Communications and Engagement Manager

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare institution in Milton Keynes seeks a passionate Communications and Engagement Manager to lead their communications strategy and media relations. The ideal candidate will have a degree in communications or equivalent experience and a proven track record in managing complex projects. Responsibilities include developing communication plans, engaging stakeholders, and ensuring compliance with NHS standards. This role offers a salary ranging from £47,810 to £54,710, with opportunities for flexible working.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Experience in a communications role.
• Experience developing and delivering communications plans.
• Experience using a range of IT packages.

Responsibilities

• Lead Trust's communications and engagement.
• Develop and implement communications strategies.
• Manage media enquiries and reputation management.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Ability to work on own initiative

Ability to engage stakeholders

Education

Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience

Post‑graduate qualification in communications

Tools

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Excel

WordPress CMS

Job description

Go back Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Communications and Engagement Manager

Closing date 05 January 2026

Hours: 26.25, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working

Role Overview

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced, passionate, and enthusiastic communications professional to join our well‑established team. The postholder will:

• Serve as operational lead for the trust's communications and engagement.
• Advise and influence senior figures in the Trust to encourage best practice.
• Build effective relationships internally and externally to promote the work of the hospital.
• Manage proactive and reactive media relations, staff and stakeholder engagement, and campaign delivery.
• Oversee communications channels and manage junior team members.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement communications and engagement strategies aligned with Trust objectives.
• Deliver high‑quality, insight‑led communications that are measurable and impactful.
• Manage media enquiries, crisis communications, and reputation management.
• Plan and execute campaigns, events, and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Ensure compliance with NHS branding and accessibility standards.
• Degree‑level qualification or equivalent experience in communications, PR, or related field.
• Proven track record in managing complex communications projects.

We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Interview date: Week commencing 12 January 2026.

Main duties of the job

"- NHS Survey, 2024 They feel supported in their employers making reasonable adjustments to help them carry out their work, rating an 82.9%"

This is an opportunity for a talented, passionate and experienced communications professional to lead communications and engagement work; advise and influence senior figures in the Trust to encourage best practice in communications and engagement; and build effective relationships both internally and externally to promote the work of the hospital and engage the workforce.

Why Join Us?

You’ll be part of a supportive, friendly, and experienced team with opportunities to grow personally and professionally. We value creativity, collaboration, and innovation in everything we do.

About us

Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting‑edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.

As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.

We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state‑of‑the‑art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.

Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24‑bed wards - and the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.

Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital

For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes

Job responsibilities

Communications and Engagement

• Develop and design integrated communications plans to assist with delivery of Trust campaigns
• Present communications on complex issues Trust‑wide
• Ensure all communications are aligned to the Trusts communications strategy and its objectives
• Ensure effective timetabling of change communications for maximum impact and avoidance of confusion and duplication.
• Curate digital content, including updating the website using a WordPress Content Management System (CMS)
• Use a range of software for research, analysis, creation of reports, publications, presentations, online communications, social media, offline channels etc.

Public relations/Social Media

• Liaise with press and media, including developing media releases, hosting media briefings, and deciding how to respond to media issues on sensitive or complex issues
• Facilitate media and VIP activity on site
• Identify positive stories about the Trust and sell‑in to the media/share on social media
• Proactively build relationships with journalists locally and regionally.

Stakeholder management

Build relationships with key stakeholders and partners across the region. Share good news stories, best practice and encourage skill development. Position the Trust as a leader in healthcare communications locally.

Branding

• Oversee all briefings to in‑house creative resource, ensuring requests are managed appropriately and prioritised based on organisational need
• Ensure all materials published are in‑line with corporate Trust brand guidelines
• Reguarly review Trust brand guidelines to ensure they are relevant and meet the organisations requirements
• Work with external suppliers to commission and deliver campaign designs and materials where appropriate.

Planning, organisational and leadership skills

• Responsible for developing and implementing project plans in line with the strategic direction, and making recommendations for changes which may improve programme outcomes
• Prioritise workload and manage frequently changing prioritiesCo‑ordinate the input of a variety of partners
• Mentor members of the team to support their personal and professional development
• Hold a delegated budget for communication projects and events as required.

Please refer to the job description for further details.

Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience (significant experience advising an executive team on strategic communications)
• Post‑graduate communications related qualification to masters level or equivalent

Experience

• Experience in a communications role
• Experience communicating change
• Experience developing and delivering communications plans
• Experience using a wide range of IT packages including or equivalent to Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Experience managing budgets
• Brand management experience
• Experience using a content management system to update websites or an intranet
• Experience working with and advising senior figures
• Experience handling and responding to media requests
• Experience working in the NHS
• Experience presenting information to large groups of people
• Experience managing content requests

Skills

• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to work on own initiative without direct supervision
• Well‑developed organisational skills
• Excellent prioritising skills
• Ability to manage team workload
• Analytical skills
• Ability to produce formal reports

Personal and people development

• Engaging and enthusiastic
• Ability to keep calm under pressure
• Attention to detail, but with ability to keep eye on big picture
• Strong team player
• Sound judgement
• Ability to respond to difficult organisational situations
• Ability to watch and listen to implicit key messages and respond appropriately
• Able to process complex and sensitive information
• Able to mentor team members to support personal and professional development

Communication

• Ability to develop and maintain communication with people about difficult matters and/or in difficult situations, varying language and style as appropriate.
• Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options
• Ability to negotiate solutions in difficult situations
• Ability to design strategies to ensure the engagement and involvement of essential stakeholders, and adapt own style and impact to encourage positive and effective partnerships
• Ability to recognise when change is necessary and has the greatest chance of success. Including planning strategies for enabling success and successfully managing people in an environment of change

Specific requirements

• Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations

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.

Employer name

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

£47,810 to £54,710 a yearPer annum, pro rata