Job summary
Public Health Wales is committed to increasing healthy life expectancy, improving wellbeing, and reducing inequalities across Wales. Communications plays a vital role in this--both as a strategic function and a public health intervention. Our Communications Division delivers world-class communications that support our strategic priorities, enhance lives, and ensure effective organisational performance. We tell the story of Public Health Wales, helping staff, stakeholders and the public understand who we are and what we do. We influence behaviour, support transformation, protect our reputation, and bring an audience-focused approach to all we do.
This is a rare opportunity for an inclusive, politically astute and creative leader who inspires others, drives change, and builds strong relationships. As a senior leader, you will help shape our communications capability to meet future challenges and ensure we operate as a centre of excellence with clear standards, evaluation and alignment across all roles.
You'll act as Deputy to the Head of Communications, requiring strong business management skills to support people, processes and policies. You must be organised, reliable, and a strong planner. NHS experience isn't essential, but you'll have worked at this level and understand the health sector. You will be proactive, strategic, and able to turn long-term ambition into action today.
Main duties of the job
The role supports the Head of Communications in developing and delivering high-impact internal and external communication strategies that align with organisational and national priorities, using data, insight, and audience analysis to drive continuous improvement and measurable outcomes.
Acting as a key representative of the Communications Division, the role involves building and maintaining trusted relationships with senior leaders, government officials, NHS partners, and other stakeholders to ensure effective collaboration and the consistent delivery of key messages.
The postholder will bring advanced communication expertise to support the Head of Communications in managing the day-to-day operations of the team, leading on complex projects, mentoring staff, and championing innovation, quality, and service development across the organisation.
- Our organisational values of Working Together, with Trust and Respect, to Make a Difference, underpinned by our Being Our Best Framework set out how we are expected to undertake our roles. The Being Our Best colleague groups which applies to this role are Colleague and People Manager.
About us
We are Public Health Wales - the national public health organisation for Wales. Our purpose is 'working together for a healthier Wales'. We exist to help all people in Wales live longer, healthier lives. With our partners, we aim to increase healthy life expectancy, improve health and well-being, and reduce inequalities for everyone in Wales, now and for future generations.
Together, our teams work to prevent disease, protect health, and provide leadership, specialist services and public health expertise. We are the main source of public health information, research and innovation in Wales. Never more has public health been so important as we come through the Coronavirus pandemic, face the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis and tackle and prevent the harmful effects of climate change.
Our organisation is guided by our Values, 'Working together, with trust and respect, to make a difference'. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of the communities we serve and from those wishing to work part time or on a job share basis.
To find out more about working for us and the benefits we offer please visithttps://phw.nhs.wales/careers/
For guidance on the application process, please visithttps://phw.nhs.wales/working-for-us/applicant-information-and-guidance/
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Work alongside the Head of Division and play a leading role in developing and improving the strategic and operational leadership of the Communications Division. Line management of the News and External Affairs Team and the Internal and Corporate Communications Team.
- Support the day-to-day operational management and strategic development of the Communications Division, balancing the need for proactive service development and strategic leadership against the reactive demands of operational responsibilities and stakeholders.
- Oversee the planning and delivery of the communications portfolio, including responsibility for supporting members of the Board and Executive Team in delivering an annual cycle of staff engagement activity and leadership communications.
- Anticipate and respond to emerging issues, ensuring key stakeholders are involved and informed, and that robust, auditable plans are put in place to mitigate risks as they arise.
- Provide professional leadership across the organisation. Lead, grow, and develop the Communications Division to deliver excellent outputs that meet the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
- Support complex strategic programmes whose impact and stakeholders span the whole organisation or partners across the health system nationally. This includes accountability for ensuring that there is an effective, planned approach to communicating change within the organisation and to national change that impacts staff and services.
- Manage a broad range of communications work, including topics such as culture change, digital transformation, service change, and the sustainability agenda. Often handle extremely sensitive information and advise on contentious issues within and across the organisation.
- Oversee the delivery of the corporate events strategy for the organisation, including its flagship national event, the annual Welsh Public Health Conference.
- Drive strategic planning, ensuring that national and local priorities are reflected in communications activity and use communication strategies to raise awareness of key public health priorities.
- Work with internal stakeholders to integrate communications needs into long-term strategic planning. Advise, influence, and persuade senior staff on appropriate approaches. Collaborate with the Strategy and Planning team to ensure Communications is embedded within organisational planning frameworks.
