Job summary
The purpose of the senior communications and engagement officer is to support the development and delivery of our engagement and communications strategy through the media and PR, external affairs, stakeholder engagement, social media and internal communications.
You will work closely with colleagues to implement our communications and engagement strategy in support of our aims and objectives, promoting the purpose of the organisation, engaging effectively with our staff and volunteers and maintaining our professional corporate image and reputation with external stakeholders. Handling a large and constantly evolving workload in a busy environment to respond to national and local issues.
Supporting our team to ensure that our work is informed by audience insight and best practice and build positive relationships to reach and resonate with our different audiences.
Main duties of the job
To support the Head of Communications and Engagement to deliver our engagement and communications strategy, to:
- develop compelling, integrated content to best achieve the aims and objectives in their assigned projects and workplans while contributing to forward planning
- deliver communications and engagement activity for their assigned area(s), developing a good understanding of how they align to organisational objectives, strategy and operating plan
- produce a broad range of written communications to the highest standard, using expertise and experience to identify the right channels and styles for specific audiences
- work on own initiative yet recognise when an issue warrants escalation
- contribute and participate in the development of professional capacity and expertise
- build strong relationships within their assigned area(s)
- spot communications opportunities and risks and work with partner, regional and national communications teams to manage as appropriate
- support involvement and consultation where required
- ensure adherence to in-house approval processes and gain sign-off at the appropriate level
- deputise for line manager as appropriate
- support value for money and best use of resources
About us
Why Work With Us
We are strategic communications. We are an expert resource for our colleagues and partners and provide specialist advice on communications and engagement. We are custodians of our organisation's reputation. We are the branding guardians. We set a standard.
We amplify people's voices. We question. We challenge. We will always ask why. We are curious. We are adaptable. We are always learning.
We show and tell how we are supporting our people and our communities to live well.
We explain the why, what and the how - why we are here, what is happening, how it will make a difference. We help create a shared understanding of our present and our future.
We build trust and confidence by supporting meaningful conversations about our work, our services and what matters to our people. We help people understand what information, changes and developments will mean for them. We talk simply, honestly and openly about our work, our challenges and our opportunities.
We celebrate our people and their successes. We work hard to share our colleagues' learning so others can benefit from their experiences. We find creative ways to share our people's stories and seek and listen to their views.
Our team values are important to us. We are inclusive. We are kind. We are passionate.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- to develop effective working relationships within the strategic communications team
- to build positive relationships with colleagues at all levels across a complex and geographically-dispersed organisation
- to build and maintain effective relationships with communications colleagues from a wide variety of system and partner organisations
- to provide tactical communications and engagement advice to senior managers and colleagues where needed
- to liaise with external contractors as required to effectively deliver products and projects
- to support the development of internal and external communications and engagement as required, working with operational, corporate and clinical colleagues to support their major programmes
- to develop effective relationships with journalists, identifying media opportunities and risks
- to support the strategic communications team and the digital horizons team to help produce webinars / online events as and when required
- to support the strategic communications team in the event of a major incident or other emergency as and when required
- to manage enquiries to the strategic communications inbox, being the key point of contact
- to undertake complex and detailed information analysis of specific projects/reports requiring high levels of concentration
- to update, maintain, organise, gather and analyse information to predict/meet future organisational and team needs by identifying best practice
- to provide co-ordination of and participation in relevant meetings, reporting attendance and providing information, advice and support where requested
- to support the Head of Communications and Engagement to manage and oversee the consistent roll-out of our brand and corporate identity, ensuring that all materials comply with NHS guidelines, best practice and meets the public sector regulations around accessibility requirements
- to ensure that all content they create conforms to brand standards and tone of voice and is aligned to agreed messaging
- to carry out or commission photography and videography for communications channels in line with brand guidelines, policies and procedures
- to provide content for reports summarising status on identified issues, appraising outcomes and providing progress reports to the Head of Communications and Engagement.
- to develop and write plans for key programmes and areas of work
- to support the Head of Communications and Engagement in delivery of key communications and engagement activities
- to contribute to strategic planning for communications and engagement
- to support the Head of Communications and Engagement in content design, development and production to deliver timely, effective and engaging written, graphics / infographic, audio and video content to support our campaigns, activity and objectives
- to support the Head of Communications and Engagement in managing and monitoring our communications and engagement activities
- to ensure that communication and engagement activities are delivered within identified budgets and agreed timescales, delivering measurable outcomes
- to work closely with colleagues in the strategic communications team and wider teams on projects and campaigns as required.
