Deputy Director of communications and Engagement

Job responsibilities

The postholder will be responsible for the planning, development and implementation of the Trusts communication, engagement, involvement, participation and fundraising across all of the communities in which it operates. This includes internal and external audiences and encompasses all forms of communications including public affairs, public relations, marketing and brand strategy, issues and crisis management, digital communications and event management. The individual will work closely with the Director of Communications and Engagement and Head of Communications and Engagement to develop and deliver the Trusts communications strategy.

The postholder will oversee the Trusts charity, providing strategic direction, guidance and leadership with a view to raising the profile of the charity internally and within our local communities, in turn seeing a rise in income. The individual will also take a lead on ensuring the successful implementation of the Charitys existing strategy, and subsequent annual workplans.

The postholder will deputise for the Director of Communications and Engagement as required, both internally at Trust Board and Executive Management level meetings and externally.

FULL JOB DESCRIPTION ATTACHED.

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to Masters level in related field, or equivalent level of experience

Desirable

• Member of an appropriate professional body

Experience

Essential

• Proven previous experience of working at a senior level in a large and/or complex organisation
• Extensive leadership experience in a communications, engagement, fundraising or related role
• Experience of devising and implementing highly effective strategies in a complex organisation for a range of stakeholders
• Experience of devising strategies which are inclusive
• Experience of navigating the media and political stakeholders
• Experience of effective budget management including prioritisation of allocating resource

Desirable

• Experience in health, care, or related sectors welcomed, as is experience in the private sector
• Experience in the charitable giving sector

Skills, Knowledge & Competencies

Essential

• Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge
• Able to make a connection between their work and the benefit to patients and the public
• Leadership, vision, strategic thinking and planning with highly developed political skills
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of expertise in providing senior leadership
• High level analytical skills and the ability to draw qualitative and quantitative data from a wide range of sources and present in a clear concise manner
• Demonstrates sound judgement in the absence of clear guidelines or precedent, seeking advice as necessary when appropriate
• Ability to analyse numerical and written data, assess verbal, written, numerical and draw appropriate conclusion
• Ability to develop, maintain and monitor information systems to support improvement and innovation initiatives
• Ability to work on own initiative and organise workload, allocating work as necessary, working to tight and often changing deadlines
• Ability to confidently make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues
• Commitment to and focused on quality, promotes high standards in all they do
• Consistently looks to improve what they do, looks for successful tried and tested ways of working, and also seeks out innovation
• Track record of developing and implementing innovative practice that is based on real insights from target audiences
• Demonstrable experience and knowledge of using social and digital media to communicate with key audiences in new and innovative ways, including individuals and groups who might not normally engage
• Led and implemented nationally acclaimed best practice
• Demonstrable experience and understanding of effective public involvement practices, including effective implementation of creative and innovative approaches that target seldom heard/often overlooked communities
• Knowledge of legislation and requirements around freedom of information, data protection, formal public consultation on service change/reconfiguration, and media law
• High level of political knowledge and influencing skills
• Experience of delivery through partnership working across a wide variety of stakeholders
• Ability to provide and present highly complex, sensitive and/or contentious information to large groups, responding openly to questions to ensure full understanding and engagement in a hostile or antagonistic environment
• Able to manage and navigate complex and sometime contentious public and community relations matters

Specific role requirements

Essential

• Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality
• Ability to act with tact and diplomacy
• Politically aware
• Personal commitment to the values of the NHS
• Demonstrates a compassionate leadership style and has supported the development of teams to thrive