Job summary
- To lead the development of a research and genomics communications strategy for CUH and East GLH, which supports the wider communication strategy.
- To build strong relationships with scientists and researchers at CUH and East GLH
- To identify strategically important research stories including genomic research stories of national and/or regional interest and pitch to media and deliver positive coverage for Trust and partners.
- Establish a pipeline of research and genomic stories of media interest and be the first point of contact within the Trust communications team for genomic stories
Main duties of the job
CUH is a key partner in Cambridge University Health Partners (CUHP), one of only eight academic health science centres in the UK, and is at the heart of the development of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus which brings together on one site a range of organisations involved in world-class biomedical research, patient care and education. The Campus hosts the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre.
The Campus will also be the site for two new hospitals: Cambridge Children's Hospital, the first specialist children's hospital for the East of England, and Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, a specialist cancer facility that will bring together clinical and research expertise in a new world-class hospital.
East Genomic Laboratory Hub (East GLH)
CUH hosts the East Genomic Laboratory Hub which is one of seven GLHs in England. It provides and coordinates a wide range of genomic tests, according to the National Genomic Test Directory, for the population of East Midlands and East of England (over 8.3 million people and for 32 NHS Trusts). As well as Cambridge, it has supporting labs in Leicester and Nottingham. Under the brand 'East Genomics' it works alongside East Genomic Medicine Service Alliance (East GMSA) to ensure all eligible patients can access and benefit from appropriate genomic tests when required.
About us
Our Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment
This vacancy will close at midnight on 4th September 2024
Interviews are due to be held on 18th September 2024
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only cafe, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment
This vacancy will close at midnight on 4th September 2024
Interviews are due to be held on 18th September 2024
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only cafe, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level and/or equivalent level of skills or experience plus training and/or experience in the communications field to degree-level equivalent.
- Evidence of continuous professional development
Desirable
- Either an under-graduate or post-graduate qualification in journalism, marketing, public relations or related field.
- Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing or Public Relations.
- Science degree.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of leading external communications at a senior level in a large complex organisation.
- Experience of turning complex research and genomics projects into accessible and compelling language for mass public audiences.
- Experience in identifying good media stories, specifically for TV, print and radio.
- Dealing with a variety of professionals and staff at all levels.
- Evidence of successful communication strategy, development and implementation.
- Experience in measuring and evaluating communications and designing channels that target audiences precisely.
- Practical experience in using different approaches to communications across all mediums.
- Experience of working with the media.
- Experience of building strong positive working relationships with stakeholders.
Desirable
- Experience of working with top UK science journalists.
- Experience of research and genomics communications
- Experience of working in a laboratory/scientific environment
- Experience organising VIP visits.
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of how and where research papers are published and how to deliver supporting media stories.
- Understanding of how research and genomics stories may unfold in the media and how to optimise this for the benefit of patients and staff at CUH.
- Understanding of how to identify and target specific audience groups.
- Knowledge of science journalists in the UK and beyond
- Knowledge of the media and how it operates as well as the law in relation to media
- Genuine interest in science and research
- Knowledge of editorial guidelines, content creation and channel management in comms practice
Desirable
- Knowledge of stakeholder communications approaches from across the industry sector and how they can be implemented in the NHS.
Skills
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills.
- Advanced keyboard skills required for speed and accuracy for preparing reports, media releases and presentation material
- Ability to deal with large amounts of scientific information and accurately distil it into easily digestible pieces of communication
- Political skills and knowledge of public sector issues, including those surrounding the NHS.
- Able to persuade and influence senior scientists to communicate their work in an impactful and effective way.
- Ability to manage matrix stakeholder relationships in projects involving major change.
- Ability to represent the organisation and reflect its aims and objectives, speaking publicly on its behalf.
- Able to plan complex multi-stakeholder communications projects and monitor their successful delivery with a high degree of attention to detail.
- Flexibility in handling a wide range of projects, managed to tight deadlines.
- Politically aware.
- Ability to take the lead on projects involving external stakeholders at all levels.
- Emotionally resilient
- Able to cope and function effectively when working in a demanding environment.
- Ability to act with tact and diplomacy at all times.
- Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level and/or equivalent level of skills or experience plus training and/or experience in the communications field to degree-level equivalent.
- Evidence of continuous professional development
Desirable
- Either an under-graduate or post-graduate qualification in journalism, marketing, public relations or related field.
- Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing or Public Relations.
- Science degree.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of leading external communications at a senior level in a large complex organisation.
- Experience of turning complex research and genomics projects into accessible and compelling language for mass public audiences.
- Experience in identifying good media stories, specifically for TV, print and radio.
- Dealing with a variety of professionals and staff at all levels.
- Evidence of successful communication strategy, development and implementation.
- Experience in measuring and evaluating communications and designing channels that target audiences precisely.
- Practical experience in using different approaches to communications across all mediums.
- Experience of working with the media.
- Experience of building strong positive working relationships with stakeholders.
Desirable
- Experience of working with top UK science journalists.
- Experience of research and genomics communications
- Experience of working in a laboratory/scientific environment
- Experience organising VIP visits.
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of how and where research papers are published and how to deliver supporting media stories.
- Understanding of how research and genomics stories may unfold in the media and how to optimise this for the benefit of patients and staff at CUH.
- Understanding of how to identify and target specific audience groups.
- Knowledge of science journalists in the UK and beyond
- Knowledge of the media and how it operates as well as the law in relation to media
- Genuine interest in science and research
- Knowledge of editorial guidelines, content creation and channel management in comms practice
Desirable
- Knowledge of stakeholder communications approaches from across the industry sector and how they can be implemented in the NHS.
Skills
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills.
- Advanced keyboard skills required for speed and accuracy for preparing reports, media releases and presentation material
- Ability to deal with large amounts of scientific information and accurately distil it into easily digestible pieces of communication
- Political skills and knowledge of public sector issues, including those surrounding the NHS.
- Able to persuade and influence senior scientists to communicate their work in an impactful and effective way.
- Ability to manage matrix stakeholder relationships in projects involving major change.
- Ability to represent the organisation and reflect its aims and objectives, speaking publicly on its behalf.
- Able to plan complex multi-stakeholder communications projects and monitor their successful delivery with a high degree of attention to detail.
- Flexibility in handling a wide range of projects, managed to tight deadlines.
- Politically aware.
- Ability to take the lead on projects involving external stakeholders at all levels.
- Emotionally resilient
- Able to cope and function effectively when working in a demanding environment.
- Ability to act with tact and diplomacy at all times.
- Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Addenbrookes Hospital-Division Corporate
Hills Road
Cambridge
CB3 0QQ
Employer's website
https://www.cuh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)