Head of PPI and Research Communications

Integrated Care System; London; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in London is seeking a Head of PPI and Research Communications to enhance patient engagement and communication strategies. The role requires a Master's degree and experience in healthcare policy and research methodology. Successful candidates will lead a team, manage digital channels, and ensure effective communication with patients and the public. This role offers a salary ranging from £72,921 to £83,362 annually.

Qualifications

• Experience and understanding of healthcare policy.
• Understanding of research methodology.
• Track record of engaging with diverse communities.

Responsibilities

• Develop PPIE support infrastructure for researchers.
• Manage communication and engagement channels.
• Lead a team of communications experts.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Experience with patient engagement

Digital communications proficiency

Strong negotiation skills

Education

Master's degree

Postgraduate qualification in communications

Job description

Go back University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Head of PPI and Research Communications

The closing date is 14 August 2025

UCLH, together with leading university UCL, is a centre for world-class clinical research and has one of the largest portfolios of studies. UCLH is home to one of the country's most innovative biomedical research centres (BRCs). At our BRC we have built up a good reputation for our work in communicating our research and engaging with patients and the public.

Communicating and actively involving patients and the public in research are essential to the work we do at UCLH JRO and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre and is crucial to making our research more impactful and inclusive.

We now have an exciting opportunity for 0.5FTE-job share Head of Patient and Public Involvement and Research Communications to take our work to the next level. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who has a passion for communicating research and for ensuring the meaningful and effective engagement, involvement and participation (PPIE) of patients and the public in research, to shape and influence our work.As the Head of PPIE and research communications, you will use your excellent communication and involvement skills and expertise to help senior staff and researchers to communicate, interact and work with patients and the public. You will be responsible for the strategic development of communications and PPIE, working with multiple departments and organisations to negotiate and establish partnerships to develop research communications and involvement.

Main duties of the job

The Head of PPIE and Research Communications is responsible for a PPIE support infrastructure for UCLH and UCL researchers, and for multiple communications and engagement channels including digital channels, websites, events and social media. The postholder manages a team of 4 communications and involvement experts.The successful candidate will have a track record communicating complex information in clear, engaging ways; working with individuals, groups and communities; and identifying targeted and appropriate communication channels. The post holder will need to have excellent knowledge of communications, including digital communications, print and film and photography. The postholder will need influencing and negotiation skills, experience of working on complex projects with multiple partners and be comfortable with working at pace. The successful candidate will show a willingness and experience of developing and delivering innovative approaches to communications, involvement and engagement

About us

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.

We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)

National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery

Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals

University College Hospital Grafton Way Building

Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine

University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre

The Hospital for Tropical Diseases

University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

Job responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit: Flexible working.

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

Person Specification

Requirements

• Educated to master's level
• Postgraduate Qualification in communications and engagement
• Experience and understanding of national and regional healthcare policy
• Understanding of research methodology

Ensure the risk of infection to self, colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors is minimised by:

• Being familiar with, and adhering to Trust policies and guidance on infection prevention and control.
• Completing all required training and education (both via e-learning and face to face) on infection prevention and control.
• Including infection prevention and control as an integral part of your continuous personal/professional development and included in your annual appraisal
• Taking personal responsibility so far as is reasonably practicable, in helping ensure that effective prevention and control of health care associated infections is embedded into everyday practice and applied consistently.

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.

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

£72,921 to £83,362 a yearPer annum pro rata inclusive of HCAS