Head of Strategic Communications

UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS; Leeds; On-site; GBP 61,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational institution is seeking a Head of Strategic Communications to lead the NIHR's strategic communications and audience engagement efforts. This exciting role combines creativity with an evidence-based approach to enhance the visibility of health and care research. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in strategic communications, with experience in leading impactful campaigns and collaborating with senior stakeholders. The position offers a hybrid working model and encompasses some national travel responsibilities.

Benefits

26 days holiday plus approximately 16 bank holidays

Generous pension scheme

Discounted staff membership at campus gym

Access to personal development courses

On-site childcare and shopping discounts

Qualifications

• Proven experience of leading transformational strategic communications at a senior level.
• Expertise in delivering integrated communications plans involving diverse stakeholders.
• Willingness to undertake national travel as required.

Responsibilities

• Lead NIHR's approach to integrated strategic communications.
• Develop and implement NIHR communication planning and audience strategy.
• Work collaboratively with stakeholders across government and health sectors.

Skills

Leading strategic communications

Experience with senior stakeholders

Integrated communications planning

Creative campaign development

Job description

Head of Strategic Communications

University of Leeds

Location : Queen Street in Leeds or Bishopsgate in London

Salary : £61,759 to £73,708 p.a. pro rata. London weighting £5,217 p.a pro rata (if applicable)

Working Pattern : We work in a hybrid way with an expectation that all RDNCC staff spend at least 40% of their time in the office. We are also open to discussing other flexible working arrangements.

Do you want to be a pivotal part of an incredible organisation powering health and care research? Do you have experience of leading transformational strategic communications at a senior level? Are you confident working with senior stakeholders across government, and health and a range of other sectors?

This is truly an exciting time to be joining the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) communications function. As Head of Strategic Communications, you will lead NIHR's evolving approach to integrated and powerful strategic communications – critical to the new NIHR Communications Strategy. You will be responsible for leading key elements of the NIHR Communications Strategy, including overall NIHR communications planning, monitoring and evaluation, and the creation and delivery of a NIHR audience plan.

You will be a senior communications strategist with specialist expertise, knowledge and professional credibility in leading integrated communications plans – including creative campaigns – that shift understanding, attitudes and behaviours and build engagement in health and care research. This includes diverse people and communities across the nation, as well as stakeholders in the NHS and broader health and social care system.

This role requires some national travel.

The RDNCC is one of a number of contracts through which Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) research funding is distributed. The DHSC is currently undertaking a tender process to determine where some functions within these contracts will be hosted. It is expected that this role, and others within the same RDNCC function, will need to move to a new employing organisation from the start date of the new DHSC contract (expected to be from April 2027). This change of employment would be managed under a ‘TUPE' process.

What we offer in return

• 26 days holiday plus approx.16 Bank Holidays / days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – That's 42 days a year!
• Generous pension scheme plus life assurance– the University contributes 14.5% of salary
• Health and Wellbeing : Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls
• Personal Development : Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team
• All Faculty of Medicine and Health staff are entitled to ten days staff development per year (pro rata). Please speak to your line manager about how you can utilise these
• Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes are also available

And much more!

If you are looking for a role that will lead a transformative communications strategy and have the vision, expertise, and leadership to deliver impactful, integrated communications at a national level, apply today.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact : Jennifer Walters, Director of Communications, email : [e-mail]

Application process

As part of the RDNCC's commitment to inclusion and equity of opportunity, our shortlisting stage is undertaken with names removed from job applications. Please do not include identifiable information in uploaded documents, file names or free text fields (e.g., names, photos, contact details) other than those specifically requested in the personal details section of the application form.