Communications Manager

Job Summary

We are looking for a creative and dynamic communications professional to join our NHS Trust Communications and Engagement Team on a fixed term basis to provide cover for maternity leave within the Team. You will be integral to the success of our Communications and Engagement Strategy in supporting our workforce and the delivery of safe, compassionate and joined-up care for patients and communities across County Durham and Darlington. We work in a fast-paced but rewarding environment with the opportunity for you to develop, design and lead a range of initiatives and campaigns.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a talented, innovative and experienced communications professional to join our friendly team. This role will ensure that the Trust's vision and strategic objectives are communicated clearly to our key stakeholders, contributing to local and regional communications and engagement priorities as well.

To succeed in this role you will be an experienced communications professional, with a good track record of managing multichannel communications activity and relevant skills and experience to demonstrate you can lead, develop and manage the delivery of integrated communications plans.

You will have the confidence to challenge and the emotional intelligence and personal style to do this in a successful way with a range of different audiences. We are looking for someone with excellent copywriting skills, expertise in building effective media relations and a good working knowledge of digital communication platforms. You will be well supported in the role and encouraged to develop new ideas to take forward communications and engagement activity for both the Trust and the Trust's Charity.

Job Description

Job responsibilities

You will be responsible for leading the delivery of high-quality campaigns, managing activity against agreed budgets, working with different teams, services and partners to produce impactful results.

Your time and project management skills will be outstanding, with the ability to work to tight deadlines and provide excellent service and advice to our Board and a range of other internal audiences.

You will be a superb communicator and possess the ability to maintain good internal and external relationships, including key partners and especially the media.

You will have vast experience of managing media relations and sourcing and writing engaging and targeted copy to produce effective coverage and support the positive management of the reputation of the organisation.

You will also have line management responsibilities.

Responsibilities

You will be responsible for leading the delivery of high-quality campaigns, managing activity against agreed budgets, working with different teams, services and partners to produce impactful results.

Your time and project management skills will be outstanding, with the ability to work to tight deadlines and provide excellent service and advice to our Board and a range of other internal audiences.

You will be a superb communicator and possess the ability to maintain good internal and external relationships, including key partners and especially the media.

You will have vast experience of managing media relations and sourcing and writing engaging and targeted copy to produce effective coverage and support the positive management of the reputation of the organisation.

You will also have line management responsibilities.

Person Specification

Skills

Essential

• Knowledge of communications and event management in complex, multi-disciplinary organisations
• Experience and ability to provide expert advice to teams on working with the media
• Experience and ability to lead on sourcing and writing engaging and accurate copy effectively targeted for the audience
• Event management experience - to ensure successful planning, management, objective setting and evaluation tools
• Able to devise, implement, manage and measure successful campaigns and events and their associated budgets
• Able to work with and understand the needs of national, regional, local and specialist media
• High level of interpersonal, communication, negotiating and presentation skills
• Strategic development of electronic communications strategy including development of the intranet, website and social media platforms
• Excellent understanding of Microsoft/Computer products
• Prioritisation skills with ability to manage a complex and varied workload to meet competing deadlines and ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines
• Able to work independently and take accountability for own actions
• Developed analytical and problem solving skills will be required for assessing options for project/task delivery, assessment of project/business plans and formulation and adjustment of plans
• Proven team worker with ability to motivate others and experience managing complex relationships effectively
• Politically aware and sensitive
• Flexible, positive, enthusiastic and committed

Desirable

• Knowledge and understanding of the NHS strategy and policy agendas including NHS structure, strategy, vision and policy
• PR / Journalism industry experience

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of a depth and breadth of experience post qualification within a range of environments which will include work in some of the following:
• agency
• in-house marketing communications
• public sector
• charitable/voluntary sector
• media
• Experience of developing, delivering and evaluating integrated and successful tactical communications programmes in a complex, multi-disciplinary organisation for both internal and external audiences
• Experience of developing training programmes and presenting communication good practice, themes and issues to internal audiences
• Experience of a strong mix of traditional and digital communication skills
• Evidence of writing stories for magazines/newsletters and feature writing appropriate to intended audience
• Experience of providing strategic communications advice to senior colleagues, persuading, influencing and negotiating where necessary and appropriate and demonstrating how effective communications can add value
• Experience of managing the politics of an organisation
• Experience of more than one of the following:
• successful project management of key communications initiatives
• managing a budget
• managing a team
• detailed research to support communication strategies

Desirable

• Experience of the development of department plans and contributing to strategy.
• Experience of working with the NHS or other complex public service organisation
• Experience in line management

Special Requirements

Essential

• The post holder must be able to drive and be able to travel across Trust sites (both in and out of standard working hours) to meet the requirements of the post and the on call rota

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree level qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience acquired through degree and professional qualification plus additional training or equivalent experience
• Evidence of continuous and relevant Professional Development

Desirable

• CIM / CIPR membership