Head of Communications and Engagement (Interim)

NHS; Wigan; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare provider in Wigan is seeking an Interim Head of Communications and Engagement to lead their communications team. This pivotal role will develop strategies to enhance staff and community engagement while managing internal and external communications. The successful candidate will have a proven track record in compassionate leadership and media management, enabling them to drive innovative communications during a transformative period. This is a temporary position with the potential for permanence, offering a salary between £55,690 and £62,682 per annum.

Benefits

Be part of a caring team

Opportunity to shape communication strategies

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Experience of leading successful communications department.
• Extensive experience in communications and engagement planning.
• Ability to plan and implement effective communications campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire the communications team.
• Develop and deliver strategies for staff and community engagement.
• Manage internal and external communications.

Skills

Compassionate leadership

Media management

Strategic communications

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Professional qualification related to communications

Job description

Go back Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Head of Communications and Engagement (Interim)

The closing date is 07 January 2026

An exciting opportunity to lead our talented communications team and Trust on our journey to Outstanding. WWL is proud to serve the Wigan Borough community and we are seeking an innovative thinker and compassionate leader to join us as Interim Head of Communications and Engagement for a one-year period. This is a pivotal role where you will:

• Lead and inspire a skilled communications and engagement team.
• Develop and deliver strategies that strengthen staff, patient, and community engagement.
• Shape the future of communications at WWL, exploring new approaches and technologies - including how AI can enhance our work.
• Champion our values, ensuring every message reflects our commitment to care, inclusion, and excellence

Interested? Apply now and help us tell the story of WWL as we strive for Outstanding and making a difference. Please note that this vacancy is subject to Agenda for Change banding and the official banding has not yet been confirmed. NHS Employees should secure their manager's agreement for a secondment arrangement ideally before applying, as this will be a condition of any offer made. This vacancy is offered on a fixed term basis to provide temporary cover and maintain service continuity during staff absences. The contract is for 12 months. Whilst the temporary post is advertised on an acting / secondment basis there is the potential that this post may become permanent in the future.

Main duties of the job

The Interim Head of Communications and Engagement will play an important role in helping to develop and improve the development and delivery of proactive, innovative and professionally led internal and external communications.

The Head of Communications and Engagement will compassionately lead a small team of specialists who will deliver a measurable programme of activity to all audiences across a range of communications channels in line with the departmental and Trust objectives.

What we're looking for:

• A proven compassionate leader with experience in communications, strong media management, someone who loves developing and implementing a great comms and engagement plan.
• Someone who is creative, strategic, and passionate about making a difference.
• A collaborative professional who takes pride in serving the Wigan Borough community and focused on effectively engaging with stakeholders.

Why join us?

• Be part of a Trust that values innovation, compassion, and teamwork.
• Help shape our communications approach during a transformative period.
• Work with a talented, supportive team committed to delivering outstanding care.

About us

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that "happy staff, makes for happy patients". We have a recognised track record in staff engagement, and living our values'.

WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.

At WWL we value the benefits a rich and diverse workforce brings to our community and therefore welcome applications from all sections of society.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key results from the job holder

Including what has been outlined above, the Interim Head of Communications and Engagement will line manage the communications team and will be expected to ensure the team delivers the full aims and objectives of the service, including:

Implementing the Trust narrative/messages/positioning/branding

Assisting with reputational management

Internal communications and engagement

External communications

Media relations

Digital communications

Duties and Responsibilities

The Communication and Engagement Department supports the Trust by focusing its efforts on:

Changing behaviours by encouraging people to lead healthier and safer lives

Operational effectiveness of services by informing people about access and availability and involving them in service re-design. Helping to fulfil obligations to involve, engage or consult

Reputation of the organisation and fulfilling statutory warning and informing duties

Equitably explaining policies, decisions, programmes and direction to internal audiences to create commitment, understanding, buy-in and advocacy.

Activity is delivered through four main disciplines:

Marketing and campaigns raise awareness of policies, programmes or activity; influences attitudes and behaviour and supports the development and delivery of services. These are frequently developed and delivered in partnership with other organisations across Wigan or Greater Manchester.

