Communications Manager - External Affairs

NHS; Basildon; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a Communications Manager to enhance engagement with stakeholders and manage effective communication strategies. This role involves creative campaign development and collaboration across the Trust's various departments, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives. Flexibility in working arrangements may be offered to accommodate the right candidate.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level in a related area.
• Proven experience in communication strategies.
• Strong written skills for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead role in managing communication strategies for stakeholder engagement.
• Collaborate with senior managers on communications campaigns.
• Adapt and prioritize tasks in a dynamic environment.

Skills

Communication

Engagement Strategies

Creative Thinking

Stakeholder Management

Education

Degree in Communications, PR, Marketing or Journalism

Specialist Communications Qualification

Job description

Go back Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Communications Manager - External Affairs

The closing date is 11 July 2025

We're looking for an experienced communications and engagement specialist to join our busy Communications team and help us to tell our story.

You'll use your professional expertise to provide trusted communications advice, build strong relationships, and manage complex and challenging issues.

You will bring your excellent skills in managing channels developing content to meaningfully engage with colleagues at all levels and across disciplines.

Keen to learn and develop new ways of communicating, you will get creative when producing impactful campaigns that help us showcase the great work happening across our Trust and support the delivery of our strategic objectives.

No two days are ever the same in the NHS so being able to adapt is key - you'll need to be good at prioritising as well as working collaboratively as part of our close-knit team of multi-talented communication professionals.

This is a cross-site role - you will be based at one of our main hospital sites but will need to be able work flexibly across each of our sites.

Part time / Flexible working will be considered for the right applicant.

Main duties of the job

Reporting to the Head of External Affairs, the Communications Manager will play a lead role in ensuring that our stakeholders are engaged and involved in the Trust's vision, strategy and objectives, and will support managers in effective briefings, visits and opportunities to engage.

The post holder is expected to work with senior managers and clinicians, and leverage specialist external communications expertise in terms of making decisions around running communications campaigns and responding to key stakeholder groups around sensitive or complex issues.

About us

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.'

Job responsibilities

For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Other

• Ability to travel independently between hospitals sites and external venues using private or public transport

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level in related area management (communications, PR, marketing, journalism), equivalent qualification or equivalent. experience.
• Specialist communications qualification or equivalent experience and knowledge.
• Evidence of ongoing commitment to CPD

Knowledge and experience

• Experience of working as part of a busy team
• Proven experience of developing, implementing and evaluating internal communications strategies / plans / activities
• Experience of providing specialist external communications advice and making decisions on responding to communications requests on complex, sensitive or high-profile issues
• Strong written skills, evidenced throughout application form and previous experience of drafting internal articles, features and content for a range of audiences

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

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

£38,682 a yearPer Annum (Pro Rata for Part Time)