Communications and Engagement Specialist - Bank Role

NHS; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Milton Keynes is seeking an experienced Communications and Engagement Specialist to lead internal communications and enhance employee engagement. The successful candidate will manage the development of a new intranet site, create newsletters, and implement communication strategies that support staff engagement. Ideal applicants have strong communication skills, knowledge of engagement practices, and a degree-level qualification. This part-time role offers flexible working within a supportive team environment.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Strong background in internal communications and engagement techniques.
• Experience using content management systems and digital platforms.
• Proven experience in managing communications projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead internal communications initiatives and engagement programmes.
• Create content for newsletters and strategic campaigns.
• Support the launch and embedding of a new intranet platform.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Organizational skills

Ability to influence senior stakeholders

Experience in health or public sector environment

Education

Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience in communications, PR

Tools

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Excel

Adobe InDesign

Photoshop

Job description

Go back Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Communications and Engagement Specialist - Bank Role

Closing date is 13 January 2026

Communications and Engagement Lead/Specialist

Band B6

Hours: 0.6 FTE (22.5 hours) 0.6 FTE for 12 weeks all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working

This is an exciting temporary (12 week), part‑time opportunity for an experienced internal communications professional to join the MKUH team. We are seeking an individual with experience in building and launching intranet sites, ideally using the VerseOne platform.

Key Responsibilities

• Upload content to the new VerseOne intranet platform
• Build highly‑engaging areas for strategic priorities and campaigns
• Develop newsletters with subscription options
• Set up a continual newsflow mechanic
• Set up a corporate calendar
• Support the launch and embedding of the new intranet
• Train others members of the team to carry on the work after the contract period ends
• Degree‑level qualification or equivalent experience in communications, PR, or related field
• Proven track record in managing complex communications projects
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and work under pressure
• Experience in health or public sector environment is desirable

We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role

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%

The post‑holder will be the Trust's Internal Communications lead and deliver internal communications and engagement programmes that inform, inspire and engage colleagues of Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

The role will support the effective dissemination of information to colleagues across the Trust, at an all‑audience and niche audience level. The post‑holder will make an important contribution to improving and maintaining positive colleague sentiment, engagement, behaviour and, ultimately, retention.

The post‑holder will work as part of a dedicated communications and engagement team.

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

Strategy, Planning and Evaluation

Inform a strategic framework that will guide internal communications and engagement activity, and bring Trust vision and values to life

Co‑create annual KPIs for internal communications and engagement, and work towards achieving them

Own the annual internal communications and engagement calendar, planning ahead and keeping timings on track. This calendar will reflect large‑scale planned campaigns and tactical BAU/OpComms.

Stay abreast of trends and opportunities in the internal communications and engagement space, and recommend improvements and innovations where relevant.

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 via toolkits and templates, so that colleagues can produce their own content where appropriate.

Respond to a high volume daily enquiries and requests received via the communications team inbox.

Respond to relevant briefs in a timely manner with creative, hardworking proposals that you will deliver entirely or in collaboration with colleagues.

Provide consultancy and support to Executive Directors and other Trust leadership in order to ensure key messages are delivered and objectives met.

Channel Ownership and Content Creation

Own and optimise all internal communications channels, and recommend new channels or changes where needed.

Identify and produce or commission a strong pipeline of inspiring content/story themes that will inform, inspire and engage colleagues e.g. raising awareness and understanding amongst all professions, staff successes, innovations, best practices, network initiatives, national awareness dates, Royal College initiatives etc.

Please refer to the job description for further details.

Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

• 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
• Understanding and experience of managing brand guidelines and house style

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

• 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 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

Personal and people development

• 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

• Efficient at managing high volumes of email and other communications from both internal and external stakeholders
• 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
• 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

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