Communications and Engagement Manager (External)

Job responsibilities

This is a key role that helps translate communications strategy and planning into action that will see real and lasting changes in awareness and understanding of HCT, the services we provide and the positive impact we have.

The postholder will help:

Enhance and promote understanding of the purpose, work, and achievements of HCT primarily externally with the public and stakeholders, and also internally with staff.

Contribute to developing a programme of external communications to enhance the reputation of the Trust.

Support Board and senior managers to work with stakeholders to create a positive environment for the development of community services.

Support the work of engaging staff, patients, and members of the communities we serve in the organisations development.

Strategic management

As a key member of the Communications and Engagement team, the postholder will contribute to the strategic development of the communications function. This includes leadership on communications issues, monitoring, evaluation, and learning about diverse communications. Help to forward plan communications and engagement activity.

Service development and improvement

The postholder will need to demonstrate and develop examples of continuous improvement and innovation using an evidence-based approach to communications and obtaining feedback to use that learning in future projects.

Management and leadership

The postholder is expected to support other members of the team and share their own skills and experience to drive performance and quality. They must develop and manage good relationships with the media, senior managers, and other NHS colleagues.

Communication and relationship building

The postholder must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, to inspire confidence and support at all levels both internally and externally. The postholder will develop and maintain good relationships with key stakeholders and audiences and be able to take complex information and quickly translate it into key messages for different audiences.

Finance and resource management

The postholder must be able to manage numerous projects simultaneously, with a good grasp of project management methodology. Experience in managing and setting budgets is desirable as the postholder maybe an authorised signatory, signing off expenditure and media campaigns.

Qualifications and Training

Essential

• Educated to degree level or equivalent professional experience
• Evidence of continued professional development
• CIPR qualification or equivalent professional experience

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

• Working with people at all levels
• Developing and managing marketing/communications projects from end-to-end
• Producing good quality copy on breadth of subject areas
• Producing/presenting reports, surveys and evaluating communications figures and information to report back on successes/lessons learned during campaigns, events and projects
• Working in an organisation under public and political scrutiny
• Understanding of corporate communications and reputation management

Desirable

• Previous experience of working within the NHS
• Understanding the wider NHS environment
• Knowledge of community health services
• Knowledge of current health policy
• Experience of developing and managing communication products and channels with key external stakeholders

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Excellent communication and engagement skills, writing (both print and web) and editing
• High standard of self-management, administrative and project management skills
• Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to work accurately and high standards, to meet deadlines particularly when under pressure
• Able to manage multiple priorities to meet specific deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to present complex information to different audience
• Ability to gain and sustain credibility with external and internal stakeholders
• Ability to deal with confidentially and professionally with internal and external queries
• Discretion to deal with confidential issues
• Ability to influence and persuade within and outside an organisation
• Ability to present well-reasoned and structured argument orally and in writing
• Ability to explain complex matters to lay persons
• Able to make own travel arrangements with use of own car to meet needs of the role

Desirable

• Experience of website/intranet content management and publishing

Personal qualities

Essential

• Team player - working with others in line with our Trust values of Caring, Agile and Innovative with the ability to pick up and cover for members of the team as needs arise
• Completer/finisher with ability to focus on detail
• High level of drive, resilience, flexibility and agility to achieve goals and see things through
• Prepared to adopt flexible working practices to meet the needs of the role, this may include working outside to standard working hours
• Highly self-motivated, proactive, energetic team-player with the ability to work independently and without direct supervision

Other requirements

Essential

• Willingness to uphold the Trust's values
• Eligible to live and work in the UK
• Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposed to different sites across the Trust (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).