Job summary
This
is a fixed term contract for 9-12 months depending on start date.
Do
you enjoy leading teams producing creative, high-impact, digital content,
driving positive media coverage, and growing your audiences? Are you able to
manage a diverse workload of projects? Would you like to contribute to an
organisation making a meaningful difference to peoples lives?
Were
looking for a Senior Communications Manager to join the NIHR Academys
communications team. In this role, you will lead a busy communications team
responsible for developing and implementing communication plans that attract
and engage health and social care professionals with academic careers and
training.
The
teams remit covers a broad range of communication areas, including but not
limited to, social media, content development, website management, press
office, internal communications, events, webinars and email marketing. This
role will have the opportunity to work across different communication areas,
working with a multitude of stakeholders including other NIHR offices and the
Department of Health and Social Care.
The
successful applicant will be an excellent communicator with the ability to
work collaboratively across the organisation and with colleagues and
stakeholders to manage a diverse workload of projects. You will be accustomed
to working with internal stakeholders to build trust and be the comms expert
in the room providing communications advice and support.
Main duties of the job
You
will lead a team responsible for communicating about career development
training programme funding opportunities provided by NIHR.
Your
team will be communicating both with those already engaged with the
organisation from early career researchers through to the likes of research
professors, while also focusing on increasing its reach into target
audiences, especially those working in areas of health and social care
currently under-represented in clinical research career paths. We want to
hear from you if youve got a track record of building relationships with
partner and stakeholder organisations to gain reach to your target audiences
through their channels.
Your
team will coordinate and produce a wide range of digital communications and
marketing materials including web copy, social media content, press releases
and case studies whilst ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion in
communications and stakeholder engagement. Working to the Assistant Director
for Communications, Involvement and Development, you will be accountable for
the delivery of our communications business plan objectives.
Youll
be managing a multifaceted team with competing priorities, so strong
organisational skills are essential, along with evidence of strong
people-management skills to empower and develop your team.
You
will be accustomed to setting SMART objectives and using evaluation and
insight to learn and continually improve the work you and the team
produce.
About us
Continued
from above: You will have experience of working with a variety of
communications software packages, design and content management systems
including e-marketing, webinar platforms and enterprise social media
management platforms.
The
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has a mission to
improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. The NIHR plays
a pivotal role in attracting, training and supporting the best researchers
and complements the additional NIHR investment in world-class research
facilities and a skilled research workforce.
This
role is hosted by the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) and delivers the
work of the NIHR, leading on policy, strategy and delivery in respect of
academic training in England and working closely with other NIHR centres and
the Science Research and Evidence (SRE) Directorate at the Department of
Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk'
members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts
are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove
adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the
shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this
process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any
questions.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Support
the Assistant Director Communications, Public Involvement and Leadership
Development in the development and delivery of the NIHR Academy Executives
external communications strategy and the internal communications plan
ensuring the delivery of the NIHR Academy business plan
- Line
management of the communications team, managing their delivery of
communications activities, supporting delivery of their objectives and their
personal and professional development
- Work
with communications colleagues from across the NIHR to ensure delivery of the
NIHRs corporate communications strategy including chairing of a cross NIHR
communications group
- Translate
complex messages about the organisations programmes into clear and compelling
communications messages for a range of stakeholders including heath and care
researchers, health and care professionals and the life sciences industry
- Keep
up to date with best practice and emerging trends in communications and
stakeholder engagement practice, including digital communications and social
media, and advise programme managers and communication colleagues on their
potential use by NIHR to enhance communication plans
- Manage
and review all expenditure on communication resources, platforms and
materials and manage the purchase of design and printing services etc. to
ensure that this provides good value for money in line with the financial
resources available
- Work
to ensure that all members of NIHR Academy are aware of, and implement, the
elements of the NIHR Academy communications strategy including NIHR-wide
initiatives and branding guidelines
- Lead
the development and delivery of the Academy Members Conference
- Provide
communications support for events and workshops delivered and attended by
Academy colleagues
- Liaise
with other Programme Managers to provide content and copy for dissemination
through NIHR and other external communication channels
- Ensure
that the overall style and content of communications on the NIHR website and
social media channels are in accordance with brand guidelines and appeal to
our target audiences
- Evaluate
and measure the reach, success and impact of the organisations communications
and stakeholder engagement activities through quantitative and qualitative
methods to enable learning and improved ways of working
- Support
the communication of complex research findings to key stakeholders including
DHSC through case studies, press releases and news articles
- Support
the preparation of reports and papers for strategic and policy meetings and
publication
- Develop
survey materials and analyse and interpret results to support the continued
development and improvement of communication strategies in conjunction with
the Assistant Director Communications, Public Involvement and Leadership
Development
- Ensure
