Job summary
Are you looking for your next challenge in communications?
We have embarked on our digital excellence journey, which includes the implementation of a nationally leading EPR system that will transform the quality of care for our patients and staff by having instantly accessible information using the latest mobile technology, reducing paper usage and utilising clinical decision support tools.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, helpful, and proactive team player to work with our friendly, experienced, and dynamic digital and communication teams across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire, to bring our digital strategy to life.
You will be creative, resilient, and team-oriented, with a strong interest in engagement and two-way communications techniques, internal communications, digital communications, and crafting copy and visuals that create interest, desire and action.
The role requires an experienced and/or graduate level professional, with an understanding of communications, media and content gathering.
Main duties of the job
You will be responsible for developing and delivering content to inform and engage internal and external stakeholders in the wide-ranging and fast-moving digital strategy across UHN. Working with both our group Digital and Communications & Engagement teams, the post-holder will support campaigns, events, proactive media and internal communications - tailoring their output to suit a variety of audiences and channels. No two days will be the same!
Strong communications skills and experience are essential, as the work delivered will vary across platforms - from social media to the intranet. Our communications officers are multi-talented producing strong written content, videography and design.
This will include content creation for the Trust website, intranet, news, social media channels, services, and events, helping us to reach key audiences and translate or simplify ideas into accessible and engaging short videos, animations and graphics.
The postholder will use a variety of tools including Microsoft Word, Canva and the Adobe Creative Suite.
The role requires an understanding of the NHS, current issues and the aims and objectives of the organisation, and enough commercial awareness to work effectively with suppliers and contractors from the private sector to obtain best value for money.
The successful candidate will have these skills, alongside an enthusiasm for all things digital.
About us
Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.
Our Excellence Values
- Compassion
- Accountability
- Respect
- Integrity
- Courage
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.
We are a Defence positive trust, supporting our reservists, veterans, spouses and partners.
The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.
We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.
We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds.This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main Duties
A self-starter, you will be responsible for creating high-quality and creative written, audio and visual content to engage both internal and external audiences. This could be writing press releases or internal updates, creating video content or graphics for the website or social media channels, producing eye catching screensavers or video messages for staff or taking photos at staff events.
Plan, develop and produce multi-media communications content, ranging from social media soundbites and vlogs, through to informative short films to highlight service developments or staff achievements.
Plan, develop and produce engaging and accurate written communications content, ranging from press releases to newsletter updates.
Support the creation and delivery of staff newsletters and internal communications.
Deliver assigned projects, leading on successful completion within agreed timescales and budget.
Support the videography and photography of events such as Digital Roadshow
Supporting the EPR Programme with management of communication
Please see detailed job description and person specification
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main Duties
A self-starter, you will be responsible for creating high-quality and creative written, audio and visual content to engage both internal and external audiences. This could be writing press releases or internal updates, creating video content or graphics for the website or social media channels, producing eye catching screensavers or video messages for staff or taking photos at staff events.
Plan, develop and produce multi-media communications content, ranging from social media soundbites and vlogs, through to informative short films to highlight service developments or staff achievements.
Plan, develop and produce engaging and accurate written communications content, ranging from press releases to newsletter updates.
Support the creation and delivery of staff newsletters and internal communications.
Deliver assigned projects, leading on successful completion within agreed timescales and budget.
