Job summary
Not much happens across Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust without the support of the Communications and Engagement team. We ensure our patients, colleagues and stakeholders understand the services offered by the Trust, understand our vision, values and aims, are able to influence services and are well-informed and engaged in the work of the Trust.
The Communications Manager will support this by planning, implementing and evaluating communications projects and campaigns to support Trust teams and help deliver the Trust strategy. You will be responsible for media and public relations and will take a proactive approach to increase our positive media opportunities.
You'll need a solid understanding of how digital channels can help to achieve business objectives, strategically driving forward our awareness and adoption of the latest digital solutions and innovations.
This role, with its managerial responsibility provides a genuine opportunity to make a difference and shape our communications. If you have the experience and drive to get stuck in and add value to what we do and where we're heading, then we want to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
- You will be responsible for delivering day to day communications and engagement activities, with a particular focus on our reactive and proactive media, issues management and briefings/engagement with our key external stakeholders.
- The role will involve communicating complex and contentious information to a wide variety of individuals and groups, ensuring the information is accurate and accessible to each relevant audience.
- You will also be supporting PHU to fulfil its legal duties around patient and public involvement, ensuring partners, public and staff are actively engaged and able to influence decisions in a way that contributes to improved health services.
- You will contribute to the strategic direction of Communications Department and the delivery of the directorate strategic plans, including contributing to the development of key communications campaigns and initiatives.
- You will have line management responsibility and as a senior member of the team, will help maintain the quality and creativity of what we do.
- Due to the nature of communications work, some out-of-hours working, including evenings and weekends will be expected as and when necessary.
About us
Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.
Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Deputise for the Associate Director of Communications as required, including representing the wider communications team at key internal and external meetings and events.
Communications expert
- Contribute to the development, review and evaluation of the Trust's communications and engagement strategy.
- Develop and lead communications and engagement strategies for specific projects, events and campaigns tailored to a range of audience, ensuring effective delivery and evaluation to inform future communications approaches.
- Provide communications advice and support to staff which may involve complicated, highly sensitive information.
- To identify and use suitable analysis and evaluation tools to measure the effectiveness of communications activity, producing reports to demonstrate impact.
- Keeping abreast of developments in communications to ensure the Trust is in line with bet practice and undertaking investigations of new developments when requested.
- To provide challenge to colleagues on communications and engagement requirements, ensuring objectives are clear, appropriate, and easily mapped to corporate and directorate aims, as well as to target audiences.
- Ensure approved budgets are spent effectively and in accordance with agreed procedures.
Media and reputation management
- Demonstrate and apply sound understanding of the media to support proactive and reactive media handling, identifying and acting on positive media and PR opportunities and ensuring effective issues and crisis communications management, seeking appropriate approval from the Associate Director of Communications.
- Organise interviews/briefings/media opportunities as required, ensuring that colleagues are fully briefed in advance and supported.
- Leading on aspects of crisis management as appropriate, including major incidents and serious.
- Manage local media events, enquiries and campaigns as required, linking with communications colleagues regionally and nationally and with colleagues in partner organisations to ensure alignment.
- Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders ranging from, but not limited to, health and care organisations, regulatory bodies, journalists, staff and patient groups, supporting stakeholder engagement activities as required.
Digital and social media
- Act as a guardian of the Trust and the NHS's corporate identity guidelines, ensuring that Trust corporate publications and information comply with requirements at all times.
- Responsibility for development and management of the Trust's brand across various channels including digital channels, social media, publications, newsletters, podcasts, videos etc.
- Lead on development and delivery of corporate publications
Campaign and event management
- Lead the development and implementation of specific communications campaigns which help to protect and enhance the reputation of the Trust and support corporate objectives,
- Lead on the development and delivery of Trust-wide events, including the Annual General Meeting, engagement roadshows and Pride of Portsmouth staff events, maintaining a corporate image for the Trust that upholds and enhances reputation at all times.
General
- Actively contribute to communications forward planning, identifying opportunities, interdependencies across projects/functions/potential impacts on the wider organisation, resource requirements and building in contingency where needed.
- Work with the Director/Associate Director of Communications to ensure that work programmes are communicated to achieve maximum impact, identifying opportunities for partnership working with health and care colleagues where approrpriate.
