Job summary
The postholder will support the Head of Communications and play a key role in building the organisation's impact and reputation through effective communications and engagement functions and raising the organisation's profile.
The post holder will also support the Head of Communications to provide operational leadership on external and internal communications issues and public affairs, leading in the development, implementation and evaluation of robust communications plans to ensure they are tailored to the needs of a range of individuals and are put in place in an effective and timely manner. This will include implementing and evaluating communications activities for a range of topics.
Professionally accountable to the Assistant Director of Communications, this post will be line managed by the Head of Communications and will be responsible for managing members of the Communications team.
They will be required to think strategically as well as provide operational communications support to work programmes and team members. They will advise on tailoring communications approaches and be responsible for providing the necessary support. The post holder will provide expert, specialist, creative and innovative advice on its communication requirements by planning and supporting the delivery of complex communications activities.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible for writing, proofing, editing and co-ordinating complex material including a range of communications package outputs for a range of stakeholders, including staff at all levels across our organisation, patients, communities, political stakeholders and the media.
They will work with qualitative and quantitative data sources using social media platforms, Google Analytics, SharePoint analytics and Microsoft Forms on a regular basis for reporting as well as creating original content directly from interviews with subject matter experts.
An awareness and experience of targeted communications, confident media management, political awareness and stakeholder relationship building and management will be vital.
The post holder will be responsible for supporting the handling of media enquiries on contentious and sensitive issues. They will provide relevant teams with reputation advice, advice on how to communicate with a range of stakeholders as well as training and advice for media handling.
The post holder will implement a joined-up approach to promoting activity internally, externally and with the input of key partners by working with their communications teams, to support implementation of communications strategies, and associated action plans across DHCW teams, the public and key stakeholders, including Welsh Government.
About us
Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) is part of the NHS Wales family and has an important role in changing the way health and care services are delivered through technology and data. The organisation supports frontline staff with modern systems and access to important information about their patients, while empowering the people of Wales to manage their own health through digital NHS Wales services.
Working for DHCW offers lots of employee benefits, including flexible working, a competitive salary, 28 days of annual leave plus Bank Holidays and opportunities for career development. We are committed to recognising and celebrating our staff as the most valuable part of our organisation.
Join our game changing, life-saving team and start making a real difference to health and care services in Wales.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The postholder will be required to:
Assist the Assistant Director of Communications and Head of Communications to ensure the delivery of an effective and professional communications function.
Provide line management to members of the Communications Team.
Provide strategic communications advice and support to directors and senior members of staff.
Manage the delivery of internal and external communications, in accordance with the communications strategy.
Provide strategic communications support for new services and projects.
Develop relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to proactively improve reputation.
Support the Head of Communications and Assistant Director of Communications in managing any issues following a crisis.
Demonstrate strategic thinking with the ability to be hands-on and highly focused on achieving results.
Frequently exercise judgement and make informed decisions on the appropriate communications around the delivery of DHCWs work .
Contribute to the planning of Communication Team projects, identifying interdependencies across projects/functions, potential impacts on wider organisation, resource requirements and building in contingency and adjustments as necessary.
Deliver against objectives, achieving quality outcomes, prioritising own workload and working to tight deadlines.
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The postholder will be required to:
Assist the Assistant Director of Communications and Head of Communications to ensure the delivery of an effective and professional communications function.
Provide line management to members of the Communications Team.
Provide strategic communications advice and support to directors and senior members of staff.
Manage the delivery of internal and external communications, in accordance with the communications strategy.
Provide strategic communications support for new services and projects.
Develop relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to proactively improve reputation.
Support the Head of Communications and Assistant Director of Communications in managing any issues following a crisis.
Demonstrate strategic thinking with the ability to be hands-on and highly focused on achieving results.
Frequently exercise judgement and make informed decisions on the appropriate communications around the delivery of DHCWs work .
Contribute to the planning of Communication Team projects, identifying interdependencies across projects/functions, potential impacts on wider organisation, resource requirements and building in contingency and adjustments as necessary.
Deliver against objectives, achieving quality outcomes, prioritising own workload and working to tight deadlines.
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
Person Specification
Qualifications and/or Knowledge
Essential
- Master's Level, Postgraduate Diploma qualification or equivalent experience in a communications role
- Degree educated or equivalent experience, skills and knowledge.
- Extensive knowledge and experience of communications, public relations, and social marketing communications techniques, approaches and procedures.
- Specialist knowledge of strategic and operational communications and public relations techniques and approaches
- Knowledge of external political environment
Desirable
- Relevant Public Relations or Marketing qualification (CIPR, CIM) or membership of a relevant professional body.
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of communication and engagement within an inhouse or agency communications team.
- Experience of being the lead communications specialist for a project or area of work.
