Job summary
BPAS are an independent healthcare charity which, for
more than 55 years, has been advocating and caring for women and couples who
decide to end a pregnancy. We are the
leading specialist of abortion advice and treatment in the UK.
Over the last 12 months we have gone through
significant organisational change and are putting in place a new leadership
structure, supported by a Senior Operational Team.
BPAS vision is for a society in which women are
trusted to make their own reproductive choices with access to the information
and services needed to exercise those choices.
The Chief Strategic Communications Officer is an integral part of the Executive
Leadership Team, sharing the collective responsibility for the key issues
facing BPAS.
You will be a values-driven leader who
can inspire staff, trustees, as well as wider stakeholders, fostering an
inclusive culture driven by our collective purpose. You will enhance and drive our reputation as
a sector leader on advocacy and law reform in abortion care, building a strong
advocacy, research and communications function to evidence, protect, and defend
abortion rights for women.
Main duties of the job
The role of the Chief Strategic Communications
Officer is vital to BPAS's mission of advocating for and providing
compassionate care in reproductive health.
As a key member of the C-Suite, you
will have shared responsibility for the overall strategy and success of the
organisation, ensuring that our vision and mission are clearly communicated and
effectively championed across all levels. You will lead BPASs strategic
communications, marketing, advocacy, and research functions, ensuring that our
messaging resonates with a diverse range of stakeholders from government
officials, Whitehall, NHSE, CQC and sector partners and policymakers to service users and the public.
We are seeking a highly experienced leader in
strategic communications with a proven track record at the C-suite level. You
will bring expertise in advocacy, media relations, crisis communication, and
stakeholder engagement, ideally within the healthcare, charity, or human rights
sectors. Your ability to influence, inspire, and drive social change through
evidence-based communication will be crucial in maintaining and enhancing
BPAS's reputation as a leader in reproductive rights.
Above all, we are looking for a leader who is
aligned with our values, passionate about our mission, and committed to
advancing the rights and well-being of the women we serve
About us
British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) is the UK's largest independent women's reproductive healthcare charity. We work mainly on behalf of the NHS across the country providing abortion, contraception, STI testing & treatment. We specialise in evidence-based, not-for-profit care reproductive healthcare.
Working with us:
Alongside a supportive and friendly working environment, BPAS has generous benefits:
- Life assurance cover at 3 times salary
- 34 days annual leave per year
- A defined contribution pension scheme.
- You will have access to our employee benefits programme through BHSF which includes special health & wellbeing services & lifestyle offers for you & your family. This includes various salary sacrifice schemes, counselling services & free private GP appointments.
BPAS is committed to safeguarding & promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults, children & young people through a safer recruitment framework. This includes a thorough selection process & a number of pre-employment checks.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Further information of the role requirements is outlined within the candidate briefing pack which is available to download.
Indicative Timetable:
Closing date for applications: 9am - Friday 4th October 2024
Preliminary Interviews (In Leamington Spa): WC 21st October
Final Interviews (In Leamington Spa): WC 28th October
Please apply directly through our website -https://www.bpas.org/about-bpas/work-with-us/executive-opportunities/
All applications should be sent to recruitment@bpas.org and must quote reference CSCO and include the below:
- A Curriculum Vitae (CV) with education and professional qualifications and full employment history. Please include daytime and evening telephone contact numbers and e-mail addresses.
- A supporting statement that should outline your motivation for applying, what you believe you can bring to the role, and how your skills and experience align with the role description and candidate profile.
- Responses to the applications questions within the candidate pack.
Please note: applications should not be submitted directly through NHS and you should follow the process outlined above.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Further information of the role requirements is outlined within the candidate briefing pack which is available to download.
Indicative Timetable:
Closing date for applications: 9am - Friday 4th October 2024
Preliminary Interviews (In Leamington Spa): WC 21st October
Final Interviews (In Leamington Spa): WC 28th October
Please apply directly through our website -https://www.bpas.org/about-bpas/work-with-us/executive-opportunities/
All applications should be sent to recruitment@bpas.org and must quote reference CSCO and include the below:
- A Curriculum Vitae (CV) with education and professional qualifications and full employment history. Please include daytime and evening telephone contact numbers and e-mail addresses.
- A supporting statement that should outline your motivation for applying, what you believe you can bring to the role, and how your skills and experience align with the role description and candidate profile.
- Responses to the applications questions within the candidate pack.
Please note: applications should not be submitted directly through NHS and you should follow the process outlined above.
