Head of Communications (Maternity Cover)

Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority; City Of London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A public health regulatory body in London seeks a Head of Communications to oversee all communications activities. This role involves leading a team, managing media relations, and developing communication strategies that support corporate objectives. Strong experience in team leadership, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement is essential. The role is office-based with flexible hybrid options, targeting candidates who can start mid-February 2026.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Pension arrangements

Hybrid working options

Qualifications

• Strong track record of managing and developing teams.
• Experience of managing budgets and performance reporting.
• Experience using social media for outreach.
• Proficient in creating communication strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of communications strategies.
• Manage the communications team and ensure effective delivery.
• Engage with external stakeholders and media.
• Oversee budget and project management.

Skills

Team management

Strategic thinking

Media relations

Stakeholder engagement

Patient engagement

Budget management

Education

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Job description

Head of Communications (Maternity Cover)

The HFEA is the UK's independent regulator overseeing safe and appropriate practice in fertility treatment and embryo research. We license and monitor clinics carrying out IVF, donor insemination, and human embryo research.

We are looking for an innovative and strategic Head of Communications to lead our high-profile work. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a fascinating area of public health, bringing together media and social media experience, patient facing and clinic communications. You will oversee a team of five and be expected to take a leadership role on all communications activities frequently reporting to the Authority (the Board) and Senior Management Team.

The start date will be no earlier than mid February 2026.

Main duties of the job

This role would suit somebody who is proactive, can work effectively as part of a team and can balance competing priorities at the same time as being able to handle communications issues or crises as they arise. You should be a credible leader and be able to effectively manage a broad portfolio of responsibilities, with proven experience in overseeing a communications team that provides effective internal and external communications, media relations, public affairs, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement. You should be an excellent team leader and be able to build strong and supportive working relationships with senior leaders. You should also have experience of developing and delivering communications and engagement strategies which support corporate aims. You will be highly collaborative; you will work closely with the senior team, the Chair, the Authority and staff so that they get the support and advice they need to carry out their functions effectively.

Closing date: Midnight, 2 December 2025 (we reserve the right to close this role early, should we receive sufficient applications. You are therefore advised to apply for this role when you see it and do not wait for the closing date.

To progress this application, you will need to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK. We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

No agency contact please we will not be considering agency CVs.

Interview date: Monday 15 December 2025 (in person @ Redman Place)

About us

The HFEA is the UK's independent regulator overseeing safe and appropriate practice infertility treatment and embryo research. We license and monitor clinics carrying out IVF, donor insemination, and human embryo research.

This post is offered as either office based (in which case you will need to attend the office at least one day per week) or home based (in which case office attendance will be specified by your line manager based on business need). Our office is in Stratford, east London, in attractive new premises on the edge of the Olympic Park, alongside several other health Arms Length Bodies. In addition to flexibility and hybrid working we offer generous annual leave and pension arrangements.

The HFEA is a member of the Community Race and Work Charter and the Disability Confident Charter. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and supportive working environment that is free from any form of discrimination. We recognise that there are real benefits of having a diverse community of staff and aim for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society. Additionally, we adopt a culture that hopes to attract and retain talented individuals that want to work with us.

In November 2024, the HFEA was awarded People Insight's Outstanding Workplace Award 2024.

Job responsibilities

The Head of Communications plays a key role in delivering the HFEA's strategic objectives and core statutory responsibilities. Working closely with other senior colleagues, you will be responsible for providing strategic leadership to the communications team that provides effective internal and external communications, media relations, public affairs, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement support to the HFEA. You will bring together under your leadership different functions including website management and patient engagement and will ensure appropriate out-of-hours cover for media and communications.

You will be working to develop and enhance the overarching external engagement and communications strategy including social media.

The HFEA has several key stakeholders including prospective and current patients and their partners, donors and donor conceived people, professional staff, licensed clinics, researchers, other regulators and the DHSC as our sponsor department, the wider health and regulatory field and patient support groups, charities and campaigning organisations. We have a statutory duty to provide information.

We want to ensure our reach is as wide as it can be using our website, social media channels, speaking opportunities, stakeholder engagement and media work.

You will be a strategist and innovator. You will lead the development and delivery of communications and engagement strategies which support the corporate aims. You will be highly collaborative; you will work closely with the senior team, the Chair, the Authority and staff so that they get the support and advice they need to carry out their functions effectively. You will play a key role in supporting collaboration and innovation across the organisation and the media. As a small organisation you will need to balance the strategic with rolling up your sleeves and getting stuck in. This means you will be expected to be across teams internally and develop strong relationships internally and externally.

Key responsibilities

1. To lead the development and implementation of communications, stakeholder, media and social media strategies
2. To oversee delivery of communications outputs, including media relations, online publications (data reports and other corporate content), social media content, website updates and development and ensure they are at a high level and have impact
3. To work with a range of colleagues to ensure that external stakeholders are informed, engaged and have good relationships with the HFEA
4. To lead and manage the provision of communications advice to the Chair of the Authority and senior HFEA staff
5. To represent the Authority in public, including in the media, when required and support an out of hours press office function
6. To contribute to the strategic and business planning work of the Authority
7. To lead a team, equipping staff, through appraisal and support, with the confidence and skills to fulfil their tasks to achieve stretching levels of performance. To provide development opportunities to maintain their growth and, through the revision and review of performance measurement and management processes.
8. To manage allocated budgets, contracts and projects, as required and agreed with line-manager
9. Be an effective team leader, member of the Strategy and Corporate Affairs directorate leadership team and wider Corporate Management Group.

Person Specification

Experience

• A strong track record of managing and developing teams, including experience of leading, empowering and motivating teams to promote a high-performance culture
• Experience of managing budgets, operational risk and performance reporting
• Experience of using social media to further reach and audience
• Strategic thinker, with significant experience of working at a senior level, skilled in devising and implementing successful communication strategies and plans, and the use of the various channels for effectiveness
• Experience of patient engagement
• Experience of managing a media relations function in a high profile area
• Experience of engagement with clinical or scientific audiences
• Experience in government communications

Qualifications

• First-hand knowledge of a range of communication functions including media, digital communications and stakeholder relations.
• A strong track record in stakeholder relations and/or patient engagement
• Knowledge of translating complex information and/or data into communications plans and products for a lay audience.
• Ability to work under pressure and prioritise effectively, making reasoned judgements and decisions
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues with different areas of expertise
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills and an ability to present clearly to internal and external audiences including clinic staff, patients and the media.
• Demonstrable ability to communicate and influence a wide range of stakeholders, including at a senior level
• Knowledge of healthcare in the public, charity or private sector
• Knowledge of regulatory activities
• Understanding of government and Parliament.

Employer name

Director of Strategy & Corporate Affairs