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NHS Confederation

Policy and Communications Manager

The closing date is 08 July 2025

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Job summary

As a Policy and Communications Manager you will join a small, ambitious team tackling health data policy, trust, and public engagement and:

  • Shape public debate, influence national policy, and lead UPDs external voice.
  • Lead communications, support influencing work, and shape strategy.
  • Monitor policy and programme developments across the health data landscape
  • Craft timely briefings, consultation responses and public positions
  • Translate complex policy issues into accessible, engaging content for a variety of audiences from the public to Parliament
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders in government, civil society, academia and the NHS
  • Plan, deliver and evaluate communications across UPDs channels that increase our reach and influence.

Main duties of the job

Were looking for a strategic and collaborative leader who:

  • Has experience in public policy or influencing, ideally in health, data, or digital fields.
  • Has demonstrable written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences
  • Understands how policy change happens and is politically astute
  • Can work independently and effectively manage their time and multiple priorities.
  • Confidently manages projects, relationships, and digital content.
  • Is passionate about public engagement, trust, and ethics in technology.
We are a small, flexible team with big ambitions. Youll have space to shape the role, develop your interests and make a real impact. If youre excited by the chance to shape national conversations on how health data is used and feel you have most of what were looking for, wed love to hear from you.

About us

UPD is an independent initiative, hosted by the NHS Confederation. Since it was established in 2016, UPD has built a solid reputation as a trusted source of advice and objective, engaging research and information about the use of patient data in the UK. Were widely respected across government, research and civil society and were ambitious about the impact we can make in the years ahead.

More information about Understanding Patient Data can be found here: https://understandingpatientdata.org.uk/about-us

Details

Date posted

24 June 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£45,239 a year and £4000 London Weighting (if applicable)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number

NHS1113913

Job locations

Calls Wharf 2

The Calls

Leeds

West Yorkshire

LS2 7JU


2nd Floor

18 Smith Square

London

Westminster

SW1P 3HZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

The Policy and Communications Manager will play a key role in shaping and delivering UPDs ambition to influence policy and practice in how health data is managed, used and governed.

The post-holder will lead work that amplifies our voice and deepens our impact across the health data landscape. This includes strengthening our relationships with policymakers, regulators and system leaders, developing compelling communications, and helping ensure that UPDs insights inform real-world change.

You will work as part of a small and busy team, line-managed by the Head of Understanding Patient Data. The UPD team also works closely with colleagues across the NHS Confederation.

Responsibilities

The post holder will be expected to:

  • Monitor and analyse policy developments relevant to health data, public trust, transparency, and governance in order to develop policy positions, advice and recommendations grounded in UPDs values, insights and engagement to inform Government, NHS and other stakeholder decisions and communications about uses of patient data.
  • Proactively identify opportunities to influence policy agendas, legislation and regulatory reforms, and public discourse.
  • Build and maintain professional and credible relationships with key stakeholders across public bodies, civil society, and academia and identify opportunities to share best practice internationally.
  • Engage with patients, public voices and practitioners to ensure UPDs work is informed by real-world perspectives.
  • Lead the planning and delivery of UPDs communications strategy to maximise reach and influence (supported by the Head of UPD):
o Horizon scan and maintain a planning grid of owned and relevant external communications activity.

o Create high-quality content including blogs, briefings, thought pieces, presentations, and media responses, in line with UPDs tone and brand.

o Provide briefings for the Head of UPD to prepare them for media, print / broadcast interviews, off-the-record briefings, deputising as required.

o Maintain and manage social media channels and the UPD website.

  • Work collaboratively with both the rest of the UPD team and colleagues across NHS Confederation on a responsive basis to deliver projects and campaigns that support the live debate or promote UPDs research, resources and messaging to our audiences.
  • Represent UPD externally at events, roundtables, and meetings.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Policy and Communications Manager will play a key role in shaping and delivering UPDs ambition to influence policy and practice in how health data is managed, used and governed.

The post-holder will lead work that amplifies our voice and deepens our impact across the health data landscape. This includes strengthening our relationships with policymakers, regulators and system leaders, developing compelling communications, and helping ensure that UPDs insights inform real-world change.

You will work as part of a small and busy team, line-managed by the Head of Understanding Patient Data. The UPD team also works closely with colleagues across the NHS Confederation.

