Job summary
The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust is proud to have secured funding for the Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC), which will play a key role in bringing commercial health research to our region. Supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the NIHR Leicestershire and Northamptonshire CRDC works with primary and secondary care providers to deliver innovative research studies and recruit participants.
We are looking for a Senior Communications Officer to join our Research Communications team. This is a fantastic opportunity to help raise the profile of commercial research, working closely with clinical colleagues, operational teams and external partners.
This is an exciting opportunity to use your communications expertise to help shape the future of commercial research in our region and support improvements in patient care.
Main duties of the job
In this role, you will:
- Build and maintain strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders across healthcare, research, and industry.
- Lead on communications and engagement activities that support recruitment into research studies.
- Produce clear, engaging copy for different channels, including newsletters, staff updates, reports, and press releases.
- Update and maintain the CRDC website and intranet pages to ensure content is accurate, accessible, and engaging.
- Support internal communications to keep staff informed and connected.
- Develop creative materials to promote the CRDC to different audiences.
- Support communications and marketing activity for the Leicester Diabetes Centre as and when required.
About us
Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).
We have four primary goals:
- high-quality care for all,
- being a great place to work,
- partnerships for impact, and
- research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.
Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
- we are compassionate,
- we are proud,
- we are inclusive, and
- we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:
https://www.uhleicester.nhs.uk
Job description
Job responsibilities
We are looking for someone who is:
- A confident communicator, able to adapt messages for different audiences and build credibility with stakeholders at all levels.
- An experienced copywriter with excellent attention to detail.
- Skilled at managing relationships and influencing stakeholders with competing priorities.
- Organised, adaptable and able to manage multiple projects under pressure.
- Familiar with updating websites/intranets and producing content for digital and print channels.
(Please refer to the job description/person specification for further details on the role)
Job description
Job responsibilities
We are looking for someone who is:
- A confident communicator, able to adapt messages for different audiences and build credibility with stakeholders at all levels.
- An experienced copywriter with excellent attention to detail.
- Skilled at managing relationships and influencing stakeholders with competing priorities.
- Organised, adaptable and able to manage multiple projects under pressure.
- Familiar with updating websites/intranets and producing content for digital and print channels.
(Please refer to the job description/person specification for further details on the role)
Person Specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism or a related subject OR equivalent experience in a communications role.
Desirable
- Training in equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Media handling or crisis communications training
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of three years' experience working in a communications, public relations, or marketing role.
- Proven experience of building and maintaining effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including external partners.
- Experience planning, coordinating, and delivering communications projects or campaigns.
- Experience managing social media accounts for a professional or organisational setting, including creating content, monitoring engagement, and ensuring alignment with organisational objectives.
- Experience developing case studies or success stories to demonstrate organisational impact.
- Experience developing social media strategies to support stakeholder engagement, recruitment, or marketing campaigns.
Desirable
- Experience working within the NHS, higher education, or a related public/healthcare organisation.
- Experience delivering communications in partnership with multiple organisations
- Experience supporting or managing crisis or issues communications.
Communication and Relationship Skills
Essential
- Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to balance and manage competing priorities
- Proven ability to build, maintain, and nurture strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including senior colleagues, external partners, and members of the public.
- Ability to communicate and engage confidently and credibility with stakeholders at all levels, including those outside of the NHS.*
- Excellent copywriting and editing skills, with the ability to produce clear, engaging, and persuasive content tailored to different audiences and channels (e.g. press releases, newsletters, staff updates, reports, web content).*
- Ability to adapt tone and style depending on the channel and audience.
Desirable
- Experience handling sensitive or complex information with discretion and professionalism.
Analytical and Judgement Skills
Essential
- Ability to analyse and interpret information, drawing insights to inform communications strategies.
- Proven problem-solving skills, with the ability to respond effectively to unexpected challenges.
- Ability to assess the impact of communications activity using qualitative and quantitative methods
- Ability to balance competing priorities and make sound, evidence-based decisions under pressure.
Desirable
- Understanding of how to assess reputational risk and advise on appropriate responses.
- Experience using evaluation or analytics tools to measure communication effectiveness and report on outcomes.
Skills
Essential
- Excellent copywriting and editing skills, with the ability to adapt style and tone for different audiences and channels.
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels
- Ability to plan, prioritise and deliver multiple projects to tight deadlines
- Strong organisational skills with evidence of effective project management, including collaboration with external partners
- Confident presentation skills, able to explain complex ideas clearly to non-specialist audiences.
- Ability to update and maintain websites and intranets using Content Management Systems (CMS).
- Creative approach to developing engaging content across a range of formats (e.g. articles, blogs, newsletters, social media, internal updates).
- Analytical skills to assess the impact of communications activities and provide evidence-based recommendations.
Desirable
- Experience developing marketing materials or campaigns to support engagement and recruitment.