- Commission and manage work with external suppliers such as designers, ensuring delivery on time, to a high standard and within an agreed budget.
- Ensure effective, timely communication and engagement with individuals and teams across the organisation, utilising communications, channels and feedback mechanisms and opportunities to best effect.
- Work in partnership with NHS and colleagues, local, regional and national partners, building and maintaining positive working relationships.
Personal attributes
- To be proactive, positive and energetic in suggesting more appropriate or effective solutions.
- To help develop and motivate other members of the team by acting as a role model and offering basic training in key tasks.
- To help develop the team to offer the very best communications and engagement consultancy and services to the organisation.
- Behave at all times as an ambassador for the Trust and exhibit the highest professional and personal standards, demonstrating the Trust values in your behaviour of working together for patients, with compassion, as one team, always improving.
- The post holder may be required to undertake other duties and responsibilities as determined by their line manager within the overall parameters of the post.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Deputise for the Associate Director of Communications as required, including representing the wider communications team at key internal and external meetings and events.
Communications expert
- Contribute to the development, review and evaluation of the Trust's communications and engagement strategy.
- Develop and lead communications and engagement strategies for specific projects, events and campaigns tailored to a range of audience, ensuring effective delivery and evaluation to inform future communications approaches.
- Provide communications advice and support to staff which may involve complicated, highly sensitive information.
- To identify and use suitable analysis and evaluation tools to measure the effectiveness of communications activity, producing reports to demonstrate impact.
- Keeping abreast of developments in communications to ensure the Trust is in line with bet practice and undertaking investigations of new developments when requested.
- To provide challenge to colleagues on communications and engagement requirements, ensuring objectives are clear, appropriate, and easily mapped to corporate and directorate aims, as well as to target audiences.
- Ensure approved budgets are spent effectively and in accordance with agreed procedures.
Media and reputation management
- Demonstrate and apply sound understanding of the media to support proactive and reactive media handling, identifying and acting on positive media and PR opportunities and ensuring effective issues and crisis communications management, seeking appropriate approval from the Associate Director of Communications.
- Organise interviews/briefings/media opportunities as required, ensuring that colleagues are fully briefed in advance and supported.
- Leading on aspects of crisis management as appropriate, including major incidents and serious.
- Manage local media events, enquiries and campaigns as required, linking with communications colleagues regionally and nationally and with colleagues in partner organisations to ensure alignment.
- Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders ranging from, but not limited to, health and care organisations, regulatory bodies, journalists, staff and patient groups, supporting stakeholder engagement activities as required.
Digital and social media
- Act as a guardian of the Trust and the NHS's corporate identity guidelines, ensuring that Trust corporate publications and information comply with requirements at all times.
- Responsibility for development and management of the Trust's brand across various channels including digital channels, social media, publications, newsletters, podcasts, videos etc.
- Lead on development and delivery of corporate publications
Campaign and event management
- Lead the development and implementation of specific communications campaigns which help to protect and enhance the reputation of the Trust and support corporate objectives,
- Lead on the development and delivery of Trust-wide events, including the Annual General Meeting, engagement roadshows and Pride of Portsmouth staff events, maintaining a corporate image for the Trust that upholds and enhances reputation at all times.
General
- Actively contribute to communications forward planning, identifying opportunities, interdependencies across projects/functions/potential impacts on the wider organisation, resource requirements and building in contingency where needed.
- Work with the Director/Associate Director of Communications to ensure that work programmes are communicated to achieve maximum impact, identifying opportunities for partnership working with health and care colleagues where approrpriate.
- Commission and manage work with external suppliers such as designers, ensuring delivery on time, to a high standard and within an agreed budget.
- Ensure effective, timely communication and engagement with individuals and teams across the organisation, utilising communications, channels and feedback mechanisms and opportunities to best effect.
- Work in partnership with NHS and colleagues, local, regional and national partners, building and maintaining positive working relationships.
Personal attributes
- To be proactive, positive and energetic in suggesting more appropriate or effective solutions.
- To help develop and motivate other members of the team by acting as a role model and offering basic training in key tasks.
- To help develop the team to offer the very best communications and engagement consultancy and services to the organisation.
- Behave at all times as an ambassador for the Trust and exhibit the highest professional and personal standards, demonstrating the Trust values in your behaviour of working together for patients, with compassion, as one team, always improving.