Support the videography and photography of events such as Digital Roadshow
Supporting the EPR Programme with management of communication
Please see detailed job description and person specification
Person Specification
Educations, Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Degree level education or equivalent knowledge and skills gained through any combination of alternative study, or employment experience
Desirable
- Evidence of continued professional development in communications, PR and marketing, keeping abreast of latest developments and best practice
- Member of appropriate professional body (CIPR, CIM)
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a relevant communication, PR, marketing and/or engagement role(s)
- Demonstrable experience of managing communications in a complex and challenging environment
- Experience of working with the media and handling potentially sensitive media enquiries
- Experience in delivering communications projects and campaigns, thinking creatively to deliver return on investment for customers
- Experience of monitoring/evaluating communications activity
- Knowledge of how to create an effective communications and engagement plan
- Sound understanding of confidentiality and data protection requirements
- Experience of working in a deadline-driven, and customer-focused environment, delivering a high volume of work within timescales, deadlines and within budget
- Experience of maintaining and developing communications and engagement channels
- Knowledge of best practice in communication and engagement
- Experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment
- Experience of managing communications and engagement projects and campaigns
- Experience in creating communications and engagement plans
- Knowledge and understanding of the NHS and how it is organised
Desirable
- Experience in managing and creating communications for Digital projects
Skills
Essential
- Highly developed communication skills
- Effective communicator, capable of constructing and delivering clear messaging to a diverse range of staff and stakeholder groups
- Ability to tailor content to suit different audiences and different channels
- Ability to prepare concise, effective messaging and content
- Ability to turn complex information into interesting, engaging and easy-to-understand copy, e.g. storyboards
- Ability to participate and communicate effectively within multi-disciplinary teams
- Ability to prioritise and manage own workload, working to tight and often changing timescales
- Knowledge of communications planning techniques, tools and processes
- Ability to make informed, effective decisions about the approach to be taken
- Excellent interpersonal and listening skills with the ability to influence and negotiate
- Influences and persuades others with regard to the appropriate communications approach
- Able to engender trust and confidence and demonstrate integrity when providing advice and support
- Problem-solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
- Ability to analyse facts and situations and develop a range of options and recommend an appropriate course of action
- Creative skills with an eye for detail
- Creative communications skills
- Experience of setting up and implementing internal processes and procedures
- Experience of content management systems (CMS)
- Skilled in suite of Microsoft Office programmes and advanced keyboard skills
Desirable
- Experience with digital tools that can be used to create communications
Key Competencies/Personal Qualities and Attributes
Essential
- Has a keen eye for design and detail
- Self-motivated, co-operative, and adaptable to change
- A team player with the ability to work under own initiative
- Willing to work flexibly at times. This may include infrequent weekend/evening work and occasional travel
- Able to handle confidential information with discretion
- Confident & calm under challenging situations
- Motivated, helpful, and approachable
- Forward thinking, innovative, creative, and enthusiastic
- Resilient and professional
- Willingness to engage in varied activity and to support different members of the team
- Ability to travel to the Northampton General Hospital site and to other sites across the Group
Person Specification
Educations, Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Degree level education or equivalent knowledge and skills gained through any combination of alternative study, or employment experience
Desirable
- Evidence of continued professional development in communications, PR and marketing, keeping abreast of latest developments and best practice
- Member of appropriate professional body (CIPR, CIM)
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a relevant communication, PR, marketing and/or engagement role(s)
- Demonstrable experience of managing communications in a complex and challenging environment
- Experience of working with the media and handling potentially sensitive media enquiries
- Experience in delivering communications projects and campaigns, thinking creatively to deliver return on investment for customers
- Experience of monitoring/evaluating communications activity
- Knowledge of how to create an effective communications and engagement plan
- Sound understanding of confidentiality and data protection requirements
- Experience of working in a deadline-driven, and customer-focused environment, delivering a high volume of work within timescales, deadlines and within budget
- Experience of maintaining and developing communications and engagement channels
- Knowledge of best practice in communication and engagement
- Experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment
- Experience of managing communications and engagement projects and campaigns
- Experience in creating communications and engagement plans
- Knowledge and understanding of the NHS and how it is organised
Desirable
- Experience in managing and creating communications for Digital projects
Skills
Essential
- Highly developed communication skills
- Effective communicator, capable of constructing and delivering clear messaging to a diverse range of staff and stakeholder groups
- Ability to tailor content to suit different audiences and different channels
- Ability to prepare concise, effective messaging and content
- Ability to turn complex information into interesting, engaging and easy-to-understand copy, e.g. storyboards
- Ability to participate and communicate effectively within multi-disciplinary teams
- Ability to prioritise and manage own workload, working to tight and often changing timescales
- Knowledge of communications planning techniques, tools and processes
- Ability to make informed, effective decisions about the approach to be taken
- Excellent interpersonal and listening skills with the ability to influence and negotiate
- Influences and persuades others with regard to the appropriate communications approach
- Able to engender trust and confidence and demonstrate integrity when providing advice and support
- Problem-solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
- Ability to analyse facts and situations and develop a range of options and recommend an appropriate course of action
- Creative skills with an eye for detail
- Creative communications skills
- Experience of setting up and implementing internal processes and procedures
- Experience of content management systems (CMS)
- Skilled in suite of Microsoft Office programmes and advanced keyboard skills
Desirable
- Experience with digital tools that can be used to create communications
Key Competencies/Personal Qualities and Attributes
Essential
- Has a keen eye for design and detail
- Self-motivated, co-operative, and adaptable to change
- A team player with the ability to work under own initiative
- Willing to work flexibly at times. This may include infrequent weekend/evening work and occasional travel
- Able to handle confidential information with discretion
- Confident & calm under challenging situations
- Motivated, helpful, and approachable
- Forward thinking, innovative, creative, and enthusiastic
- Resilient and professional
- Willingness to engage in varied activity and to support different members of the team
- Ability to travel to the Northampton General Hospital site and to other sites across the Group
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).
