Job summary
INTERNAL ONLY - This post is open to Berkshire Healthcare NHS Employees Only
Interview will be held on 5th March 2025
We have 2 x Band 7 Communications Manager roles
The Communications Manager will work closely with the Director of Communications and Deputy Director of Communications to deliver effective internal and external communications as well as being responsible for developing and delivering communications strategies for key transformation and change programmes.
You will be responsible for developing and delivering an effective media relations strategy to enhance our profile. You'll have demonstrable experience of managing both proactive and reactive media relations, including handling reactive media enquiries, briefing journalists, photo calls, supervising filming and preparing reactive statements. You'll also be confident at managing crisis comms.
You will also provide line management to Communications Officers, offering guidance, support, and supervision to ensure high-quality output and professional development within the team. This includes conducting regular one-to-one meetings, performance reviews, and fostering a collaborative and supportive team environment.
This is a hybrid role, with an expectation that you will work from our Bracknell Head Office or other sites across Berkshire as required, likely at least once a week.
Main duties of the job
Working in a leadership role within the Marketing and Communications team, you will:
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Provide effective line management to Communications Officers, offering guidance, support, and regular supervision to ensure high performance and professional development.
About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust sites
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to email: Sarah Walker at sarah.walker@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to email: Sarah Walker at sarah.walker@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- Educated to degree level in a relevant subject, for example PR, Media or Marketing, or equivalent experience
- Educated to post graduate level in a relevant subject, for example PR, Media or Marketing, or equivalent experience
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Evidence of continuing personal and professional development within a Marketing/Communications environment
Previous Experience
Essential
- Five years' minimum experience working at a senior level in current marketing/communications roles
- Significant experience of developing and implementing successful internal/external strategic communications projects
- Significant experience of having effectively managed projects, campaigns and events within a marketing/communications environment
- Experience of planning and leading internal communications and working on change programmes
- Experience of communicating with seldom heard and diverse audiences
- Extensive experience using written, digital and verbal skills to present information in a variety of different formats/ styles at a senior level within a marketing/communications team environment
- Experience of proactive and reactive media relations, particularly around sensitive and high-profile matters
- An excellent understanding of how to make best use of social and digital media to support campaigns and projects
- Experience of working within brand guidelines, understanding importance and ensuring all output reflects correct brand
- Experience of managing both virtual and face to face events engaging a wide variety of stakeholders
Desirable
- Line management experience, supporting and developing team members to reach their full potential, responsible for wellbeing, performance, training, and mentoring.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to influence, negotiate and network effectively with a wide range of audiences, establishing positive relationships which generate confidence and trust
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills proven within a marketing/communications environment
- Good time management skills and the ability to prioritise complex communications activities and campaigns, with the ability to plan and manage own time to meet tight deadlines and schedules.
- The ability to make sound judgements quickly in pressurised situations based on the information available within a marketing/communications environment
- Ability to undertake relevant research prior to planning communications campaigns and other projects and identify/use best practice.
- Confident to be the source of expert advice for senior managers on matters relating to communications including reputation management
- Ability to work independently and lead on designated communications projects/programmes.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Ability to travel throughout Berkshire and across the south of England as required
- High speed/fibre broadband at home
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- Educated to degree level in a relevant subject, for example PR, Media or Marketing, or equivalent experience
- Educated to post graduate level in a relevant subject, for example PR, Media or Marketing, or equivalent experience
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Evidence of continuing personal and professional development within a Marketing/Communications environment
Previous Experience
Essential
- Five years' minimum experience working at a senior level in current marketing/communications roles
- Significant experience of developing and implementing successful internal/external strategic communications projects
- Significant experience of having effectively managed projects, campaigns and events within a marketing/communications environment
- Experience of planning and leading internal communications and working on change programmes
- Experience of communicating with seldom heard and diverse audiences
- Extensive experience using written, digital and verbal skills to present information in a variety of different formats/ styles at a senior level within a marketing/communications team environment
- Experience of proactive and reactive media relations, particularly around sensitive and high-profile matters
- An excellent understanding of how to make best use of social and digital media to support campaigns and projects
- Experience of working within brand guidelines, understanding importance and ensuring all output reflects correct brand
- Experience of managing both virtual and face to face events engaging a wide variety of stakeholders
Desirable
- Line management experience, supporting and developing team members to reach their full potential, responsible for wellbeing, performance, training, and mentoring.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to influence, negotiate and network effectively with a wide range of audiences, establishing positive relationships which generate confidence and trust
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills proven within a marketing/communications environment
- Good time management skills and the ability to prioritise complex communications activities and campaigns, with the ability to plan and manage own time to meet tight deadlines and schedules.
- The ability to make sound judgements quickly in pressurised situations based on the information available within a marketing/communications environment
- Ability to undertake relevant research prior to planning communications campaigns and other projects and identify/use best practice.
- Confident to be the source of expert advice for senior managers on matters relating to communications including reputation management
- Ability to work independently and lead on designated communications projects/programmes.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Ability to travel throughout Berkshire and across the south of England as required
- High speed/fibre broadband at home
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).