- Continually develop the Communications function and service. Lead and sponsor specific communication projects to implement new ways of working aligned with organisational strategies and business plans. Plan and organise a broad range of complex activities and programmes on both short and long-term bases, adjusting priorities and adapting work plans as required.
- Provide expert advice to inform strategic decisions for the organisation. Analyse and assess conflicting information where expert opinion differs or is unavailable, applying judgment and critical thinking to deliver appropriate outcomes.
- Frequently exercise judgment and make significant, informed decisions involving highly complex facts, figures, and situations. Analyse, interpret, and compare a range of optionsoften related to organisational change programmes or the handling of sensitive or contentious information with potential operational or reputational impact.
- Operate with a high degree of autonomy, taking action in consultation with members of the Executive Team on staff and organisation-related issues.
- Work independently to influence and shape organisational strategies, policies, and national/local guidelines, advising on their interpretation and implementation.
- Maintain political awareness and understand complex NHS and political issues within changing strategic contexts.
- Use formal and informal measurement data to evaluate the effectiveness of communications channels and their content, applying insights to improve future communications.
- Set, monitor, and forecast accurate budgets for areas of responsibility.
- Lead and support the Communications Team, ensuring effective workload allocation and prioritisation. Ensure all direct reports have annual appraisals, clear objectives, personal development and training plans, and regular My Contribution reviews. Monitor sickness absence and comply with other HR processes.
- Deputise for the Head of Communications as required.
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Work alongside the Head of Division and play a leading role in developing and improving the strategic and operational leadership of the Communications Division. Line management of the News and External Affairs Team and the Internal and Corporate Communications Team.
- Support the day-to-day operational management and strategic development of the Communications Division, balancing the need for proactive service development and strategic leadership against the reactive demands of operational responsibilities and stakeholders.
- Oversee the planning and delivery of the communications portfolio, including responsibility for supporting members of the Board and Executive Team in delivering an annual cycle of staff engagement activity and leadership communications.
- Anticipate and respond to emerging issues, ensuring key stakeholders are involved and informed, and that robust, auditable plans are put in place to mitigate risks as they arise.
- Provide professional leadership across the organisation. Lead, grow, and develop the Communications Division to deliver excellent outputs that meet the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
- Support complex strategic programmes whose impact and stakeholders span the whole organisation or partners across the health system nationally. This includes accountability for ensuring that there is an effective, planned approach to communicating change within the organisation and to national change that impacts staff and services.
- Manage a broad range of communications work, including topics such as culture change, digital transformation, service change, and the sustainability agenda. Often handle extremely sensitive information and advise on contentious issues within and across the organisation.
- Oversee the delivery of the corporate events strategy for the organisation, including its flagship national event, the annual Welsh Public Health Conference.
- Drive strategic planning, ensuring that national and local priorities are reflected in communications activity and use communication strategies to raise awareness of key public health priorities.
- Work with internal stakeholders to integrate communications needs into long-term strategic planning. Advise, influence, and persuade senior staff on appropriate approaches. Collaborate with the Strategy and Planning team to ensure Communications is embedded within organisational planning frameworks.
- Continually develop the Communications function and service. Lead and sponsor specific communication projects to implement new ways of working aligned with organisational strategies and business plans. Plan and organise a broad range of complex activities and programmes on both short and long-term bases, adjusting priorities and adapting work plans as required.
- Provide expert advice to inform strategic decisions for the organisation. Analyse and assess conflicting information where expert opinion differs or is unavailable, applying judgment and critical thinking to deliver appropriate outcomes.
- Frequently exercise judgment and make significant, informed decisions involving highly complex facts, figures, and situations. Analyse, interpret, and compare a range of optionsoften related to organisational change programmes or the handling of sensitive or contentious information with potential operational or reputational impact.
- Operate with a high degree of autonomy, taking action in consultation with members of the Executive Team on staff and organisation-related issues.
- Work independently to influence and shape organisational strategies, policies, and national/local guidelines, advising on their interpretation and implementation.
- Maintain political awareness and understand complex NHS and political issues within changing strategic contexts.
- Use formal and informal measurement data to evaluate the effectiveness of communications channels and their content, applying insights to improve future communications.
- Set, monitor, and forecast accurate budgets for areas of responsibility.
- Lead and support the Communications Team, ensuring effective workload allocation and prioritisation. Ensure all direct reports have annual appraisals, clear objectives, personal development and training plans, and regular My Contribution reviews. Monitor sickness absence and comply with other HR processes.
- Deputise for the Head of Communications as required.
