Head of Digital Communications and Engagement

The Methodist Church in Britain; Camberley; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid working

Job summary

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a senior Communications & Engagement Lead to shape strategy, run multi-channel campaigns from planning to evaluation, and advise leaders across the organisation.

You will develop staff and build a culture of excellence, manage a dedicated team, and respond to high-profile issues while using data and audience insight to drive impact.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification or professional diploma in communications, public relations, engagement or a related discipline.
• Significant senior experience delivering communications and engagement in a complex, multi-stakeholder organisation.
• Experience leading multi-channel campaigns with accountability for outcomes.
• Crisis or issues management communications experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead multi-channel campaigns from planning through evaluation.
• Provide strategic communications advice to divisional and programme leaders.
• Support the Trust's response to high-profile issues and incidents.
• Use data and audience insight to inform planning and measure impact.
• Develop staff and foster excellence, innovation and collaboration.
• Help shape the future direction of communications and engagement.

Skills

Writing

Media relations

Stakeholder engagement

Campaign planning

Data-driven decisions

Education

Postgraduate qualification or professional diploma in communications

Job description

This senior role leads the communications and engagement work of Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, sitting within its integrated Communications and Engagement function. The post-holder plans and runs multi-channel campaigns, advises divisional and programme leaders, and supports the Trust through high-profile issues and incidents. It carries line management of a dedicated team and a remit to shape the future direction of communications across the organisation. Candidates need a postgraduate qualification or professional diploma and significant senior experience in a complex, multi-stakeholder setting.

What the job involves

• Lead multi-channel communications and engagement campaigns from planning through to evaluation
• Give strategic communications advice to divisional and programme leaders
• Support the Trust's response to high-profile issues, significant incidents and reputational challenges
• Drive evidence-based communications through insight, measurement and audience understanding
• Develop communications professionals and build a culture of excellence, innovation and collaboration
• Help shape the future direction of communications and engagement across the organisation

What’s required

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification or professional diploma in communications, public relations, engagement or a related discipline

Experience

• Significant senior experience delivering communications and engagement in a complex, multi-stakeholder organisation
• Demonstrable experience leading and owning complex, multi-channel campaigns or programmes, with accountability for outcomes
• Experience contributing to crisis or issues management communications, including drafting holding positions
• Experience managing and developing others and building team capability and professional standards
• Experience using data and audience insight to inform planning and evaluate impact

Skills & knowledge

• Strong practitioner skills across writing, media relations, stakeholder engagement and campaign planning
• Confident use 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
• Experience with social media management, digital content production or channel analytics

Nice to have

• Professional body membership and/or accreditation, such as CIPR, PRCA or equivalent
• 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
• Understanding of behaviour change methodologies and their use in communications planning
• Familiarity with NHS communications frameworks, regulatory environment or public sector accountability structures

What’s offered

• Flexible working arrangements such as adjusted hours, part-time or hybrid working