Responsibilities

The post holder will be expected to:

  • Monitor and analyse policy developments relevant to health data, public trust, transparency, and governance in order to develop policy positions, advice and recommendations grounded in UPDs values, insights and engagement to inform Government, NHS and other stakeholder decisions and communications about uses of patient data.
  • Proactively identify opportunities to influence policy agendas, legislation and regulatory reforms, and public discourse.
  • Build and maintain professional and credible relationships with key stakeholders across public bodies, civil society, and academia and identify opportunities to share best practice internationally.
  • Engage with patients, public voices and practitioners to ensure UPDs work is informed by real-world perspectives.
  • Lead the planning and delivery of UPDs communications strategy to maximise reach and influence (supported by the Head of UPD):
o Horizon scan and maintain a planning grid of owned and relevant external communications activity.

o Create high-quality content including blogs, briefings, thought pieces, presentations, and media responses, in line with UPDs tone and brand.

o Provide briefings for the Head of UPD to prepare them for media, print / broadcast interviews, off-the-record briefings, deputising as required.

o Maintain and manage social media channels and the UPD website.

  • Work collaboratively with both the rest of the UPD team and colleagues across NHS Confederation on a responsive basis to deliver projects and campaigns that support the live debate or promote UPDs research, resources and messaging to our audiences.
  • Represent UPD externally at events, roundtables, and meetings.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Proven experience in a policy, public affairs, advocacy, or communications role using analysis to inform communications, shape debate or deliver policy advice to decision makers and be able to navigate complex policy environments and spot opportunities to shape agendas.
  • Political knowledge and interest in health data policy, data governance, public attitudes to data, or digital health innovation.
  • A skilled communicator with demonstrable verbal and writing skills, the ability to influence at a senior level and adapt tone for public, professional or policymaker audiences with a strong grasp of narrative; able to present complex ideas with clarity and creativity.
  • Ability to build trusted relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
  • Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a small, fast-paced team.
  • Demonstrable time management skills, able to meet deadlines, work under pressure and able to manage multiple workstreams using own judgement and initiative.
  • Commitment to UPDs values of transparency, equity and trust in data use.

Desirable

  • Experience working in a charity, think tank, research organisation or small advocacy team.
  • Experience working with or engaging government departments, NHS bodies, arms-length bodies, regulators, or similar institutions.
  • Experience with public engagement, co-production, or incorporating lived experience into policy work.
  • Experience planning or delivering campaigns, events, or media strategies.
  • Awareness of or experience working with communications metrics and evaluation (e.g. measuring reach, influence or engagement).
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Proven experience in a policy, public affairs, advocacy, or communications role using analysis to inform communications, shape debate or deliver policy advice to decision makers and be able to navigate complex policy environments and spot opportunities to shape agendas.
  • Political knowledge and interest in health data policy, data governance, public attitudes to data, or digital health innovation.
  • A skilled communicator with demonstrable verbal and writing skills, the ability to influence at a senior level and adapt tone for public, professional or policymaker audiences with a strong grasp of narrative; able to present complex ideas with clarity and creativity.
  • Ability to build trusted relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
  • Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a small, fast-paced team.
  • Demonstrable time management skills, able to meet deadlines, work under pressure and able to manage multiple workstreams using own judgement and initiative.
  • Commitment to UPDs values of transparency, equity and trust in data use.

Desirable

  • Experience working in a charity, think tank, research organisation or small advocacy team.
  • Experience working with or engaging government departments, NHS bodies, arms-length bodies, regulators, or similar institutions.
  • Experience with public engagement, co-production, or incorporating lived experience into policy work.
  • Experience planning or delivering campaigns, events, or media strategies.
  • Awareness of or experience working with communications metrics and evaluation (e.g. measuring reach, influence or engagement).

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Confederation

Address

Calls Wharf 2

The Calls

Leeds

West Yorkshire

LS2 7JU


Employer's website

https://www.nhsconfed.org/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Confederation

Address

Calls Wharf 2

The Calls

Leeds

West Yorkshire

LS2 7JU


Employer's website

https://www.nhsconfed.org/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Details

Date posted

24 June 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£45,239 a year and £4000 London Weighting (if applicable)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number

NHS1113913

Job locations

Calls Wharf 2

The Calls

Leeds

West Yorkshire

LS2 7JU


2nd Floor

18 Smith Square

London

Westminster

SW1P 3HZ


Supporting documents

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