Job summary
Are you a high-achieving communications or marketing professional with a passion for health and research? Want to go home at the end of the day knowing the work you've done has made a difference?
Take the next step in your career with the research and innovation (R&I) communications team at Leicester's Hospitals.
We are looking for a communications person who is driven to learn and improve, understands people and their values, and who wants to get stuck in to all aspects of communications and engagement, from planning and delivery to evaluation, to join our team as an R&I Communications Officer.
In this role you'll work alongside the people who are bringing life-changing diagnostics, treatments and prevention to patients in the NHS, working in a creative and supportive research communications team at one of the biggest NHS Trusts in the country. Our hospitals are filled with world-class research teams and we want to share their amazing stories with our audiences.
The research communications team supports research teams across all specialities, from heart and lung disease, to children's and emergency medicine, and at all stages of clinical trials, from first in man studies to large scale late phase commercial trials. We also provide community engagement and public involvement opportunities to make sure our research is shaped by the people who are set to benefit from it.
Sound like a team you'd like to join?
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will be a great communications all-rounder, able to support a wide range of communications and engagement work, from media relations, to social media content creation and campaigns; events and conferences; internal communications; and patient engagement and involvement, for the research and innovation service.
The post holder will help the research communications team to fulfil three main priorities:
- Increase participant recruitment and retention to studies, and gather their feedback to improve services
- Increase staff engagement and develop an inclusive research culture at the Trust
- Disseminate scientific outputs and findings to increase impact on knowledge, opinion and behaviours of key stakeholders
Contributions to these priorities will be underpinned by equality, diversity and inclusion, and analysis and evaluation - ensuring that our work remains equitable, focused and of high value.
About us
We are one of the biggest and busiest NHS trusts in the country, incorporating the General, Glenfield and Royal Infirmary hospitals.
Our team of more than 17,000 staff provides a range of services primarily for the one million residents of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
We are highly research active. The Trust has a strong track record of clinical trial delivery with around 1000 active studies at any time and recruiting more than 14,000 patients into National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) portfolio studies in the last 12 months. In recognition of the world-class research excellence we have been awarded more than £30M of competitive research infrastructure funding. This includes an NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (with 6 themes), NIHR Clinical Research Facility, NIHR Patient Recruitment Centre, and NIHR Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre.
Our purpose is to provide 'Caring at its best' and our staff have helped us create a set of values that embody who we are and what we're here to do. They are:o We focus on what matters mosto We treat others how we would like to be treatedo We are passionate and creative in our worko We do what we say we are going to doo We are one team and we are best when we work together
Our participants are at the heart of all we do. We believe that 'Caring at its best' is not just about the treatments and services we provide, but about giving them the best possible experience.
www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/research
Job description
Job responsibilities
KEY RESULT AREAS
- Good news source and develop good news from research teams, ensuring that achievements, grants, scientific outputs and excellence receive suitable internal and external publicity
- Campaigns develop and deliver internal and external campaigns using audience insight and wider research to ensure our campaigns reach and resonate with the right people.
- Contacts develop strong relationships both internally and externally that enable us to better understand our audiences, create great communications and enhance our reputation locally, regionally and nationally as a research centre of excellence.
- Evaluation measure reach, impact and return-on-investment analysis of communications and marketing tactics using quantitative and qualitative research methods to inform future strategies, and support internal reporting of project outcomes.
Role Responsibilities
Events management
Support the head of research communications in organising and delivering high-quality events, such as the R&I Awards Ceremony, VIP visits, internal research conferences and showcases, and public engagement outreach events.
Content creation
Work with the wider team to source, write and design creative and engaging content for newsletters, briefings, social media, press releases, e-news, the intranet and patient recruitment advertising, to engage with our stakeholder groups and build a positive opinion of, and nudge behaviour towards, the benefits of getting involved in research.
This will involve researching content, interviewing staff, checking ethics approval forms and advising research teams on constraints and amendments needed, drafting and editing copy, proof-reading, seeking necessary approvals and, where necessary and appropriate, using design packages, taking photographs or briefing internal or external agencies to do so.
Communications channel management
You will also take part in managing and editing the content for our channels and engage in good channel planning behaviours.
Communications projects
Manage specific communications projects as delegated by the head of research communications. Advise R&I colleagues on the best use of internal and external communications channels to cascade and promote messages.
Media enquiries
Liaise with R&I colleagues to answer journalists queries about research taking place on our sites. Where appropriate, arrange interviews with research teams and oversee filming on site, ensuring staff, reporters and crew are safe and that patient confidentiality is maintained, with appropriate consent sought at all times, in line with Trust policy and procedures.
Provide support to colleagues engaging in media interviews.
Reporting
Escalate issues where required to the Head of Research Communications and, where necessary and appropriate, brief the Director of R&I, Director of Communications and Engagement, and Chief Executive.
