External Relations Manager

Job summary

South Central Ambulance Service is seeking a highly professional, knowledgeable and enthusiastic external relations manager to join the team on a part-time basis as part of a job share arrangement.

The successful candidate will be experienced in working effectively with local, regional and national media, both for proactive and reactive media relations, and have excellent research, writing and interview skills.

The individual must have a track record in managing highly contentious issues and high-profile crises and have proven ability in placing stories and attracting coverage in national, regional and other media outlets.

Experience must also include social media strategy and content development, as well as engagement - both public and stakeholder - and there is a specific focus in this part of the job share on analysis and evaluation of both media and social media activity.

The postholder will also be expected to implement campaigns and other project initiatives across the organisation and work closely with their fellow external relations manager on developing and delivering a fresh media action plan for the year ahead.

The role requires someone with considerable resilience, drive and determination who will be committed to the team and to the direction of the organisation.

Flexibility in working hours and occasional involvement in out of hours on call communications is required.

Main duties of the job

As a senior manager within South Central Ambulance Service, you will be required to provide leadership to your team to ensure the effective provision of the service they provide and to champion change in the organisation.

You will ensure that your staff are motivated and express a positive attitude towards the organisation. You will address any issues and concerns that may inhibit your staff from achieving both their personal and organisational goals.

1. To support the Deputy Director of Communications, Marketing and Engagement in the delivery of a high-quality communications service for the Trust, ensuring that they are kept fully informed of all issues related to external relations at all times, particularly media and social media.
2. To ensure that SCAS is able to provide accurate and timely public and/or media communications in the event of a major or serious incident, implementing local policies as appropriate to the situation or contingency plan.
3. To take a lead on media relations and social media for the Trust and to develop and deliver the Trust's media and social media plans. This will include building and promoting positive relationships with media across SCAS through both proactive and reactive media handling. It will also require management of media enquiries, arrangements for filming and media interviews and the management of a virtual press room on the SCAS internet site.

Please see the full Job Description for your main duties.

About us

Benefits we offer:

• Full training and support when you join and ongoing throughout your employment with us.
• Holiday entitlement is 27 days rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years, plus 8 bank holidays (pro rata for part time).
• Enrolment into the NHS Pension Scheme.
• Access to continual professional development and opportunities within SCAS and the NHS.
• Occupational Health support along with an Employee Assistance Programme.
• NHS Discounts in over 200+ stores including Holidays, Days out, Car insurance, Restaurants and Clothing.

About Us

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of emergency, urgent care and non-emergency healthcare services, along with commercial logistics services.

The Trust delivers most of these services to the populations of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire as well as non-emergency patient transport services in Surrey and Sussex.

We serve a population of over 7 million and answer over 500,000 urgent calls a year. We employ 4,551 staff who, together with over 1,100 volunteers, enable us to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.