Job summary
The postholder will lead on and manage all aspect of communications, marketing, business development and stakeholder engagement for UHL R&I.
This includes leading on communications to raise the profile of R&I internally and externally with a wide range of stakeholders. This involves planning and delivering both internal and external communications to ensure that staff, UHL leaders, patients, the public, media, industry and funders are well informed about our research and achievements.
It will be essential to raise the profile of and promote the strategy and operational priorities for R&I at UHL. This will be achieved through multiple channels, such as digital, press, broadcast media, social media, advertising, exhibitions and events. The postholder will have key skills in stakeholder management and media relations which are essential for this role. The post holder will work closely with the External Relations team at UHL, University of Leicester and the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group to ensure communications are coordinated and aligned.
The Communications Manager will report to the Operations Director R&I Manager and be accountable to the Deputy Director of R&I. There will be professional accountability to UHL Head of Communications and Engagement. They will act as a point of contact for UHL R&I executive and staff groups, providing communications activity, advice, support, training, and updates.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will report on a day-to-day basis to the Operations Director for R&I and will be line-managed by the same.
- UHL Communications Directorate
- UHL leaders and Staff
- Research and Innovation office staff
- Clinical and academic research staff within the Trust and partners Trust, (University of Leicester and University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group)
- University of Leicester, in particular External Relations, College of Life Sciences and Research Enterprise Division
- East Midlands Academic Health Science Network
- Commercial companies/life sciences organisations
- Primary Care networks
- Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
- Local, regional and national media
- Patients, carers and public groups, organisations and forums
About us
Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).
We have four primary goals:
- high-quality care for all,
- being a great place to work,
- partnerships for impact, and
- research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.
Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
- we are compassionate,
- we are proud,
- we are inclusive, and
- we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:
http://www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/aboutus/work-for-us/current-vacancies/
Job description
Job responsibilities
-
Work with patients, participants and other groups and forums that represent patient perspectives to develop good practice on engaging and involving a wide range of people in research
-
Use your own specialist expertise and experience to speak confidently with internal and external stakeholders - including but not limited to - research teams, funders, commercial companies, the media and external collaborators on behalf of R&I
-
Identify and maximise R&I communication opportunities by planning campaigns around key events, such as awareness days. For example, promote national NIHCR campaigns, such as Be Part of Research and Your Path In Research, collaborating with regional and national partners and local initiative such as R&I Voices.
-
Organise and facilitate meetings, roadshows, displays, conferences and events with service user groups and other stakeholders
-
Work closely with other communications teams in BRC, CRF and PRC across the partnership to maximise reach and impact
-
To provide reports on the performance of communication activities in relation to strategy, objectives and action plans to the R&I Executive Group.
-
To attend R&I management meetings and provide regular updates on activity and progress against objectives.
-
Develop methods to evaluate communications and engagement activity performance against objectives, reporting these into the R&I Executive.
-
Expect feedback, and share constructive feedback with R&I communications colleagues, to continuously develop and improve
-
Take responsibility for personal career development by attending training courses as agreed with line manager and seek development opportunities where appropriate.
-
Provide reasonable cover and general support to the R&I communications team during periods of absence and peak workload
-
Any other duties commensurate with the grade, which support R&I in the achievement of their business objectives and legal obligations via effective communications and engagement.
please see job description/ person specification for full details on the role
Job description
Job responsibilities
-
Work with patients, participants and other groups and forums that represent patient perspectives to develop good practice on engaging and involving a wide range of people in research
-
Use your own specialist expertise and experience to speak confidently with internal and external stakeholders - including but not limited to - research teams, funders, commercial companies, the media and external collaborators on behalf of R&I
-
Identify and maximise R&I communication opportunities by planning campaigns around key events, such as awareness days. For example, promote national NIHCR campaigns, such as Be Part of Research and Your Path In Research, collaborating with regional and national partners and local initiative such as R&I Voices.
-
Organise and facilitate meetings, roadshows, displays, conferences and events with service user groups and other stakeholders
-
Work closely with other communications teams in BRC, CRF and PRC across the partnership to maximise reach and impact
-
To provide reports on the performance of communication activities in relation to strategy, objectives and action plans to the R&I Executive Group.