General responsibilities
- Prioritise workload by assessing multiple and urgent work requests with varying deadlines to ensure personal deadlines are met;
- Take part in meetings and represent the team, occasionally deputising for more senior members of the research communications team as required;
- Follow policies and procedures relating to the role;
- Maintain confidentiality at all times and comply with the Data Protection Action when handling sensitive and personal information, such as registries, emails or general enquiries;
- Handle all enquiries that come into the research communications team in a professional and helpful manner
- Work within budgets and in line with departmental and Trust financial protocols; and,
- Undertake other duties which might reasonably be required, commensurate with the post.
How youll do it
As part of the research communications team you will be expected to adhere to the organisations high standards of customer care, confidentiality and behaviour. You will live our values by demonstrating compassion, striving for excellence, respecting diversity, acting with integrity and listening to and supporting others. Youll effectively and efficiently use departmental resources.
Job description
Job responsibilities
KEY RESULT AREAS
- Good news source and develop good news from research teams, ensuring that achievements, grants, scientific outputs and excellence receive suitable internal and external publicity
- Campaigns develop and deliver internal and external campaigns using audience insight and wider research to ensure our campaigns reach and resonate with the right people.
- Contacts develop strong relationships both internally and externally that enable us to better understand our audiences, create great communications and enhance our reputation locally, regionally and nationally as a research centre of excellence.
- Evaluation measure reach, impact and return-on-investment analysis of communications and marketing tactics using quantitative and qualitative research methods to inform future strategies, and support internal reporting of project outcomes.
Role Responsibilities
Events management
Support the head of research communications in organising and delivering high-quality events, such as the R&I Awards Ceremony, VIP visits, internal research conferences and showcases, and public engagement outreach events.
Content creation
Work with the wider team to source, write and design creative and engaging content for newsletters, briefings, social media, press releases, e-news, the intranet and patient recruitment advertising, to engage with our stakeholder groups and build a positive opinion of, and nudge behaviour towards, the benefits of getting involved in research.
This will involve researching content, interviewing staff, checking ethics approval forms and advising research teams on constraints and amendments needed, drafting and editing copy, proof-reading, seeking necessary approvals and, where necessary and appropriate, using design packages, taking photographs or briefing internal or external agencies to do so.
Communications channel management
You will also take part in managing and editing the content for our channels and engage in good channel planning behaviours.
Communications projects
Manage specific communications projects as delegated by the head of research communications. Advise R&I colleagues on the best use of internal and external communications channels to cascade and promote messages.
Media enquiries
Liaise with R&I colleagues to answer journalists queries about research taking place on our sites. Where appropriate, arrange interviews with research teams and oversee filming on site, ensuring staff, reporters and crew are safe and that patient confidentiality is maintained, with appropriate consent sought at all times, in line with Trust policy and procedures.
Provide support to colleagues engaging in media interviews.
Reporting
Escalate issues where required to the Head of Research Communications and, where necessary and appropriate, brief the Director of R&I, Director of Communications and Engagement, and Chief Executive.
General responsibilities
- Prioritise workload by assessing multiple and urgent work requests with varying deadlines to ensure personal deadlines are met;
- Take part in meetings and represent the team, occasionally deputising for more senior members of the research communications team as required;
- Follow policies and procedures relating to the role;
- Maintain confidentiality at all times and comply with the Data Protection Action when handling sensitive and personal information, such as registries, emails or general enquiries;
- Handle all enquiries that come into the research communications team in a professional and helpful manner
- Work within budgets and in line with departmental and Trust financial protocols; and,
- Undertake other duties which might reasonably be required, commensurate with the post.
How youll do it
As part of the research communications team you will be expected to adhere to the organisations high standards of customer care, confidentiality and behaviour. You will live our values by demonstrating compassion, striving for excellence, respecting diversity, acting with integrity and listening to and supporting others. Youll effectively and efficiently use departmental resources.
Person Specification
Education and career
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
Desirable
- Post-graduate qualification in marketing, communications or a related subject
- Two or more years' experience in a marketing, communications or related role
Experience
Essential
- Experience of communications campaign planning, delivering and evaluation
Desirable
- Experience of working in an NHS, or research-related organisation (such as pharmaceutical industry, health charity)
Skills
Essential
- Strong writing skills
- Advanced Microsoft Office / 365 package skills
Desirable
- Experience of using web content management systems
- Experience of using social media scheduling tools
Person Specification
Education and career
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
Desirable
- Post-graduate qualification in marketing, communications or a related subject
- Two or more years' experience in a marketing, communications or related role
Experience
Essential
- Experience of communications campaign planning, delivering and evaluation
Desirable
- Experience of working in an NHS, or research-related organisation (such as pharmaceutical industry, health charity)
Skills
Essential
- Strong writing skills
- Advanced Microsoft Office / 365 package skills
Desirable
- Experience of using web content management systems
- Experience of using social media scheduling tools
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).