- to support communications handling plans for sensitive media issues including, but not limited to, serious incidents (both clinical and non-clinical), incidents involving patients, inquest, high profile complaints. This may involve occasional exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances
- to promote NHS services via the use of communications and engagement, including photography and audio/visual recordings
- to support engagement with staff, stakeholders and the public both for routine activities and transformation and/or change programmes and projects
- to ensure all communications and engagement activity contributes to the improvement of quality and outcomes for patients, staff and the public
- to act as a champion for patients and their interests through communications and engagement activities
- to support the involvement of the public and patients in the development of communications and engagement activities to ensure they are accessible and add value
- to use national and local insight into the needs and communications preferences of different groups
- to contribute to the development of policies for engagement and communications
- to propose changes to own function, making recommendations for improvements to service delivery
- to identify products, equipment, services and facilities for assigned activities, and make recommendations
- to liaise with third party suppliers in order to ensure delivery of required solutions and agreed project goals in agreed time commitments
- to support and inform teams on the targeting of resources and engaging staff in delivery of the operating plan
- to demonstrate own activities or duties to new or less experienced colleagues in the team
- to share knowledge and expertise with colleagues as required, providing training as needed
- to provide training to team members, colleagues and the wider organisation on communications and engagement as required
- to participate in recruitment and selection processes as required
- to maintain current file and management systems, making recommendations for improvements
- to ensure planned and scheduled communications and engagement activities take place in a timely and appropriate manner
- to support the Head of Communications and Engagement to develop surveys to seek views from staff, patients, carers, the public and stakeholders as needed
- to maintain an up-to-date knowledge of best practice in engagement and communications (including trends, techniques and technologies)
- to undertake audits or surveys as necessary to evaluate and improve communications and engagement on a regular basis
- to attend education, training and development opportunities relevant to communications and engagement, relevant to post and team
- to ensure the use of insight, best practice and evaluation findings to inform and improve communications and engagement activity
- to uphold professional standards and NHS standards for communications and engagement, using established processes and templates to ensure consistency of service, clarity and cohesiveness
- to take responsibility for your ongoing personal and professional development
- to work independently and autonomously, without supervision and with the ability to act independently and on own initiative, exhibiting sound judgement
- to role model behaviours that exemplify our people promise and encourage similar behaviours in colleagues
- to show a commitment to learning, self-reflection, appraisal and development
- to be curious about the work going on across the organisation and the Devon system and to help build a shared consciousness of our reality, our challenges and our opportunities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- to develop effective working relationships within the strategic communications team
- to build positive relationships with colleagues at all levels across a complex and geographically-dispersed organisation
- to build and maintain effective relationships with communications colleagues from a wide variety of system and partner organisations
- to provide tactical communications and engagement advice to senior managers and colleagues where needed
- to liaise with external contractors as required to effectively deliver products and projects
- to support the development of internal and external communications and engagement as required, working with operational, corporate and clinical colleagues to support their major programmes
- to develop effective relationships with journalists, identifying media opportunities and risks
- to support the strategic communications team and the digital horizons team to help produce webinars / online events as and when required
- to support the strategic communications team in the event of a major incident or other emergency as and when required
- to manage enquiries to the strategic communications inbox, being the key point of contact
- to undertake complex and detailed information analysis of specific projects/reports requiring high levels of concentration
- to update, maintain, organise, gather and analyse information to predict/meet future organisational and team needs by identifying best practice
- to provide co-ordination of and participation in relevant meetings, reporting attendance and providing information, advice and support where requested
- to support the Head of Communications and Engagement to manage and oversee the consistent roll-out of our brand and corporate identity, ensuring that all materials comply with NHS guidelines, best practice and meets the public sector regulations around accessibility requirements
- to ensure that all content they create conforms to brand standards and tone of voice and is aligned to agreed messaging
- to carry out or commission photography and videography for communications channels in line with brand guidelines, policies and procedures
- to provide content for reports summarising status on identified issues, appraising outcomes and providing progress reports to the Head of Communications and Engagement.
- to develop and write plans for key programmes and areas of work
- to support the Head of Communications and Engagement in delivery of key communications and engagement activities
- to contribute to strategic planning for communications and engagement
- to support the Head of Communications and Engagement in content design, development and production to deliver timely, effective and engaging written, graphics / infographic, audio and video content to support our campaigns, activity and objectives
- to support the Head of Communications and Engagement in managing and monitoring our communications and engagement activities
- to ensure that communication and engagement activities are delivered within identified budgets and agreed timescales, delivering measurable outcomes
- to work closely with colleagues in the strategic communications team and wider teams on projects and campaigns as required.