that effective communications planning is an integral part of business
continuity plans
- Liaise
with other national centres, NIHR and DHSC staff, the academic community as
necessary
- Deputise
for the Assistant Director Communications, Public Involvement and
Leadership Development in NIHR Communications Meetings as required. Provide
secretariat for panels, boards and implementation groups as required
- Write
reports and working papers as required
- Undertake
any ad hoc projects and initiatives as required by the NIHR Academy Executive
Board members.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Support
the Assistant Director Communications, Public Involvement and Leadership
Development in the development and delivery of the NIHR Academy Executives
external communications strategy and the internal communications plan
ensuring the delivery of the NIHR Academy business plan
- Line
management of the communications team, managing their delivery of
communications activities, supporting delivery of their objectives and their
personal and professional development
- Work
with communications colleagues from across the NIHR to ensure delivery of the
NIHRs corporate communications strategy including chairing of a cross NIHR
communications group
- Translate
complex messages about the organisations programmes into clear and compelling
communications messages for a range of stakeholders including heath and care
researchers, health and care professionals and the life sciences industry
- Keep
up to date with best practice and emerging trends in communications and
stakeholder engagement practice, including digital communications and social
media, and advise programme managers and communication colleagues on their
potential use by NIHR to enhance communication plans
- Manage
and review all expenditure on communication resources, platforms and
materials and manage the purchase of design and printing services etc. to
ensure that this provides good value for money in line with the financial
resources available
- Work
to ensure that all members of NIHR Academy are aware of, and implement, the
elements of the NIHR Academy communications strategy including NIHR-wide
initiatives and branding guidelines
- Lead
the development and delivery of the Academy Members Conference
- Provide
communications support for events and workshops delivered and attended by
Academy colleagues
- Liaise
with other Programme Managers to provide content and copy for dissemination
through NIHR and other external communication channels
- Ensure
that the overall style and content of communications on the NIHR website and
social media channels are in accordance with brand guidelines and appeal to
our target audiences
- Evaluate
and measure the reach, success and impact of the organisations communications
and stakeholder engagement activities through quantitative and qualitative
methods to enable learning and improved ways of working
- Support
the communication of complex research findings to key stakeholders including
DHSC through case studies, press releases and news articles
- Support
the preparation of reports and papers for strategic and policy meetings and
publication
- Develop
survey materials and analyse and interpret results to support the continued
development and improvement of communication strategies in conjunction with
the Assistant Director Communications, Public Involvement and Leadership
Development
- Ensure
that effective communications planning is an integral part of business
continuity plans
- Liaise
with other national centres, NIHR and DHSC staff, the academic community as
necessary
- Deputise
for the Assistant Director Communications, Public Involvement and
Leadership Development in NIHR Communications Meetings as required. Provide
secretariat for panels, boards and implementation groups as required
- Write
reports and working papers as required
- Undertake
any ad hoc projects and initiatives as required by the NIHR Academy Executive
Board members.
Person Specification
Skills & behaviours
Essential
- Ability to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a team, and is able to develop and maintain strong working relationships
- Outcome focused and demonstrates the ability to deliver at pace, whilst maintaining attention to details, anticipating and navigating challenges
- Leads and inspires those they work with, setting high standards and prioritising and delegating effectively incl. when working with team members whom they don't have line management accountability for
- Excellent stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to deal professionally and tactfully with colleagues, senior academics and internal and external stakeholders
- Self-motivated, proactive, innovative, with the ability to work independently and on own initiative
- Flexible and adaptable, and proactively adjusts to changing priorities and circumstances
- Resilient and able to provide clear direction and leadership as plans change
- Able to manage sensitive and confidential information
- Proactively keeps up to date with the latest trends and best practice in communications and stakeholder engagement
Desirable
- Ability to tackle complex problems, identify solutions and implement them
- Design, development and implementation of virtual and hybrid events and conferences
- Implementation and execution of paid digital and social media campaigns
Qualifications
Essential
- Education to degree level in marketing communications, PR or journalism (or equivalent experience)
- Post-graduate qualification (MSc, MA) or evidence of further professional development relevant to communications/ marketing or equivalent experience
Desirable
- Career progression through continuing professional development
- Membership of relevant professional body
Other criteria
Essential
- Communicates fluently, concisely, succinctly and with an engaging and compelling manner both orally and in writing, and able to convey complex information to different audiences
- Demonstrates expertise in developing, publishing and disseminating communications and digital media incl. multi media content e.g. videos, podcasts and webinars, reports, case studies, press releases
- Confident and comfortable delivering presentations and leading meetings in person and online
- Able to assimilate information quickly, and apply knowledge quickly and effectively to new situations and challenges
- Highly effective project and time management skills and able to set objectives, manage budgets, engage stakeholders and proactively manage risks
- Establishes processes for the measurement and evaluation of the impact of communications activities and campaigns and uses insights to refine future activities
- Experienced in using a variety of content management, email marketing, virtual event and digital communications tools and platforms
- Excellent keyboard skills and familiarity with Microsoft Office and the Google suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations and online meetings
- Knowledge of information governance and GDPR requirements in relation to communications activities and campaigns
- Extract and analyse data
