Head of Communications and Engagement - New Hospital Programme

FHFT Education Academy; Ascot; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Head of Communications and Engagement to lead the integrated function. The role focuses on scoping, commissioning and evaluating campaigns, with accountability for outcomes across staff, patients, stakeholders and the public.

The post requires senior communications leadership within a complex public sector setting, with responsibility for crisis and change communications, data-informed planning, and external supplier management.

Qualifications

• Post-graduate qualification or professional diploma in communications, public relations, engagement or a related discipline.
• Active and evidenced commitment to continuous professional development in communications, engagement, leadership or a related field.
• Professional body membership and/or accreditation (e.g. CIPR, PRCA or equivalent).
• Significant senior experience delivering communications and engagement in a complex, multi-stakeholder organisation.
• Demonstrable experience leading and owning complex, multi-channel campaigns or programmes.

Responsibilities

• Lead senior communications and engagement within the integrated function, with cross-functional collaboration as needed.
• Scope and commission specialist or surge support within agreed parameters with Deputy/Director approval.
• Work closely with Deputy Director on prioritisation, governance and performance.
• Maintain direct access to the Director of Communications and Engagement as required.

Skills

Senior leadership

Campaign management

Stakeholder engagement

Crisis communications

Data-driven planning

Digital communications

Media relations

Budget management

NHS experience

Education

Post-graduate qualification or professional diploma in communications, public relations, engagement or a related discipline.

Active and evidenced commitment to continuous professional development in communications, engagement, leadership or a related field.

Professional body membership and/or accreditation (e.g. CIPR, PRCA or equivalent).

Job description

Head of Communications and Engagement - New Hospital Programme

NHS AfC: Band 8a

Main area Communications and Engagement Grade NHS AfC: Band 8a Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 151-KS027

Site Greenwood Offices Town Ascot Salary £59,798 - £67,020 per annum inclusive of HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 29/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 12/11/2026

Job overview

Be part of something extraordinary.

Frimley Park Hospital is being reimagined as part of one of the UK’s most ambitious healthcare projects. This isn't just a rebuild - it’s a revolution in care, sustainability, and innovation.

We’re creating a digitally enabled, future-proof hospital that puts patients and staff first, with cutting-edge facilities, green spaces, and flexible design.

We are seeking an experienced Head of Communications and Engagement to work within the integrated Communications and Engagement function, owning specific campaigns and programmes of work from scoping through to evaluation.

Frimley Health is a large, complex organisation with a workforce of approximately 14,000 people, a major capital programme of national significance and a significant transformation agenda underway.

The Head of Communications and Engagement plays a meaningful role in telling that story to staff, patients, stakeholders and the public and in ensuring the Trust's communications and engagement activity is equal to the demands placed on it.

Join us and help shape the future of healthcare. Leave a legacy that lasts.

Main duties of the job

• Senior communications and engagement leader working within the integrated Communications and Engagement function, with the capability and expectation to work across the wider function as organisational need requires.
• Responsible for scoping and commissioning specialist or surge support within agreed parameters and with Deputy Director and/or Director approval.
• Works closely with the Deputy Director of Communications and Engagement on prioritisation, campaign governance and performance.
• Operates with direct access to the Director of Communications and Engagement as required.

Working for our organisation

Why Join Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust?

At Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, our people are at the heart of everything we do.

As a Disability Confident Employer and recipient of the Gold Award in the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme, we actively champion equality, diversity and inclusion, creating opportunities for people from all backgrounds to build rewarding careers within the NHS.

We also recognise the importance of a healthy work-life balance. By supporting flexible working arrangements wherever possible, we enable our colleagues to balance their professional and personal commitments while continuing to deliver outstanding care to our patients. Whether flexibility means adjusted hours, part-time working, hybrid arrangements or alternative working patterns, we work in partnership with our staff to meet both individual and service needs.

