Group Chief Communications & Engagement Officer

United Lincolnshire Hospitals Nhs Trust; Swineshead; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Group Chief Communications & Engagement Officer will act as the CEO's principal adviser on reputational risk, ensuring high-quality governance, clarity of accountability, and timely, accurate messaging in routine and high-pressure situations.

They will provide expert, strategic advice to the CEO, Board, and senior leadership on communications, reputation, and public affairs, safeguarding the Group's reputation, managing media relations, and handling crisis communications.

Qualifications

• Experience guiding communications strategy at executive level.
• Proven crisis and incident communications leadership.
• Strong media relations and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to work with CEO, Board and ELT.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and oversight of a comprehensive Group communications and engagement strategy aligned to organisational objectives and values.
• Act as Gold (Strategic) lead for crisis and serious incident communications, advising CEO/ELT on strategy, messaging, escalation and stakeholder handling.
• Lead the development and implementation of an external communications strategic delivery plan to manage the Trust reputation and support the delivery of the Group Strategy.
• Set the approach for two-way staff communications that strengthens engagement, clarity and trust, working closely with People/OD and clinical leadership.
• Own the strategy and governance for public engagement and formal consultation activity on service change, ensuring activity is inclusive, evidence-based and defensible and within legal framework.
• Lead the development and sustain positive relationships with the national and local media, maximise positive coverage and ensure balance in all media coverage, in order to improve public perceptions of, and promote public confidence.
• Provide visible, values-based leadership to the communications and engagement function.
• Overview of Trust status, teaching hospital designation and group integration.

Skills

Strategic communications

Crisis communications

Media relations

Stakeholder engagement

Public affairs

Job description

The Group Chief Communications & Engagement Officer will act as the CEO's principal adviser on reputational risk, ensuring high-quality governance, clarity of accountability, and timely, accurate messaging in routine and high-pressure situations. The post holder will provide expert, strategic advice to the CEO, Board, and senior leadership on communications, reputation, and public affairs. They will act as the principal communication advisor, safeguarding the Group's reputation, managing media relations, and handling crisis communications. The postholder will strengthen relationships with internal/external partners, including staff, patients, local communities, MPs, and regulatory bodies (e.g., NHS England). For the right individual, this role presents an exciting opportunity to influence and shape the future of our Group through outstanding communications, engagement and stakeholder leadership.

• Lead the development and oversight of a comprehensive Group communications and engagement strategy aligned to organisational objectives and values.
• Act as Gold (Strategic) lead for crisis and serious incident communications, advising CEO/ELT on strategy, messaging, escalation and stakeholder handling.
• Lead the development and implementation of an external communications strategic delivery plan to manage the Trust reputation and support the delivery of the Group Strategy.
• Set the approach for two-way staff communications that strengthens engagement, clarity and trust, working closely with People/OD and clinical leadership.
• Own the strategy and governance for public engagement and formal consultation activity on service change, ensuring activity is inclusive, evidence-based and defensible and within legal framework.
• Lead the development and sustain positive relationships with the national and local media, maximise positive coverage and ensure balance in all media coverage, in order to improve public perceptions of, and promote public confidence

• Provide visible, values-based leadership to the communications and engagement function.

  Lincoln Hospital is a thriving university city and with the opening of the medical school, it provides all major specialties and a 24-hour major accident and emergency service.

• United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust has been granted teaching hospital status, after demonstrating evidence to significant teaching commitment. From now on it will be known as United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Pilgrim Hospital is situated in beautiful countryside and serves the communities in the South Lincolnshire area. It provides all major specialties and a 24-hour major accident and emergency service. Grantham and District Hospital serves the communities of Grantham and the local area. It provides ambulatory paediatric and accident and emergency services. Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) have come together in a Group arrangement, with the goal of improving the care provided to patients across the county. This will not constitute a formal merger of the two organisations, but will bring the Trusts together under a single Board and Executive Leadership Team, with the goal of improving the care that is provided to patients both in the community and in hospitals across Lincolnshire. Both Trusts will retain their separate statutory names and legal obligations. The Group will be known as Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group (LCHG).