Experience
Essential
- Experience of leading the development and implementation of communication, stakeholder engagement and events management (in person and online)
- Experienced in the development and editing of digital and multi media content for different channels & audiences, incl. case studies, reports and press releases into communications campaigns
- Experienced in the development and editing of digital and multi media content for different channels & audiences, incl. newsletters, integrate paid, owned & earned media into communications campaigns
- Stakeholder engagement experience, including developing, implementing and evaluating engagement plans
- Experience of project management for complex programmes including planning, risk management, budget management, stakeholder engagement, reporting on progress and evaluating benefits
- Experienced and highly effective in working across discipline boundaries
- Excellent knowledge of professional internal and external communications and stakeholder engagement strategy and practice
- Strong understanding of the expectation on public sector communications to be open, honest and non-political
- Knowledge of communications software packages, design and content management systems including e-marketing, webinar platforms and enterprise social media management platforms
- Knowledge of how to integrate paid, owned and earned media into communications campaigns
- Excellent understanding of establishing and measuring of communications and engagement activities and campaigns
Desirable
- Experience of dealing with the press and media
- Experience of facilitation of groups and meetings in-person and online
- Experience of working with or within a healthcare, research or education environment
- Experience of working at a national level
- Experience in working in a large, complex organisation
- An understanding of health research capacity development
- An understanding of public sector health research and its management
Person Specification
Skills & behaviours
Essential
- Ability to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a team, and is able to develop and maintain strong working relationships
- Outcome focused and demonstrates the ability to deliver at pace, whilst maintaining attention to details, anticipating and navigating challenges
- Leads and inspires those they work with, setting high standards and prioritising and delegating effectively incl. when working with team members whom they don't have line management accountability for
- Excellent stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to deal professionally and tactfully with colleagues, senior academics and internal and external stakeholders
- Self-motivated, proactive, innovative, with the ability to work independently and on own initiative
- Flexible and adaptable, and proactively adjusts to changing priorities and circumstances
- Resilient and able to provide clear direction and leadership as plans change
- Able to manage sensitive and confidential information
- Proactively keeps up to date with the latest trends and best practice in communications and stakeholder engagement
Desirable
- Ability to tackle complex problems, identify solutions and implement them
- Design, development and implementation of virtual and hybrid events and conferences
- Implementation and execution of paid digital and social media campaigns
Qualifications
Essential
- Education to degree level in marketing communications, PR or journalism (or equivalent experience)
- Post-graduate qualification (MSc, MA) or evidence of further professional development relevant to communications/ marketing or equivalent experience
Desirable
- Career progression through continuing professional development
- Membership of relevant professional body
Other criteria
Essential
- Communicates fluently, concisely, succinctly and with an engaging and compelling manner both orally and in writing, and able to convey complex information to different audiences
- Demonstrates expertise in developing, publishing and disseminating communications and digital media incl. multi media content e.g. videos, podcasts and webinars, reports, case studies, press releases
- Confident and comfortable delivering presentations and leading meetings in person and online
- Able to assimilate information quickly, and apply knowledge quickly and effectively to new situations and challenges
- Highly effective project and time management skills and able to set objectives, manage budgets, engage stakeholders and proactively manage risks
- Establishes processes for the measurement and evaluation of the impact of communications activities and campaigns and uses insights to refine future activities
- Experienced in using a variety of content management, email marketing, virtual event and digital communications tools and platforms
- Excellent keyboard skills and familiarity with Microsoft Office and the Google suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations and online meetings
- Knowledge of information governance and GDPR requirements in relation to communications activities and campaigns
- Extract and analyse data
Experience
Essential
- Experience of leading the development and implementation of communication, stakeholder engagement and events management (in person and online)
- Experienced in the development and editing of digital and multi media content for different channels & audiences, incl. case studies, reports and press releases into communications campaigns
- Experienced in the development and editing of digital and multi media content for different channels & audiences, incl. newsletters, integrate paid, owned & earned media into communications campaigns
- Stakeholder engagement experience, including developing, implementing and evaluating engagement plans
- Experience of project management for complex programmes including planning, risk management, budget management, stakeholder engagement, reporting on progress and evaluating benefits
- Experienced and highly effective in working across discipline boundaries
- Excellent knowledge of professional internal and external communications and stakeholder engagement strategy and practice
- Strong understanding of the expectation on public sector communications to be open, honest and non-political
- Knowledge of communications software packages, design and content management systems including e-marketing, webinar platforms and enterprise social media management platforms
- Knowledge of how to integrate paid, owned and earned media into communications campaigns
- Excellent understanding of establishing and measuring of communications and engagement activities and campaigns
Desirable
- Experience of dealing with the press and media
- Experience of facilitation of groups and meetings in-person and online
- Experience of working with or within a healthcare, research or education environment
- Experience of working at a national level
- Experience in working in a large, complex organisation
- An understanding of health research capacity development
- An understanding of public sector health research and its management
