Job summary
We are seeking a highly organised, motivated and strategic Senior Internal Communications and Recognition Manager to lead the development of our internal news channels and staff recognition programmes.
You will be the strategic lead and editor for our core internal channels -- including WeShare, YouShare, our all-staff newsletter and screensavers -- ensuring content is timely, inclusive and aligned with our values. You will also shape and deliver a wide range of trust-wide engagement initiatives with a strong focus on staff recognition, including management of our Barts Charity recognition grant, which supports our peer-to-peer platform Barts Hearts and the annual Barts Health Heroes staff awards.
You will provide expert advice to senior leaders and colleagues on internal messaging and engagement, contribute specialist insight to group-wide campaigns, and help build a collaborative, high-performing communications culture that champions appreciation and recognition. This is an exciting opportunity to get under the skin of a large, complex organisation and influence how we communicate with -- and shine a light on -- our people.
Main duties of the job
The senior internal communications and recognition manager is responsible for leading the delivery of high-quality, insight-led internal communications across the trust, including the development of core internal news channels and staff engagement projects.
The postholder will be the strategic lead and editor for the trust's internal news channels, including the intranet (WeShare), YouShare, staff newsletter and screensavers. They will also oversee internal communications projects and manage trust-wide engagement initiatives, including the Barts Charity recognition grant.
The postholder will provide expert advice to colleagues and senior leaders on internal messaging and approaches to staff engagement, ensuring communications are timely, inclusive and aligned with the trust's tone, values and organisational priorities.
They will contribute specialist internal communications expertise to the planning and delivery of group-wide campaigns, helping ensure content is engaging, well integrated and tailored to the needs of staff.
The senior internal communications and recognition manager will work closely with the head of internal and hospital communications, hospital leads and colleagues across the team to ensure internal communications activity is joined up, insight-led and reflects best practice. They will contribute to evaluation, learning and continuous improvement across the team's internal communications function.
About us
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
We are dedicated to being an outstanding place to work and will work with you to get the best experience. We know flexible working is not a one size fits all and will mean something different to everyone. We are inclusive, so if you are interested in flexible working, please speak to the recruiting manager.
Although this position is a 12 months fixed-term contract, the actual contract duration will be adjusted to account for the time taken to advertise the post, complete the hiring process, and finalise pre-employment checks. This means the contract will begin when the candidate starts the role and may be slightly shorter than 12 months
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
We are dedicated to being an outstanding place to work and will work with you to get the best experience. We know flexible working is not a one size fits all and will mean something different to everyone. We are inclusive, so if you are interested in flexible working, please speak to the recruiting manager.
Although this position is a 12 months fixed-term contract, the actual contract duration will be adjusted to account for the time taken to advertise the post, complete the hiring process, and finalise pre-employment checks. This means the contract will begin when the candidate starts the role and may be slightly shorter than 12 months
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or equivalent experience in a related discipline
Desirable
- Evidence of continued professional development and national best practice within the communications sector
- CIPR accredited
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of delivering internal communications in a large or complex organisation, ideally within the NHS, public sector or a similarly regulated environment
- Proven ability to develop and implement internal communications plans that support organisational priorities and staff engagement
- Experience of managing internal news channels, such as intranet, newsletters and visual displays (e.g. screensavers)
- Experience of developing and delivering internal campaigns or engagement initiatives across a diverse workforce
- Experience of managing or delivering recognition schemes or staff-focused communications projects
- Experience of providing internal communications advice to senior leaders or project teams on messaging and engagement approaches
- Experience of contributing to the development and delivery of multi-channel campaigns
- Demonstrable ability to evaluate internal communications activity using analytics, audience feedback and other insight
- Experience of managing or supervising staff, including providing direction, support and professional development
- Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues across departments to ensure a joined-up approach to internal communications
Desirable
- Experience working within the NHS and/or charity sectors
- Experience of a major incident or significant major incident preparation in a complex environment
Knowledge
Essential
- Good understanding of how to engage a range of audiences and stakeholders through appropriate channels and content
- Experience of working with or commissioning external suppliers such as writers, designers, photographers or videographers
- Working knowledge of the NHS or wider public sector, including organisational structures and the policy environment
- Understanding of confidentiality, data protection and related responsibilities in communications practice
Desirable
- Brand management
- Quantitative and qualitative research methodology
- Delivery of major incident communications
Skills
Essential
- Excellent writing and editing skills, with the ability to produce clear, engaging and accessible content for staff across a range of channels
- Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, competing deadlines and content schedules
- Skilled in using content management systems and publishing tools to manage intranet, screensavers and newsletters
- Ability to develop communications plans based on audience insight and aligned with organisational priorities
- Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships and provide confident advice to senior leaders and colleagues
- Skilled in translating complex or sensitive information into messaging that informs, reassures or motivates staff
- Ability to contribute to the creative development of campaigns and ensure internal content is well integrated with wider communications
- Confident in developing staff engagement activity and recognition initiatives that reflect organisational values
- Experience of evaluating communications activity using analytics, feedback and staff insight
- Able to lead, support and develop junior team members and contribute to a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing team culture
Desirable
- Design, film and desktop publishing software eg Canva, Illustrator, Photoshop
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or equivalent experience in a related discipline
Desirable
- Evidence of continued professional development and national best practice within the communications sector
- CIPR accredited
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of delivering internal communications in a large or complex organisation, ideally within the NHS, public sector or a similarly regulated environment
- Proven ability to develop and implement internal communications plans that support organisational priorities and staff engagement
- Experience of managing internal news channels, such as intranet, newsletters and visual displays (e.g. screensavers)
- Experience of developing and delivering internal campaigns or engagement initiatives across a diverse workforce
- Experience of managing or delivering recognition schemes or staff-focused communications projects
- Experience of providing internal communications advice to senior leaders or project teams on messaging and engagement approaches
- Experience of contributing to the development and delivery of multi-channel campaigns
- Demonstrable ability to evaluate internal communications activity using analytics, audience feedback and other insight
- Experience of managing or supervising staff, including providing direction, support and professional development
- Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues across departments to ensure a joined-up approach to internal communications
Desirable
- Experience working within the NHS and/or charity sectors
- Experience of a major incident or significant major incident preparation in a complex environment
Knowledge
Essential
- Good understanding of how to engage a range of audiences and stakeholders through appropriate channels and content
- Experience of working with or commissioning external suppliers such as writers, designers, photographers or videographers
- Working knowledge of the NHS or wider public sector, including organisational structures and the policy environment
- Understanding of confidentiality, data protection and related responsibilities in communications practice
Desirable
- Brand management
- Quantitative and qualitative research methodology
- Delivery of major incident communications
Skills
Essential
- Excellent writing and editing skills, with the ability to produce clear, engaging and accessible content for staff across a range of channels
- Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, competing deadlines and content schedules
- Skilled in using content management systems and publishing tools to manage intranet, screensavers and newsletters
- Ability to develop communications plans based on audience insight and aligned with organisational priorities
- Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships and provide confident advice to senior leaders and colleagues
- Skilled in translating complex or sensitive information into messaging that informs, reassures or motivates staff
- Ability to contribute to the creative development of campaigns and ensure internal content is well integrated with wider communications
- Confident in developing staff engagement activity and recognition initiatives that reflect organisational values
- Experience of evaluating communications activity using analytics, feedback and staff insight
- Able to lead, support and develop junior team members and contribute to a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing team culture
Desirable
- Design, film and desktop publishing software eg Canva, Illustrator, Photoshop
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