- The post holder may be required to undertake other duties and responsibilities as determined by their line manager within the overall parameters of the post.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Relevant and demonstrable experience of communications, journalism and marketing techniques and approaches.
- Experience/understanding of healthcare communications
- Significant experience of working within a senior communications role, preferably within a large and complex organisation with multiple stakeholders.
- Experience of developing, delivering and evaluating communication and engagement plans tailored to a range of audiences including patients, communities, staff and other key stakeholders.
- Confidence and ability to lead and deliver communication campaigns, ensuring alignment with the wider organisational strategy.
- Understanding and experience of stakeholder management and engagement and evidence of application of approach.
- Experience of handling complex/sensitive issues or scenarios- i.e. legal, investigation, confidentiality, controversy.
- Demonstrable experience of utilising negotiating and influencing skills to achieve desired outcomes, i.e. when working with directors, senior leaders/managers, clinicians.
- Experience of crisis management.
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Proactive and highly motivated with a flexible approach and receptive to change.
- Proven track record of leading, project managing and delivering communications campaigns and events.
- Ability to work in fast-paced environment with changing and conflicting interests in challenging situations with a range of factors to consider.
- Strong team player- demonstrable evidence of supporting, motivating and guiding colleagues at all levels.
- Excellent time and project management skills
- Excellent communication skills, including editing, copywriting and interview techniques.
- Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
- Confidence to work independently and advise senior colleagues, utilising negotiating and influencing skills to achieve successful outcomes.
- Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Outlook, PowerPoint, Microsoft Word and a good working knowledge of online content management systems.
- Sounds news judgement and sound working knowledge of journalism and media.
- Understanding of multi-media campaigns, digital communications and social media
- Multi-disciplinary working encompassing PR, communications, online and offline media, events etc.
- Experience of making formal presentation on complex or contentious topics, using appropriate approaches
- Ability to manage frequent periods of prolonged and at times, intense concentration.
- Duties performed as part of the role may require occasional exposure to highly emotional or distressing circumstances.
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level public relations, journalism, digital communications or another relevant field (or equivalent experience)
- Evidence of continued professional development and national best practice within the communications sector.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Relevant and demonstrable experience of communications, journalism and marketing techniques and approaches.
- Experience/understanding of healthcare communications
- Significant experience of working within a senior communications role, preferably within a large and complex organisation with multiple stakeholders.
- Experience of developing, delivering and evaluating communication and engagement plans tailored to a range of audiences including patients, communities, staff and other key stakeholders.
- Confidence and ability to lead and deliver communication campaigns, ensuring alignment with the wider organisational strategy.
- Understanding and experience of stakeholder management and engagement and evidence of application of approach.
- Experience of handling complex/sensitive issues or scenarios- i.e. legal, investigation, confidentiality, controversy.
- Demonstrable experience of utilising negotiating and influencing skills to achieve desired outcomes, i.e. when working with directors, senior leaders/managers, clinicians.
- Experience of crisis management.
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Proactive and highly motivated with a flexible approach and receptive to change.
- Proven track record of leading, project managing and delivering communications campaigns and events.
- Ability to work in fast-paced environment with changing and conflicting interests in challenging situations with a range of factors to consider.
- Strong team player- demonstrable evidence of supporting, motivating and guiding colleagues at all levels.
- Excellent time and project management skills
- Excellent communication skills, including editing, copywriting and interview techniques.
- Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
- Confidence to work independently and advise senior colleagues, utilising negotiating and influencing skills to achieve successful outcomes.
- Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Outlook, PowerPoint, Microsoft Word and a good working knowledge of online content management systems.
- Sounds news judgement and sound working knowledge of journalism and media.
- Understanding of multi-media campaigns, digital communications and social media
- Multi-disciplinary working encompassing PR, communications, online and offline media, events etc.
- Experience of making formal presentation on complex or contentious topics, using appropriate approaches
- Ability to manage frequent periods of prolonged and at times, intense concentration.
- Duties performed as part of the role may require occasional exposure to highly emotional or distressing circumstances.
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level public relations, journalism, digital communications or another relevant field (or equivalent experience)
- Evidence of continued professional development and national best practice within the communications sector.
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.
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).
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).
