Job summary
The purpose of the Communications Lead is to plan and deliver communications activity, to support the LCRN management team.
The post-holder will work with the Network's member organisations and emerging partners to ensure that the communications strategy and plan is implemented appropriately across the whole geography. This will include working with colleagues across the patch to improve communications activity in relation to particular work-areas of the Network and/or within particular member organisations.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has transformed the delivery of research in health and care settings. Together, the NIHR people, programmes and centres of excellence represent the most integrated health research system in the world.
We are proud to be at the forefront of health and social care research delivery in the East Midlands, working with partner organisations operating in a broad range of settings across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire.
Main duties of the job
- Working proactively to develop and maintain the Network's positive reputation
- Ensuring the Network's membership and workforce are kept engaged and informed
- Communicating local performance on research delivery openly and transparently
- Building and supporting strong local stakeholder relationships
- Increasing engagement with the NIHR/NIHR Clinical Research Network brand
- Raising awareness of research, and local participation opportunities, amongst patients, carers and the public
- Delivering the local response to national NIHR/Clinical Research Network campaigns
- Ensuring the Network operates in line with national brand guidelines and communications guidelines
- Achieving value-for-money for investment in communications activities utilising a range of communications tools.
Hosted by the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust with offices in Leicester and Nottingham, our model incorporates a number of different roles to enable us to drive clinical research delivery performance, and to ensure that research is championed across every level of health and care.
Our team is committed to improving and increasing research opportunities for patients and health and care organisations. We embrace innovations that can enable us to work more effectively with our partners, and that make research more inclusive, diverse and accessible for participants.
About us
We are one of the biggest and busiest NHS trusts in the country, incorporating the General, Glenfield and Royal Infirmary hospitals. We have our very own Children's Hospital and run one of the country's leading heart centres.
Our team is made up of more than 17,000 staff providing a range of services primarily for the one million residents of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
We work with partners at the University of Leicester and De Montfort University providing world-class teaching to nurture and develop the next generation of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, many of whom go on to spend their working lives with us.
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:
We focus on what matters most
We treat others how we would like to be treated
We are passionate and creative in our work
We do what we say we are going to do
We are one team and we are best when we work together
Our patients are at the heart of all we do and we believe that 'Caring at its best' is not just about the treatments and services we provide, but about giving our patients the best possible experience.
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (leicestershospitals.nhs.uk)
Job description
Job responsibilities
- The post-holder will be responsible for evaluating communications activity, and reporting results to the LCRN management team and, where required, to the Clinical Research Network national leadership for communications and Network host.
- The post-holder will develop strong working relationships with the Clinical Research Network's national communications team, and will take responsibility for ensuring that the work of the LCRN aligns with national brand policy and other communications guidance or frameworks.
- The post-holder will take responsibility for the day-to-day management of any communications support staff, ensuring that they work in line with national and local communications strategy and relevant guidelines.
- The post-holder will lead on the delivery of internal communications to the Network workforce and member organisations. This will involve establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with Network member organisation communications teams and other colleagues, and ensuring that distribution systems and processes are appropriate and effective.
- The post-holder will take responsibility for ensuring that national NIHR/ Clinical Research Network campaigns are adopted and delivered locally, and that the LCRN makes a full contribution to the success of these initiatives. This will include working with the national communications team and local members to interpret and operationalize national campaigns effectively for the local context.
- The post-holder will take the operational responsibility for the Network's online presence, including ensuring that information on the Network's section of the Clinical Research Network website is accurate, up-to-date and fit-for-purpose, and that any other authorised users of the content management system are trained and aware of content guidelines. It will also include ensuring that the Network makes full use of digital engagement opportunities, including the ongoing management of appropriate social media channels in line with NIHR digital engagement policy.
- The post-holder will be responsible for identifying and delivering appropriate opportunities to promote the work of the Clinical Research Network, across all relevant channels. This will include (amongst other things) planning and delivering local media relations opportunities, and participation in /creation of suitable events.
- The post-holder will be responsible for developing and producing communications materials, as required for the fulfilment of the communications plan, taking care to avoid unnecessary duplication and achieve value for money as appropriate to a publicly-funded organisation. This will include applying a deep practical knowledge of different communications mechanisms and techniques, strong hands-on technical skills in copywriting across a wide range of platforms, ability in graphic design and layout and project management skills, plus experience of print specification and procurement. Where relevant the post-holder will be expected to manage the effective contribution of external contributors and suppliers.