Internal communications and staff engagement engages staff by connecting them and creating commitment to organisational objectives; understanding evolving aims and changing culture; creating belonging to the organisation and support for delivering priorities; being aware of the changing environment. Deliverables include managing the intranet, producing newsletters, information and events for staff.

Media, digital and social media proactive and reactive handling of media; relationship management; creation of content, insight and audience evaluation; and management of channel output including the website, social media channels and other means of communication.

External affairs and public engagement managing critical stakeholder relationships, listening to gather insight and intelligence; horizon scanning; two-way dialogue to develop and explain policies, programmes and approaches; involving audiences in co-creation, consulting on options for change.

Planning and Organisational Duties

Internal

Delivery of a strategic, two-way internal communications approach that keeps staff engaged and informed. The approach will be aimed at helping staff to feel valued, involved and with a shared understanding of the Trusts mission, vision, values and goals.

Support a review of the effectiveness of internal channels and protocols.

Provide communication advice to managers and employees

Develop and oversee delivery of an internal communications programme.

Assist with developing communication links and strong relationships are developed with

all service divisions. Design systems to ensure each division has an equal opportunity to develop its internal and external profile and promote services.

External

Ensure delivery of the Trust communications strategy is implemented from the routine through to the most demanding of situations where information is highly complex, sensitive or contentious.

Assist with advising on media strategy and handling in order to ensure positive outcomes for the Trust. To include ensuring that the Trusts views are appropriately represented at all times, by overseeing press releases, interviews, consultation responses, statements and briefings, and arranging media training for key individuals.

Support the implementation of an issues and crisis management strategy. Lead on communications for responding to all crises or serious incidents including major incident.

Communications and Key Working Relationships

Internally

Director of Communications and Stakeholder Management

Communications Team

Chief Executive & Executive Directors

Senior Management Team

Resilience, Fundraising, Legal & Patient Relations Teams

Patient Engagement & Service Transformation Teams

Staff Experience & Staff Side

All Trust staff

Externally

Media outlets and journalists (local, regional, national, and PR agencies)

MPs and public sector partners (Wigan Borough Council)

Health and social care organisations (including NHS GM, NHS England, CQC)

Patients, carers, and the public

Voluntary, third sector, and other relevant bodies

Responsibility for Finance

• To be authorised signatory and support the Director of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement to manage the communications budget as directed in line with Trust Standing Financial Instructions and with efficiency and consideration of value for money

Manage budget review monthly spend, report, deliver cost savings and deliver a balanced budget.

• To oversee the purchase, ordering and stock control of any specific equipment and supplies required to deliver communications projects/campaigns and events
• To ensure value for money from the use of external suppliers through liaison with Procurement as required
• Negotiate with TV and film companies regarding contracts and access fees for filming production, working closely with Trust security and estates teams when required

Responsibility for Human Resources

Play an active part in planning and delivering the work of the communications team and the line management of the Senior Communications Officers and Communications Officer roles.

• Undertaking 1:1s and appraisals for direct reports to ensure optimum individual and team working
• Dealing with first line management of sickness, grievances and disciplinary matters
• Attending and maintaining compliance and ensure the Communications Team comply with the Trust mandatory training sessions
• Maintain professional training and educational portfolio in accordance with Trust and Departmental priorities as part of ongoing professional development plan

Responsibility for Health & Safety

Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.

Responsibility for Teaching

Coach, support and provide expert advice and guidance on the strategic and tactical delivery of communications and media management across the organisation.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of leading successful communications department
• Experience of media management
• Experience of leading and implementing communications campaigns
• Extensive experience in communications and engagement planning
• Professional qualification - related

Desirable

• NHS / Public Sector Communications

Communications

Essential

• Expert knowledge of communications principles, channels, and best practice.

Desirable

• Knowledge of NHS policy and governance frameworks.

Creative Communications

Essential

• Ability to plan and implement effective communications campaigns

Skills

Essential

• Ability to organise and deliver high profile and engaging events
• Excellent event planning and management

Effective leadership engagement style

Essential

• Presentation skills
• Ability to be responsive to complex scenarios

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Albert Edward Infirmary - WWL

Wigan Lane

Wigan

W1 2NN

Employer's website

http://www.wwl.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum, pro rata