Person Specification
Values & Behaviours
Essential
- Possesses a genuine passion for the organisation's charitable aims, mission, vision and values
- Able to lead with compassion and empathy whilst remaining clear on expectations and deliverables
- Able to maintain strict confidentiality
- Remains calm under pressure
- Possesses drive, enthusiasm and energy
- Builds professional and personal credibility to gain support
- Confidence in ability to deliver
- Ability to work under pressure
- Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and anti-racism
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Highly effective communication skills must be able to articulate complex issues to a wide range of audiences, both written and verbally
- Excellent presentation skills with the ability to engage and influence diverse audiences.
- Strong interpersonal and negotiating skills, with the ability to engage, build and sustain relationships both within BPAS and within external organisations.
- Able to demonstrate sound financial management skills and understand business centred approach to healthcare provision.
- Able to take 'tough' decisions and calculated risks and see required action through.
- Demonstrates strong commitment to action to achieve equality and diversity in the workforce and for the community.
- Ability to share vision and engender ownership in others.
- Exhibits a drive, energy and enthusiasm and resilience to drive through and achieve end results and improvements.
Qualifications
Essential
- Politically astute with significant experience of effective influencing and the development of advocacy, from the identification of objectives, targets and opportunities, through the delivery of a range of approaches to achieve change
- Significant experience gained ideally within healthcare, charities or similar settings on leading the strategic communications, campaigning and advocacy function at a C Suite level
Desirable
- Formal qualification in Public Affairs, Journalism or marketing and communications
General
Essential
- Able to travel to other sites, and work additional hours as necessary
- Able to participate in the on call rota outside of core working hours
- Commitment to a womans right to choose abortion
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable evidence of delivering change through strategic communications and engagement, ideally within a human rights or healthcare setting
- A very experienced ambassador and communicator, able to connect and take multiple stakeholders with them, from Whitehall through to service users
- Demonstrable experience of setting clear objectives with teams, encouraging personal development and addressing performance management issues
- Proven experience of operating at a board level within a comparable organisation
- Significant experience in shaping strategic communications and successful execution of the strategy to drive measurable impact
- Experience of designing and delivering national marketing and campaigns strategies ideally within womens health or human rights
- Excellent experience in building a range of partnerships and collaborations formal and informal, leading in some, connecting different agendas and shaping the work of others behind the scenes.
- Experience in using evidence-based arguments to drive social change, utilising data and research outcomes
Person Specification
Values & Behaviours
Essential
- Possesses a genuine passion for the organisation's charitable aims, mission, vision and values
- Able to lead with compassion and empathy whilst remaining clear on expectations and deliverables
- Able to maintain strict confidentiality
- Remains calm under pressure
- Possesses drive, enthusiasm and energy
- Builds professional and personal credibility to gain support
- Confidence in ability to deliver
- Ability to work under pressure
- Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and anti-racism
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Highly effective communication skills must be able to articulate complex issues to a wide range of audiences, both written and verbally
- Excellent presentation skills with the ability to engage and influence diverse audiences.
- Strong interpersonal and negotiating skills, with the ability to engage, build and sustain relationships both within BPAS and within external organisations.
- Able to demonstrate sound financial management skills and understand business centred approach to healthcare provision.
- Able to take 'tough' decisions and calculated risks and see required action through.
- Demonstrates strong commitment to action to achieve equality and diversity in the workforce and for the community.
- Ability to share vision and engender ownership in others.
- Exhibits a drive, energy and enthusiasm and resilience to drive through and achieve end results and improvements.
Qualifications
Essential
- Politically astute with significant experience of effective influencing and the development of advocacy, from the identification of objectives, targets and opportunities, through the delivery of a range of approaches to achieve change
- Significant experience gained ideally within healthcare, charities or similar settings on leading the strategic communications, campaigning and advocacy function at a C Suite level
Desirable
- Formal qualification in Public Affairs, Journalism or marketing and communications
General
Essential
- Able to travel to other sites, and work additional hours as necessary
- Able to participate in the on call rota outside of core working hours
- Commitment to a womans right to choose abortion
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable evidence of delivering change through strategic communications and engagement, ideally within a human rights or healthcare setting
- A very experienced ambassador and communicator, able to connect and take multiple stakeholders with them, from Whitehall through to service users
- Demonstrable experience of setting clear objectives with teams, encouraging personal development and addressing performance management issues
- Proven experience of operating at a board level within a comparable organisation
- Significant experience in shaping strategic communications and successful execution of the strategy to drive measurable impact
- Experience of designing and delivering national marketing and campaigns strategies ideally within womens health or human rights
- Excellent experience in building a range of partnerships and collaborations formal and informal, leading in some, connecting different agendas and shaping the work of others behind the scenes.
- Experience in using evidence-based arguments to drive social change, utilising data and research outcomes
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.