Join Us
Whether you're at the start of your career or looking for your next challenge, Frimley Health offers the opportunity to be part of a inclusive, forward-thinking organisation that is committed to excellence, innovation and compassionate care. Together, we can shape the future of healthcare and make a real difference to the lives of the communities we serve.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please find attached the job description and person specification for detailed information on the main responsibilities.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Post-graduate qualification or professional diploma in communications, public relations, engagement or a related discipline.
• Active and evidenced commitment to continuous professional development in communications, engagement, leadership or a related field.
• Professional body membership and/or accreditation (e.g. CIPR, PRCA or equivalent).

Experience

• Significant senior experience delivering communications and engagement in a complex, multi-stakeholder organisation.
• Demonstrable experience leading and owning complex, multi-channel communications and engagement campaigns or programmes, with accountability for outcomes.
• Experience providing communications counsel to senior leaders and navigating politically sensitive
• Demonstrated experience contributing to crisis or issues management communications, including drafting holding positions and managing fast-moving situations.
• Experience managing and developing others, with evidence of building team capability and professional standards.
• Experience using data and audience insight to inform planning and evaluate impact.
• NHS, public sector or similarly regulated communications environment experience.
• Experience commissioning and managing external communications or creative support.
• Experience delivering communications to support organisational change, staff engagement or culture development.

Skills and Knowledge

• Strong practitioner skills across the core communications disciplines: writing, media relations, stakeholder engagement and campaign planning.
• Ability to plan and manage multiple concurrent workstreams with discipline and clear prioritisation.
• Confident user of data and insight to set objectives, track performance and make evidence-based decisions.
• Sound understanding of digital communications channels, content formats and audience behaviour.
• Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively for a range of audiences and formats, including executive communications, media statements and staff-facing content.
• Skilled at building effective working relationships with senior stakeholders, including the ability to challenge and advise with confidence.
• Strong understanding of reputational risk and the ability to identify and escalation issues proactively.
• Experience with social media management, digital content production or channel analytics.
• Competence in scoping, commissioning and managing external communications and creative partners, with sound financial management skills sufficient to manage delegated budgets effectively.
• Understanding of behaviour change methodologies and their application in communications planning.
• Familiarity with NHS communications frameworks, regulatory environment or public sector accountability structures.

Special Requirements

• Ability and willingness to work flexibly across Trust sites, including Frimley Park, Wexham Park and Heatherwood.
• Availability to respond outside of standard working hours during communications crises, significant incidents or major programme milestones.
• Willingness to be contactable and deployable at short notice when organisational circumstances require.

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) is proud of its strong reputation, record of achievement and ambition for the future. We serve a population of over 900,000 people across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and South Buckinghamshire, and remain committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.

Our new organisational strategy - FHFT 2030 - sets out our ambition to be the best place to receive care and the best place to work in the NHS. Underpinned by our Trust values - Committed to Excellence, Working Together, Facing the Future, and being a modern, compassionate, Healthcare Organisation – we are creating a culture where our people can thrive and patients always come first.

We continue to invest heavily in our services and facilities. This includes the development of a new hospital at Frimley Park, major expansion of diagnostics and inpatient capacity, and a continuous transformation of services across our sites. We have already delivered a brand-new £100m state-of-the-art Heatherwood Hospital, a £49m Emergency Assessment Centre at Wexham Park, and a £10m upgrade to maternity services.

We are also committed to sustainability and the NHS Net Zero ambition. Our new hospital and estate developments are being designed to be environmentally responsible, energy efficient, and future-proofed, featuring on-site renewables energy and intelligent energy systems. Thorough our green plan, we are embedding sustainable practices across all areas of care and operations, ensuring we reduce our environmental impact while improving population health and wellbeing. Our staff are key to helps us deliver on our ambition and to ensure sustainability is a core component of care delivery and our operations.

Alongside estates’ investments, we are embedding a strong focus on digital innovation and quality improvement. Our electronic patient record (Epic), launched in 2024, is already enabling safer, more connected, and more effective care for patients, while giving staff the tools they need to do their best work. Our electronic patient record also supports safe and effective digitised care pathways, savings time and carbon, whilst delivering excellent quality of care.

Everything we do is guided by our values, shaping how we care for patients, support colleagues, and build a sustainable future for healthcare together.