- to support communications handling plans for sensitive media issues including, but not limited to, serious incidents (both clinical and non-clinical), incidents involving patients, inquest, high profile complaints. This may involve occasional exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances
- to promote NHS services via the use of communications and engagement, including photography and audio/visual recordings
- to support engagement with staff, stakeholders and the public both for routine activities and transformation and/or change programmes and projects
- to ensure all communications and engagement activity contributes to the improvement of quality and outcomes for patients, staff and the public
- to act as a champion for patients and their interests through communications and engagement activities
- to support the involvement of the public and patients in the development of communications and engagement activities to ensure they are accessible and add value
- to use national and local insight into the needs and communications preferences of different groups
- to contribute to the development of policies for engagement and communications
- to propose changes to own function, making recommendations for improvements to service delivery
- to identify products, equipment, services and facilities for assigned activities, and make recommendations
- to liaise with third party suppliers in order to ensure delivery of required solutions and agreed project goals in agreed time commitments
- to support and inform teams on the targeting of resources and engaging staff in delivery of the operating plan
- to demonstrate own activities or duties to new or less experienced colleagues in the team
- to share knowledge and expertise with colleagues as required, providing training as needed
- to provide training to team members, colleagues and the wider organisation on communications and engagement as required
- to participate in recruitment and selection processes as required
- to maintain current file and management systems, making recommendations for improvements
- to ensure planned and scheduled communications and engagement activities take place in a timely and appropriate manner
- to support the Head of Communications and Engagement to develop surveys to seek views from staff, patients, carers, the public and stakeholders as needed
- to maintain an up-to-date knowledge of best practice in engagement and communications (including trends, techniques and technologies)
- to undertake audits or surveys as necessary to evaluate and improve communications and engagement on a regular basis
- to attend education, training and development opportunities relevant to communications and engagement, relevant to post and team
- to ensure the use of insight, best practice and evaluation findings to inform and improve communications and engagement activity
- to uphold professional standards and NHS standards for communications and engagement, using established processes and templates to ensure consistency of service, clarity and cohesiveness
- to take responsibility for your ongoing personal and professional development
- to work independently and autonomously, without supervision and with the ability to act independently and on own initiative, exhibiting sound judgement
- to role model behaviours that exemplify our people promise and encourage similar behaviours in colleagues
- to show a commitment to learning, self-reflection, appraisal and development
- to be curious about the work going on across the organisation and the Devon system and to help build a shared consciousness of our reality, our challenges and our opportunities.
Person Specification
Criteria
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent, or equivalent knowledge gained through relevant experience
- Demonstrable evidence of continuing professional development
- Demonstrable experience of developing story and campaign ideas
- Experience of media relations and working with digital and social media platforms and content management systems
- Proven experience of creating opportunities and working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders
- Strong communication skills for delivering key messages to a range of stakeholders both internal and external (including outside the NHS) at all levels
- Strong presentational skills for conveying concepts to diverse audiences
- Ability to recognise the limits of own authority within the role and seeks and uses professional support appropriately
- Ability to identify current costs and cost saving opportunities as part of working activities
- Ability to undertake analysis of communications and engagement reach, impact and return on investment using quantitative and qualitative methods to inform future approaches and reporting
- Ability to plan and organise complex activities - eg annual staff awards and staff and public engagement events
- Ability to engage senior managers in the development of campaigns and events to ensure they deliver the organisation's objectives
- Good knowledge of graphics and video editing software, including (but not limited to) Adobe Creative Suite etc
Desirable
- Post degree experience of two years or more in public relations, digital communications or equivalent experience
- Membership of a recognised professional communications, IT, or marketing institution/body
- Experience of working in the NHS or a related organisation
- Experience of working in a politically sensitive environment
- Experience of working simultaneously on multiple communications and engagement activities, with excellent project management, planning and co-ordination across a range of disciplines and channels
- Knowledge of working within relevant legislation (eg Freedom of Information, Data Protection)
- Ability to 'spot the story' in the detail of policy, whether that be one of opportunity or risk
- Good knowledge of film recording, editing techniques, conversion and storage for broadcast
- Ability to influence, motivate and persuade stakeholders using effective communications and engagement
- Ability to negotiate and influence colleagues, including senior figures, on appropriate communications and engagement approaches for projects and campaigns
Person Specification
Criteria
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent, or equivalent knowledge gained through relevant experience
- Demonstrable evidence of continuing professional development
- Demonstrable experience of developing story and campaign ideas
- Experience of media relations and working with digital and social media platforms and content management systems
- Proven experience of creating opportunities and working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders
- Strong communication skills for delivering key messages to a range of stakeholders both internal and external (including outside the NHS) at all levels
- Strong presentational skills for conveying concepts to diverse audiences
- Ability to recognise the limits of own authority within the role and seeks and uses professional support appropriately
- Ability to identify current costs and cost saving opportunities as part of working activities
- Ability to undertake analysis of communications and engagement reach, impact and return on investment using quantitative and qualitative methods to inform future approaches and reporting
- Ability to plan and organise complex activities - eg annual staff awards and staff and public engagement events
- Ability to engage senior managers in the development of campaigns and events to ensure they deliver the organisation's objectives
- Good knowledge of graphics and video editing software, including (but not limited to) Adobe Creative Suite etc
Desirable
- Post degree experience of two years or more in public relations, digital communications or equivalent experience
- Membership of a recognised professional communications, IT, or marketing institution/body
- Experience of working in the NHS or a related organisation
- Experience of working in a politically sensitive environment
- Experience of working simultaneously on multiple communications and engagement activities, with excellent project management, planning and co-ordination across a range of disciplines and channels
- Knowledge of working within relevant legislation (eg Freedom of Information, Data Protection)
- Ability to 'spot the story' in the detail of policy, whether that be one of opportunity or risk
- Good knowledge of film recording, editing techniques, conversion and storage for broadcast
- Ability to influence, motivate and persuade stakeholders using effective communications and engagement
- Ability to negotiate and influence colleagues, including senior figures, on appropriate communications and engagement approaches for projects and campaigns
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.
