Head of Communications

Job description

Job responsibilities

We are a newly-formed and friendly communications team based in the vibrant area between Camden and Kings Cross at St Pancras Hospital. Deputising for the Associate Director of Communications, the successful applicant will support her in managing the communications team, with the flexibility and ability to work both hands-on and strategically. You will be responsible for providing oversight, management and support across all of our communications activities and for the management of individual team members.

Responsible for overseeing all media activity including crisis communications handling and for the creation and execution of a media strategy to raise the profile of both trusts and the Partnership.

The post-holder will need to be able to influence and persuade senior colleagues on appropriate communications approaches, as well as deal confidently with journalists on high profile issues.

They will need to oversee communications across all channels and audiences on highly sensitive issues, sometimes dealing with hostile audiences.

A highly organised individual, you will bring advanced project management and evaluation expertise to the team with the ability to meet challenging deadlines. As well as deputising for the Associate Director of Communications, you will lead on overseeing training and development opportunities within this newly-created and high-performing Communications Team.

As a content specialist you will be adept at reviewing and managing complex programme information and writing, editing and coordinating communication materials, including staff and stakeholder briefings, media releases and other digital assets.

Applicants will be educated to Masters level or equivalent and possess excellent communication skills, both written and oral. You will also possess a minimum of five years experience working within communications or a related field e.g. marketing, public relations or media.

Please see the Job Description and Person Spec for more details. To arrange an informal discussion, please email Associate Director Communications and Engagement, Angela.Boon@candi.nhs.uk

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Educated to Masters level or equivalent level of experience or working at a senior level in communications
• Experience of media management and crisis management
• Exprerience of drafting briefing papers and correspondence at executive level

Desirable

• Qualification in marketing or PR
• Previous experience of working in a healthcare environment
• Knowledge of political considerations and wider system

Knowledge of media

Essential

• Knowledge of news environment and what 'sells' a story
• Demonstrated ability to secure positive media coverage
• Demonstrated experience of reputation management

Desirable

• Experience of working in broadcast or print journalism
• Demonstrated experience of working under intense pressure
• Ability to work quickly and across multiple workstreams

Strategic ability

Essential

• Ability to analyse and interpret very complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources and where there is a need to interpret and draw comparisons
• Knowledge of how to evaluate communications work to ensure it has the desired outcome
• Demonstrated capability to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision making

Desirable

• Experience of identifying and using innovative channels to communicate with hard to reach audiences
• Good knowledge of social media and how to harness its impact
• Willingness to work flexibly including out of hours

Team leading

Essential

• Experience of managing teams
• Experience of developing individuals
• Ability to performance manage

Desirable

• familiar with processes and procedures

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Pancras Hospital

4 Pancras Road

London

NW1 0PE

Employer's website

https://www.candi.nhs.uk/careers (Opens in a new tab)