Senior Communications and Public Affairs Officer

Job description

Job responsibilities

Reporting to the Assistant Director, the Senior Communications and Public Affairs Officer will support the organisations media and political connections and its external affairs ambitions.

This role will support delivery of the overall work programme of the Welsh NHS Confederation, particularly in respect of communications and public affairs work, through significant engagement with NHS leaders from across Wales, the media and Members of the Senedd (MSs). Members views and priorities (NHS leaders in Wales) will be at the heart of this work.

Working within the External Affairs team, the post holder will have responsibility for day-to-day political monitoring and communications, including developing content for our newsletters, social media channels, website and publications. This will include designing assets and creating videos and other media.

The post holder will work with the Welsh team to ensure consistent messages are delivered to members and external audiences across the breadth of our work. They will support our political and media handling, including liaising with journalists, drafting messages, producing press releases and statements and media monitoring.

Responsibilities

Political engagement

• Engage with political parties, including Members of the Senedd and Members of Parliament. This includes attending meetings, drafting correspondence and developing succinct content for briefings so that issues and developments affecting our members can be progressed and accurately relayed.

• Work with the External Affairs team to develop key messaging.
• Write and distribute media releases, statements, blogs, opinion pieces, newsletters and key publications to maintain the Welsh NHS Confederations profile on behalf of its members.
• Write content for the Welsh NHS Confederations communications channels, including website and social media accounts, and creating videos and other media.

• Monitor media interest in and coverage of health issues to identify opportunities for proactive publicity for the work of the Welsh NHS Confederation and its members.
• Liaise with key national and trade journalists to provide key information and influence the media narrative.

• Develop strong relationships with key stakeholders, including those in government, members of the Welsh NHS Confederation Health and Wellbeing Alliance, membership bodies, think tanks and patient groups.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with communications teams in member organisations and Welsh Government communications officials.

• Develop and deliver bespoke public affairs support to members, including producing briefings on political development.
• Supporting the Welsh NHS Confederation Health and Wellbeing Alliance and Policy SubGroup through drafting minutes for meetings and supporting the Assistant Director with agenda items and papers.

• Represent the Welsh NHS Confederation at events and meetings.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of being in a communication/ media role or a public affairs or government relations role at Senior Officer level or equivalent.
• Good knowledge and understanding of Welsh Government legislative process and the work of the Senedd, especially in health and care.
• Experience of delivering successful media and public affairs engagement plans, strategies and campaigns that meet organisational objectives, with an understanding of how various media outlets and political parties operate.
• Strong writing skills, with specific experience in producing communication products for media and political audiences against tight deadlines.
• Strong understanding of the Welsh media, and ability to build good relationships with journalists, exercising care and discretion.
• Experience of using CMS (content management systems) and email marketing automation software.

Desirable

• Welsh speaking

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Confederation

Address

Ty Glan yr Afon

21 Cowbridge Road East

Cardiff

CF11 9AD

Employer's website

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