-
To attend R&I management meetings and provide regular updates on activity and progress against objectives.
-
Develop methods to evaluate communications and engagement activity performance against objectives, reporting these into the R&I Executive.
-
Expect feedback, and share constructive feedback with R&I communications colleagues, to continuously develop and improve
-
Take responsibility for personal career development by attending training courses as agreed with line manager and seek development opportunities where appropriate.
-
Provide reasonable cover and general support to the R&I communications team during periods of absence and peak workload
-
Any other duties commensurate with the grade, which support R&I in the achievement of their business objectives and legal obligations via effective communications and engagement.
please see job description/ person specification for full details on the role
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level (or have equivalent experience) in English, a PR-related discipline (marketing, media communications, journalism), or a science/health discipline
- Evidence of continuous professional development
Desirable
- Project management training
- Post-graduate media/ PR/ journalism/ marketing qualification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a communications or media team in complex organisations
- Experience of working in a public sector or higher education communications environment
- Success in developing and implementing complex marketing and communications strategies and plans oResource and budget management, including managing others on a project basis, such as creative agencies Experience of planning, managing and evaluating communications activity in a complex and fast-moving environment
Desirable
- Experience of working in the NHS
- Experience of supporting patients or the public to engage in research or NHS service development
- Experience of leading marketing events oExperience of delivering projects to defined metrics oCrisis management experience oExperience of developing and delivering training
Communication
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Ability to persuade, negotiate and influence others
- Experience of communicating messages both internally, to a range of audiences and to the public effectively
- Ability to relate to people at all levels and to deal with senior colleagues with confidence oAbility to successfully work across different groups of staff in order to obtain information Empathetic approach to managing and resolving enquiries
Desirable
- Effective networker and Highly motivated with the ability to motivate and inspire others
Skills
Essential
- Copywriting oProofreading and editing oMedia relations oDigital oSocial media oPrint production oCommissioning / sourcing photography and images
- Ability to apply brand guidelines effectively and accurately and experience of acting as a brand champion
Desirable
- Use of Google platform oUse of Wordpress and similar web content management systems oPodcasting oGraphic design
Planning and organisation skills
Essential
- Ability to manage time effectively, work under own direction and prioritise workload
- Ability to plan and manage and adjust complex projects / programmes / communications campaigns and events, involving multiple stakeholders and tasks
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Essential
- Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level (or have equivalent experience) in English, a PR-related discipline (marketing, media communications, journalism), or a science/health discipline
- Evidence of continuous professional development
Desirable
- Project management training
- Post-graduate media/ PR/ journalism/ marketing qualification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a communications or media team in complex organisations
- Experience of working in a public sector or higher education communications environment
- Success in developing and implementing complex marketing and communications strategies and plans oResource and budget management, including managing others on a project basis, such as creative agencies Experience of planning, managing and evaluating communications activity in a complex and fast-moving environment
Desirable
- Experience of working in the NHS
- Experience of supporting patients or the public to engage in research or NHS service development
- Experience of leading marketing events oExperience of delivering projects to defined metrics oCrisis management experience oExperience of developing and delivering training
Communication
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Ability to persuade, negotiate and influence others
- Experience of communicating messages both internally, to a range of audiences and to the public effectively
- Ability to relate to people at all levels and to deal with senior colleagues with confidence oAbility to successfully work across different groups of staff in order to obtain information Empathetic approach to managing and resolving enquiries
Desirable
- Effective networker and Highly motivated with the ability to motivate and inspire others
Skills
Essential
- Copywriting oProofreading and editing oMedia relations oDigital oSocial media oPrint production oCommissioning / sourcing photography and images
- Ability to apply brand guidelines effectively and accurately and experience of acting as a brand champion
Desirable
- Use of Google platform oUse of Wordpress and similar web content management systems oPodcasting oGraphic design
Planning and organisation skills
Essential
- Ability to manage time effectively, work under own direction and prioritise workload
- Ability to plan and manage and adjust complex projects / programmes / communications campaigns and events, involving multiple stakeholders and tasks
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Essential
- Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs
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.