- The post-holder will take responsibility for developing and maintaining an effective process for gathering positive examples of Network success, and for contributing to national calls for suitable case-studies.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- The post-holder will be responsible for evaluating communications activity, and reporting results to the LCRN management team and, where required, to the Clinical Research Network national leadership for communications and Network host.
- The post-holder will develop strong working relationships with the Clinical Research Network's national communications team, and will take responsibility for ensuring that the work of the LCRN aligns with national brand policy and other communications guidance or frameworks.
- The post-holder will take responsibility for the day-to-day management of any communications support staff, ensuring that they work in line with national and local communications strategy and relevant guidelines.
- The post-holder will lead on the delivery of internal communications to the Network workforce and member organisations. This will involve establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with Network member organisation communications teams and other colleagues, and ensuring that distribution systems and processes are appropriate and effective.
- The post-holder will take responsibility for ensuring that national NIHR/ Clinical Research Network campaigns are adopted and delivered locally, and that the LCRN makes a full contribution to the success of these initiatives. This will include working with the national communications team and local members to interpret and operationalize national campaigns effectively for the local context.
- The post-holder will take the operational responsibility for the Network's online presence, including ensuring that information on the Network's section of the Clinical Research Network website is accurate, up-to-date and fit-for-purpose, and that any other authorised users of the content management system are trained and aware of content guidelines. It will also include ensuring that the Network makes full use of digital engagement opportunities, including the ongoing management of appropriate social media channels in line with NIHR digital engagement policy.
- The post-holder will be responsible for identifying and delivering appropriate opportunities to promote the work of the Clinical Research Network, across all relevant channels. This will include (amongst other things) planning and delivering local media relations opportunities, and participation in /creation of suitable events.
- The post-holder will be responsible for developing and producing communications materials, as required for the fulfilment of the communications plan, taking care to avoid unnecessary duplication and achieve value for money as appropriate to a publicly-funded organisation. This will include applying a deep practical knowledge of different communications mechanisms and techniques, strong hands-on technical skills in copywriting across a wide range of platforms, ability in graphic design and layout and project management skills, plus experience of print specification and procurement. Where relevant the post-holder will be expected to manage the effective contribution of external contributors and suppliers.
- The post-holder will take responsibility for developing and maintaining an effective process for gathering positive examples of Network success, and for contributing to national calls for suitable case-studies.
Person Specification
Training and qualifications
Essential
- Knowledge of communications, public relations, journalism and marketing communications techniques, approaches, procedures
- Health service communications
Experience
Essential
- Experience of producing a wide range of written information
- Experience of working with staff across a range of areas and levels of seniority
Communications and relationship skills
Essential
- Knowledge of a broad range of communications techniques, both on and off-line and their applicability and suitability for different communication purposes
- Ability to apply brand guidelines effectively and accurately and experience of acting as brand champion
Analytical and judgement skills
Essential
- Ability to develop constructive and collaborative working relationships across organisational boundaries, encompassing working with contacts and colleagues at all levels, including very senior clinicians and managers
Planning and organisation skills
Essential
- Ability to work under own direction, prioritise own workload, work to tight deadlines and remain calm under pressure
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Essential
- All staff are expected to engage in compassionate and inclusive leadership in the provision of high quality care and interactions with others
Commitment to Trust values and behaviours
Essential
- Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's values and behaviours
Person Specification
Training and qualifications
Essential
- Knowledge of communications, public relations, journalism and marketing communications techniques, approaches, procedures
- Health service communications
Experience
Essential
- Experience of producing a wide range of written information
- Experience of working with staff across a range of areas and levels of seniority
Communications and relationship skills
Essential
- Knowledge of a broad range of communications techniques, both on and off-line and their applicability and suitability for different communication purposes
- Ability to apply brand guidelines effectively and accurately and experience of acting as brand champion
Analytical and judgement skills
Essential
- Ability to develop constructive and collaborative working relationships across organisational boundaries, encompassing working with contacts and colleagues at all levels, including very senior clinicians and managers
Planning and organisation skills
Essential
- Ability to work under own direction, prioritise own workload, work to tight deadlines and remain calm under pressure
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Essential
- All staff are expected to engage in compassionate and inclusive leadership in the provision of high quality care and interactions with others
Commitment to Trust values and behaviours
Essential
- Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's values and behaviours
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).
