Job summary
Communications and Engagement Specialist - Maternity Cover
Department Communications
Band 6 £37,338 - £44,962 Per annum
Hours: 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
Are you an experienced internal communications expert who is used to working in fast-paced, complex environments? Do you have a passion for informing, engaging, supporting and inspiring hard-working NHS colleagues, and the skills needed to reach them?
If so, we have the role for you. Our small, friendly and supportive Communications Team is seeking a Communications and Engagement Specialist on a 12m FTC starting October 2025 for maternity cover.
Within this role, you will be responsible for the internal communications channels, manage the end-to-end process for internal events, plan content and be involved in our strategic framework including identifying savings efficiencies. Most importantly, you will have the opportunity to create content for the Chief Executive Officer that inspire our staff.
For more information, and contact Bernadette.ahmed@mkuh.nhs.uk to discuss the role further.
Interview w/c 28 July 2025
Main duties of the job
The post-holder will lead on developing and delivering internal communications and engagement plans that will inform, inspire and engage colleagues of Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The role will support retention, reinforce desired behaviours, encourage team collaboration and drive up understanding of theMKUH vision and values. The post-holder will work as part of a dedicatedcommunications and engagement team, collaborating with, and supporting the development of, the Communications and Engagement Officer.
About us
'6.43% of this staff group feel they are supported at work under the 'safe and healthy' element.' (NHS Staff Survey 2024).
You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:
- Free on-site parking
- Free refreshments
- Great flexible workingopportunities
- Discounted gym membership
- Lease car scheme
- Generous annual leave and pension scheme
- On site nursery (chargeable)
- Extensive staff health and well-being programme
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital; we conduct research and teaching on site to improve the care of our patients. The hospital is undergoing significant investment, and we are proud to be rated good by the CQC. Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Strategy, Planning and Evaluation
- Inform a strategic framework that will guide internal communications and engagement activity, and bring Trust vision and values to lifeCo-create annual KPIs for internal communications and engagement, and work towards achieving the
Consultancy
- Build and maintain strong relationships with colleagues across the Trust to understand how internal communications can support their objectives. Attend meetings, committees and boards where relevant.
- Provide guidance on internal communications that colleagues can deliver themselves, and that do not require end-to-end Communications and Engagement team delivery
Channel Ownership and Content Creation
- Own and optimise the channels noted above. Work towards these channels,and content on them, being fully accessible and inclusive.
- Identify and produce or commission a strong pipeline of inspiring content /storythemes that will inform, inspire and engage colleagues e.g. raising awarenessand understanding amongst all professions, staff successes, innovations, bestpractices, network initiatives, national awareness dates, Royal Collegeinitiatives etc
Brand Management
- Uphold brand standards and brand language on all internal communicationscontent and materials, ensuring alignment with the Trusts brand guidelines and agreed messaging.
- Carry out or commission photography and videography for internalcommunications channels, in line with brand guidelines, policies andprocedures.
Policy and service development
- Own and maintain internal communications and engagement policies andprocedures, including colleague social media policy.
- Propose changes to own area of work, informing policy and makingrecommendations for improving delivery.
Responsibility for financial and physical resources
- Ensure best value for money from internal communications and engagementspend.
Freedom to act
- Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload without supervision,working to tight and often changing timescales.
- Provide specialist communications and engagement advice to Trustcolleagues.
Supervision and Collaboration
- Whilst this post currently has no direct reports, you will be required to brief andsupervise the Communications and Engagement Officer whose remit includessupporting you with internal communications and engagement responsibilities.
- You will also be required to integrate closely with, and brief, other members ofthe Communications and Engagement team
We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Strategy, Planning and Evaluation
- Inform a strategic framework that will guide internal communications and engagement activity, and bring Trust vision and values to lifeCo-create annual KPIs for internal communications and engagement, and work towards achieving the
Consultancy
- Build and maintain strong relationships with colleagues across the Trust to understand how internal communications can support their objectives. Attend meetings, committees and boards where relevant.
- Provide guidance on internal communications that colleagues can deliver themselves, and that do not require end-to-end Communications and Engagement team delivery
Channel Ownership and Content Creation
- Own and optimise the channels noted above. Work towards these channels,and content on them, being fully accessible and inclusive.
- Identify and produce or commission a strong pipeline of inspiring content /storythemes that will inform, inspire and engage colleagues e.g. raising awarenessand understanding amongst all professions, staff successes, innovations, bestpractices, network initiatives, national awareness dates, Royal Collegeinitiatives etc
Brand Management
- Uphold brand standards and brand language on all internal communicationscontent and materials, ensuring alignment with the Trusts brand guidelines and agreed messaging.
- Carry out or commission photography and videography for internalcommunications channels, in line with brand guidelines, policies andprocedures.
Policy and service development
- Own and maintain internal communications and engagement policies andprocedures, including colleague social media policy.
- Propose changes to own area of work, informing policy and makingrecommendations for improving delivery.
Responsibility for financial and physical resources
- Ensure best value for money from internal communications and engagementspend.
Freedom to act
- Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload without supervision,working to tight and often changing timescales.