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- Educated to Master's degree level or equivalent, or equivalent experience
- Relevant qualification e.g. communication studies and/or public relations and/or marketing
- Evidence of continuous professional development
- Membership of relevant professional body, e.g. CIPR/CIM/IOIC
Desirable
- Management qualification
- Chartered Membership CIPR or CIM
Experience
Essential
- Highly developed specialist knowledge of internal and external communications and the broad range of associated activities and procedures, underpinned by theory and experience
- Experience of working with multidisciplinary teams at varying levels of seniority
- Demonstrable experience in building, leading, motivating, managing and developing teams
- Broad experience, and evidence of, operating effectively at a senior level within an organisation
- Demonstrable experience of working with, and providing expert change communications advice to, senior colleagues, leaders and managers
- Practical experience and evidence of using formal and informal measurement techniques to evaluate communications
- Experience of planning and delivering high profile, national events
- Experience of developing and improving services, including people, processes and policies
Desirable
- Knowledge of the NHS
- Broad experience, and evidence of, operating effectively at a senior level within NHS organisations, broader public services and/or the third sector
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Communicate effectively, including excellent spoken and written skills
- Comfortable with working on their own initiative and are confident in making sound, independent judgements
- An analytical mind and is capable of drawing clear conclusions from multiple information sources
- Can evidence the ability to routinely build positive relationships with colleagues to establish confidence and trust
- Has the ability to relate to people, processes and systems equally well
- Able to develop long-term and complex internal communications strategies and evidence high degree of competence in execution of plans
- Proven ability to achieve targets and objectives within a demanding and pressurised environment against challenging deadlines
- Able to demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills, displaying credibility, influence and political acumen
- Excellent communication, organisational, quality improvement, leadership skills
- Able to apply creativity and innovation to develop their approach to internal communications, based on new concepts, insights or analysis
- Ability to work well as part of a team and propose innovative solutions to challenges
- Able to deal with challenging cross-organisational relationships
- Confident to respond rapidly and efficiently to ever-changing circumstances
Desirable
- Welsh Language Skills are desirable at levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing in Welsh
Other
Desirable
- Willingness to work from our Cardiff office between 40% and 60% of the time (2 to 3 days per week)
- Willingness to travel to other locations across Wales where required
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- Educated to Master's degree level or equivalent, or equivalent experience
- Relevant qualification e.g. communication studies and/or public relations and/or marketing
- Evidence of continuous professional development
- Membership of relevant professional body, e.g. CIPR/CIM/IOIC
Desirable
- Management qualification
- Chartered Membership CIPR or CIM
Experience
Essential
- Highly developed specialist knowledge of internal and external communications and the broad range of associated activities and procedures, underpinned by theory and experience
- Experience of working with multidisciplinary teams at varying levels of seniority
- Demonstrable experience in building, leading, motivating, managing and developing teams
- Broad experience, and evidence of, operating effectively at a senior level within an organisation
- Demonstrable experience of working with, and providing expert change communications advice to, senior colleagues, leaders and managers
- Practical experience and evidence of using formal and informal measurement techniques to evaluate communications
- Experience of planning and delivering high profile, national events
- Experience of developing and improving services, including people, processes and policies
Desirable
- Knowledge of the NHS
- Broad experience, and evidence of, operating effectively at a senior level within NHS organisations, broader public services and/or the third sector
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Communicate effectively, including excellent spoken and written skills
- Comfortable with working on their own initiative and are confident in making sound, independent judgements
- An analytical mind and is capable of drawing clear conclusions from multiple information sources
- Can evidence the ability to routinely build positive relationships with colleagues to establish confidence and trust
- Has the ability to relate to people, processes and systems equally well
- Able to develop long-term and complex internal communications strategies and evidence high degree of competence in execution of plans
- Proven ability to achieve targets and objectives within a demanding and pressurised environment against challenging deadlines
- Able to demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills, displaying credibility, influence and political acumen
- Excellent communication, organisational, quality improvement, leadership skills
- Able to apply creativity and innovation to develop their approach to internal communications, based on new concepts, insights or analysis
- Ability to work well as part of a team and propose innovative solutions to challenges
- Able to deal with challenging cross-organisational relationships
- Confident to respond rapidly and efficiently to ever-changing circumstances
Desirable
- Welsh Language Skills are desirable at levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing in Welsh
Other
Desirable
- Willingness to work from our Cardiff office between 40% and 60% of the time (2 to 3 days per week)
- Willingness to travel to other locations across Wales where required
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
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).