- Ability to produce multimedia content such as video, photography or podcasts.
- Skills in stakeholder engagement techniques, public involvement or partnership working.
- Familiarity with accessibility standards and inclusive communication practices.
- Crisis communications or media-handling skills.
Planning and organisation skills
Essential
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.*
- Ability to plan and deliver work to tight deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.*
- Proven project management skills, including experience working collaboratively with external partners.
- Experience planning and delivering communication or engagement campaigns.
Desirable
- Ability to identify risks and develop contingency plans to ensure successful project delivery.
- Experience coordinating input from multiple stakeholders to deliver shared objectives.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Essential
- Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.
- All staff are expected to engage in compassionate and inclusive leadership in the provision of high-quality care and interactions with others.
Other requirements specific to the role
Essential
- Ability and willingness to travel to other Trust sites or partner organisations as required.
- Ability to work collaboratively within a team, supporting colleagues and contributing to wider team objectives
- Ability to work flexibly to deliver objectives and support the wider team.
Desirable
- Understanding of and commitment to patient confidentiality and data protection principles.
Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours
Essential
- Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's Values and Behaviours
Person Specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism or a related subject OR equivalent experience in a communications role.
Desirable
- Training in equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Media handling or crisis communications training
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of three years' experience working in a communications, public relations, or marketing role.
- Proven experience of building and maintaining effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including external partners.
- Experience planning, coordinating, and delivering communications projects or campaigns.
- Experience managing social media accounts for a professional or organisational setting, including creating content, monitoring engagement, and ensuring alignment with organisational objectives.
- Experience developing case studies or success stories to demonstrate organisational impact.
- Experience developing social media strategies to support stakeholder engagement, recruitment, or marketing campaigns.
Desirable
- Experience working within the NHS, higher education, or a related public/healthcare organisation.
- Experience delivering communications in partnership with multiple organisations
- Experience supporting or managing crisis or issues communications.
Communication and Relationship Skills
Essential
- Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to balance and manage competing priorities
- Proven ability to build, maintain, and nurture strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including senior colleagues, external partners, and members of the public.
- Ability to communicate and engage confidently and credibility with stakeholders at all levels, including those outside of the NHS.*
- Excellent copywriting and editing skills, with the ability to produce clear, engaging, and persuasive content tailored to different audiences and channels (e.g. press releases, newsletters, staff updates, reports, web content).*
- Ability to adapt tone and style depending on the channel and audience.
Desirable
- Experience handling sensitive or complex information with discretion and professionalism.
Analytical and Judgement Skills
Essential
- Ability to analyse and interpret information, drawing insights to inform communications strategies.
- Proven problem-solving skills, with the ability to respond effectively to unexpected challenges.
- Ability to assess the impact of communications activity using qualitative and quantitative methods
- Ability to balance competing priorities and make sound, evidence-based decisions under pressure.
Desirable
- Understanding of how to assess reputational risk and advise on appropriate responses.
- Experience using evaluation or analytics tools to measure communication effectiveness and report on outcomes.
Skills
Essential
- Excellent copywriting and editing skills, with the ability to adapt style and tone for different audiences and channels.
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels
- Ability to plan, prioritise and deliver multiple projects to tight deadlines
- Strong organisational skills with evidence of effective project management, including collaboration with external partners
- Confident presentation skills, able to explain complex ideas clearly to non-specialist audiences.
- Ability to update and maintain websites and intranets using Content Management Systems (CMS).
- Creative approach to developing engaging content across a range of formats (e.g. articles, blogs, newsletters, social media, internal updates).
- Analytical skills to assess the impact of communications activities and provide evidence-based recommendations.
Desirable
- Experience developing marketing materials or campaigns to support engagement and recruitment.
- Ability to produce multimedia content such as video, photography or podcasts.
- Skills in stakeholder engagement techniques, public involvement or partnership working.
- Familiarity with accessibility standards and inclusive communication practices.
- Crisis communications or media-handling skills.
Planning and organisation skills
Essential
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.*
- Ability to plan and deliver work to tight deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.*
- Proven project management skills, including experience working collaboratively with external partners.
- Experience planning and delivering communication or engagement campaigns.
Desirable
- Ability to identify risks and develop contingency plans to ensure successful project delivery.
- Experience coordinating input from multiple stakeholders to deliver shared objectives.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Essential
- Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.
- All staff are expected to engage in compassionate and inclusive leadership in the provision of high-quality care and interactions with others.
Other requirements specific to the role
Essential
- Ability and willingness to travel to other Trust sites or partner organisations as required.
- Ability to work collaboratively within a team, supporting colleagues and contributing to wider team objectives
- Ability to work flexibly to deliver objectives and support the wider team.
Desirable
- Understanding of and commitment to patient confidentiality and data protection principles.
Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours
Essential
- Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's Values and Behaviours
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).