- Provide specialist communications and engagement advice to Trustcolleagues.
Supervision and Collaboration
- Whilst this post currently has no direct reports, you will be required to brief andsupervise the Communications and Engagement Officer whose remit includessupporting you with internal communications and engagement responsibilities.
- You will also be required to integrate closely with, and brief, other members ofthe Communications and Engagement team
We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Qualified to degree level or hold equivalent relevant experience
- Knowledge of the importance of confidentiality and information governance
- Experience internal communications and employee engagement techniques and best practice
- Experience of working with digital and social media platforms, and content management systems
- Experience of employee engagement and communications channels, both offline and digital
Desirable
- Understanding and experience of managing brand guidelines and house style
Experience
Essential
- Administration experience
- Extensive experience of using a wide range of IT packages including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel
- Experience of using design software, including Adobe InDesign and Photoshop
- Experience of advising and influencing senior managers
- Experience of producing information materials, e.g. newsletters, leaflets, posters
- Experience of liaising with external suppliers, e.g. design agencies
- Ability to plan and organise complex activities - e.g. annual staff awards and staff engagement events
- Experience of using online tools, e.g. content management systems and social media management tools
Skills
Essential
- Excellent IT skills
- Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing
- Willingness to use own initiative to organise meetings, events and photocalls
- Well-developed organisational skills to coordinate events and campaigns
- Excellent people skills
- Excellent prioritising skills, with the ability to manage a changing workload and manage expectations of delivery accordingly
- Deals with complex, changing information, and able to communicate in a persuasive, motivational way
- Ability to make judgements when there is more than one solution to an issue
- Ability to conceptualise and produce engaging and creative content across multiple platforms
- Ability to analyse incoming information and compare a range of options to make recommendations as to the best communications approach
- Social media management skills
Personal and people development
Essential
- Commitment to personal development
- Commitment to developing new ways of working and contributing to the development of protocols
- Ability to work quickly to a high standard
- Flexibility and willingness to try new ways of working
- Creative approach to problem-solving
- Enthusiastic manner
- Excellent personal presentation
Communication and Engagement
Essential
- Efficient at managing high volumes of email and other communications from both internal and external stakeholder
- Able to write statements, press releases and letters to agreed organisational standards and templates, including those containing sensitive and complex information
- Able to represent the organisation effectively on the telephone and face to face
- Able to brief journalists and manage ongoing relationships with media to ensure fair and positive coverage of the organisation
- Able to engage senior managers in the development of campaigns and events to ensure they deliver the organisation's objectives
Desirable
- Able to influence. motivate and persuade stakeholders using effective communications
- Able to negotiate and influence colleagues, including senior figures, on appropriate communications approach for projects and campaigns
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Qualified to degree level or hold equivalent relevant experience
- Knowledge of the importance of confidentiality and information governance
- Experience internal communications and employee engagement techniques and best practice
- Experience of working with digital and social media platforms, and content management systems
- Experience of employee engagement and communications channels, both offline and digital
Desirable
- Understanding and experience of managing brand guidelines and house style
Experience
Essential
- Administration experience
- Extensive experience of using a wide range of IT packages including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel
- Experience of using design software, including Adobe InDesign and Photoshop
- Experience of advising and influencing senior managers
- Experience of producing information materials, e.g. newsletters, leaflets, posters
- Experience of liaising with external suppliers, e.g. design agencies
- Ability to plan and organise complex activities - e.g. annual staff awards and staff engagement events
- Experience of using online tools, e.g. content management systems and social media management tools
Skills
Essential
- Excellent IT skills
- Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing
- Willingness to use own initiative to organise meetings, events and photocalls
- Well-developed organisational skills to coordinate events and campaigns
- Excellent people skills
- Excellent prioritising skills, with the ability to manage a changing workload and manage expectations of delivery accordingly
- Deals with complex, changing information, and able to communicate in a persuasive, motivational way
- Ability to make judgements when there is more than one solution to an issue
- Ability to conceptualise and produce engaging and creative content across multiple platforms
- Ability to analyse incoming information and compare a range of options to make recommendations as to the best communications approach
- Social media management skills
Personal and people development
Essential
- Commitment to personal development
- Commitment to developing new ways of working and contributing to the development of protocols
- Ability to work quickly to a high standard
- Flexibility and willingness to try new ways of working
- Creative approach to problem-solving
- Enthusiastic manner
- Excellent personal presentation
Communication and Engagement
Essential
- Efficient at managing high volumes of email and other communications from both internal and external stakeholder
- Able to write statements, press releases and letters to agreed organisational standards and templates, including those containing sensitive and complex information
- Able to represent the organisation effectively on the telephone and face to face
- Able to brief journalists and manage ongoing relationships with media to ensure fair and positive coverage of the organisation
- Able to engage senior managers in the development of campaigns and events to ensure they deliver the organisation's objectives
Desirable
- Able to influence. motivate and persuade stakeholders using effective communications
- Able to negotiate and influence colleagues, including senior figures, on appropriate communications approach for projects and campaigns
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.
