting to grips with cutting edge and pioneering research to ensure interesting and in-depth coverage of the work that serves to enhance the reputation of the Hospital in the UK and abroad.
Strong creative digital skills are necessary in this role, ensuring press work is as closely integrated with the hospital social media channels as possible. Storytelling should work across all our channels and showcase the incredible life-saving, life-changing that goes on at this hospital everyday.
About us
GOSH is committed to recruiting the best person for the job, based solely on their ability and individual merit as measured against the criteria for the role; through a process that is fair, open, consistent and free from bias and discrimination.We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture where all staff are valued, respected and acknowledged. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, disability status or length of time spent unemployed.We particularly welcome applications from BAME communities, people with disabilities and/or long-term health conditions and LGBT+ community members.We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants and employees are treated fairly and consistently. We are proud to be accredited as a Disability Confident Employer, a member of Business Disability Forum and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.We have active and Executive supported BAME, LGBT+ and Allies, Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions and Women's staff networks. Staff networks are employee-led groups formed around interests, issues and a common bond or background. Staff network members create a positive and inclusive work environment at Great Ormond Street Hospital by actively contributing to the Trust's mission, values and efforts specific to inclusion. All of our staff networks are open to any employee.
Job description
Job responsibilities
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
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
Our Always Values
Essential
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Excellent writing skills including editing and copywriting
- Excellent verbal skills including the ability to persuade senior colleagues and process highly complex information
- Ability to liaise with wide range of people including Board level executives, senior managers, experts and families
- Proven ability to work as part of a team
- Ability to work independently, lead on projects and be responsible for managing a specific portfolio of comms work
- Ability to prioritise a heavy workload and juggle multiple projects
- Ability to organise logistically complex film shoots, ensuring objectives are met
- Good Problem solver with the ability to think quickly and find solutions under pressure
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of working in communications and in writing/editing content
- Experience of working on communications strategies
- Understanding of the confidentiality requirements around case studies of patients and families
- Management of films crews and photographers
- Experience of working with multiple stakeholders and working in a multi layered organisation
- Politically savvy and astute to manage the needs of clinicians, the hospital and other stakeholders.
Desirable
- Knowledge of scientific and medical research and experience of communicating developments in these areas
- Experience of working in communications within the public sector, not necessarily within the NHS
Education, training and qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level, in a relevant subject, i.e. communications, English
- Workplace experience in a busy press office
Person Specification
Our Always Values
Essential
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Excellent writing skills including editing and copywriting
- Excellent verbal skills including the ability to persuade senior colleagues and process highly complex information
- Ability to liaise with wide range of people including Board level executives, senior managers, experts and families
- Proven ability to work as part of a team
- Ability to work independently, lead on projects and be responsible for managing a specific portfolio of comms work
- Ability to prioritise a heavy workload and juggle multiple projects
- Ability to organise logistically complex film shoots, ensuring objectives are met
- Good Problem solver with the ability to think quickly and find solutions under pressure
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of working in communications and in writing/editing content
- Experience of working on communications strategies
- Understanding of the confidentiality requirements around case studies of patients and families
- Management of films crews and photographers
- Experience of working with multiple stakeholders and working in a multi layered organisation
- Politically savvy and astute to manage the needs of clinicians, the hospital and other stakeholders.
Desirable
- Knowledge of scientific and medical research and experience of communicating developments in these areas
- Experience of working in communications within the public sector, not necessarily within the NHS
Education, training and qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level, in a relevant subject, i.e. communications, English
- Workplace experience in a busy press office
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).
