Job summary
Are you a highly experienced communicator looking for a new challenge in a varied, fast-paced role? NHS England is looking for a Senior Strategic Communications Manager to join our team at an exciting and challenging time for the health service.
The Strategic Communications team leads on plans to communicate the NHS's national goals to deliver for patients, staff and the taxpayer. The team co-ordinate and plan the necessary resources across communications and other teams in the organisation to influence the NHS's defined audiences. The team supports continuous improvement in communications by ensuring our comms are underpinned by research, work to agreed milestones, are properly evaluated and are supported by professional development.
Main duties of the job
You will be a key member of our multi-skilled team working to support effective, joined-up communication and stakeholder management, both internally and externally on a range of high-profile projects. You will support the Deputy Head of Strategic Communications with oversight of the NHSE strategic planning function, including co-ordination of regular meetings to identify risks, opportunities, and interdependencies, and be able to produce high quality and concise communications strategies to support NHS England's strategic objective and execute its delivery and evaluation.
You will have experience working in complex and politically sensitive environments, and understand the political context and media environment in which the organisation operates, with a good understanding of the current priorities and objectives of the NHS and how communications and engagement can help deliver these. You will co-ordinate set pieces announcements that require delivery from all communication disciplines, often to tight deadlines and changing timescales, and lead evaluation of this work.
About us
The NHS England board have set out the top-level purpose for the new organisation to lead the NHS in England to deliver high-quality services for all, which will inform the detailed design work and we will achieve this purpose by:
- Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities.
- Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential.
- Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
- Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
- Delivering value for money.
If you would like to know more or require further information, please visithttps://www.england.nhs.uk/.
Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in-person.
Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.
NHS England hold a Sponsor Licence; this means that we may be able to sponsor you providing the Home Office requirements are met. To be eligible for sponsorship through the Skilled Worker route you'll usually need to be paid the 'standard' salary rate of at least £38,700 per year, or the 'going rate' for your job, whichever is higher. You can find more information on the Government website.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Support the Deputy Head of Strategic comms with oversight of the NHSE strategic planning function, including coordination of regular meetings to identify risks, opportunities, and interdependencies
- Be able to produce high quality and concise communications strategies to support NHS Englands strategic objective and execute their delivery and evaluation
- Take ownership of key portfolio areas on behalf of the strategic communications team and play a key role in managing long term grid of activity across national, programme and regional communications
- Use insight and data to drive innovation in communications activity ensuring appropriate channels are used to reach and engage with different target audiences
Please see the attached Job Description for further details on the role, responsibilities and person specification.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Support the Deputy Head of Strategic comms with oversight of the NHSE strategic planning function, including coordination of regular meetings to identify risks, opportunities, and interdependencies
- Be able to produce high quality and concise communications strategies to support NHS Englands strategic objective and execute their delivery and evaluation
- Take ownership of key portfolio areas on behalf of the strategic communications team and play a key role in managing long term grid of activity across national, programme and regional communications
- Use insight and data to drive innovation in communications activity ensuring appropriate channels are used to reach and engage with different target audiences
Please see the attached Job Description for further details on the role, responsibilities and person specification.
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of working in a fast paced environment, delivering against competing priorities and deadlines while also directing the work of teams/individuals. Good understanding of varied communication channels, their impact, limitations, risks and opportunities, and good experience in their use.
- Have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement. Have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health and individual provider and commissioning organisations. Experience of managing and motivating a team/virtual team and reviewing performance of the individuals.
- Excellent ability to spot the "story" in the detail of policy, whether that be one of opportunity or risk.
Skills
Essential
- Excellent ability to spot the "story" in the detail of policy, whether that be one of opportunity or risk.
- Able to quickly understand complex health, social care, political and business issues and to use that understanding to develop effective approaches, providing advice to staff and colleagues.
- Ability to manage the development and delivery of plans in complex environments and for highly sensitive issues, working with a high degree of uncertainty and ambiguity, with impacts across the health and care system.
- Recognise when business or communications activity is likely to create risk and consult with senior colleagues, contributing to resolving the problem with the ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
- Must be able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.
- Must be able to use initiative to decide relevant actions and make recommendations with the aim of improving deliverables and compliance to policies
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of working in a fast paced environment, delivering against competing priorities and deadlines while also directing the work of teams/individuals. Good understanding of varied communication channels, their impact, limitations, risks and opportunities, and good experience in their use.
- Have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement. Have an appreciation of the relationship between the Department of Health and individual provider and commissioning organisations. Experience of managing and motivating a team/virtual team and reviewing performance of the individuals.
- Excellent ability to spot the "story" in the detail of policy, whether that be one of opportunity or risk.
Skills
Essential
- Excellent ability to spot the "story" in the detail of policy, whether that be one of opportunity or risk.
- Able to quickly understand complex health, social care, political and business issues and to use that understanding to develop effective approaches, providing advice to staff and colleagues.
- Ability to manage the development and delivery of plans in complex environments and for highly sensitive issues, working with a high degree of uncertainty and ambiguity, with impacts across the health and care system.
- Recognise when business or communications activity is likely to create risk and consult with senior colleagues, contributing to resolving the problem with the ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
- Must be able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.
- Must be able to use initiative to decide relevant actions and make recommendations with the aim of improving deliverables and compliance to policies
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.
Additional information
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).