- Experience of implementing change.
- Experience of stakeholder management.
- Significant evidence of having developed and implemented communication plans around complex issues.
- Experience of using a wide range of online and written communications and engagement channels and techniques.
- Experience of project management.
- Significant experience of advising senior leaders and Executives in an organisation.
- Experience of communicating challenging and complex topics to a range of different audiences.
- Experience of budget management or authorising the purchase of communications materials.
- Experience of handling communications during a time of organisational difficult / crisis.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Able to develop and deliver communications strategies and plans for individual services and the whole organisation.
- Able to demonstrate situations where effective leadership and management skills have been used.
- Able to influence decision makers about the communications and engagement approaches for the project.
- Excellent planning, prioritising and project management skills with experience in developing systems and processes for organisations.
- Awareness and sensitivity to external political environment.
- Able to respond to difficult, high profile situations.
- Ability to act credibly with senior managers and clinical staff at all levels.
- Ability to adapt and respond to a rapidly changing agenda and to work under pressure while managing competing priorities.
- Ability to use own initiative, organise own work, set targets, prioritise, make decisions, delegate appropriately and ensure deadlines are met.
- Able to analyse highly complex facts and situations and able to provide expert advice.
- Confident and able to challenge senior management thinking where necessary.
- Compassion, good communication and engagement, and commitment to the role and ethos of DHCW.
- Able to manage sensitive and challenging topics and situations in an appropriate manner.
- Able to demonstrate tact and diplomacy when working with others in challenging situations.
- Able to interpret and understand complex policy, decisions and identify appropriate communication solutions.
- Advanced writing skills to produce high quality, accurate content such as media statements and announcements within tight timescales.
- Able to manage own workload and deliver on deadlines while managing competing priorities and urgent requests.
- Able to travel to events and other DHCW offices as and when required
- Able to respond to frequent interruptions and deal with unpredictable work patterns arising from late requests for advice or respond to emergency situations.
- Able to respond rapidly and efficiently to ever-changing circumstances.
Desirable
- Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 3 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading and writing in Welsh.
Person Specification
Qualifications and/or Knowledge
Essential
- Master's Level, Postgraduate Diploma qualification or equivalent experience in a communications role
- Degree educated or equivalent experience, skills and knowledge.
- Extensive knowledge and experience of communications, public relations, and social marketing communications techniques, approaches and procedures.
- Specialist knowledge of strategic and operational communications and public relations techniques and approaches
- Knowledge of external political environment
Desirable
- Relevant Public Relations or Marketing qualification (CIPR, CIM) or membership of a relevant professional body.
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of communication and engagement within an inhouse or agency communications team.
- Experience of being the lead communications specialist for a project or area of work.
- Experience of implementing change.
- Experience of stakeholder management.
- Significant evidence of having developed and implemented communication plans around complex issues.
- Experience of using a wide range of online and written communications and engagement channels and techniques.
- Experience of project management.
- Significant experience of advising senior leaders and Executives in an organisation.
- Experience of communicating challenging and complex topics to a range of different audiences.
- Experience of budget management or authorising the purchase of communications materials.
- Experience of handling communications during a time of organisational difficult / crisis.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Able to develop and deliver communications strategies and plans for individual services and the whole organisation.
- Able to demonstrate situations where effective leadership and management skills have been used.
- Able to influence decision makers about the communications and engagement approaches for the project.
- Excellent planning, prioritising and project management skills with experience in developing systems and processes for organisations.
- Awareness and sensitivity to external political environment.
- Able to respond to difficult, high profile situations.
- Ability to act credibly with senior managers and clinical staff at all levels.
- Ability to adapt and respond to a rapidly changing agenda and to work under pressure while managing competing priorities.
- Ability to use own initiative, organise own work, set targets, prioritise, make decisions, delegate appropriately and ensure deadlines are met.
- Able to analyse highly complex facts and situations and able to provide expert advice.
- Confident and able to challenge senior management thinking where necessary.
- Compassion, good communication and engagement, and commitment to the role and ethos of DHCW.
- Able to manage sensitive and challenging topics and situations in an appropriate manner.
- Able to demonstrate tact and diplomacy when working with others in challenging situations.
- Able to interpret and understand complex policy, decisions and identify appropriate communication solutions.
- Advanced writing skills to produce high quality, accurate content such as media statements and announcements within tight timescales.
- Able to manage own workload and deliver on deadlines while managing competing priorities and urgent requests.
- Able to travel to events and other DHCW offices as and when required
- Able to respond to frequent interruptions and deal with unpredictable work patterns arising from late requests for advice or respond to emergency situations.
- Able to respond rapidly and efficiently to ever-changing circumstances.
Desirable
- Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 3 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading and writing in Welsh.
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).
