Senior Communication and Engagement Officer

NHS; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Cardiff seeks a Senior Communication and Engagement Officer to manage various communication projects. The role involves supporting strategic messaging, media relations, and stakeholder engagement. Candidates should have a degree in communication or related fields, with strong media handling and crisis response skills. The ability to speak Welsh is desirable. This position offers an exciting opportunity to shape healthcare communication in the community.

Qualifications

• Experience in partnership with NHS organisations.
• Practical experience of managing communications during incidents.
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Support the Head of Communications and Engagement.
• Represent the Head at Executive Board meetings.
• Establish key messages to safeguard Health Board reputation.

Skills

Communication studies

Public relations

Crisis response communications

Media handling skills

Creative media application

Education

Degree or equivalent Postgraduate diploma in communication studies and/or public relations and/or marketing/ and/or journalism

Job description

Go back Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

Senior Communication and Engagement Officer

The closing date is 28 October 2025

The Communication and Engagement Team of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is seeking an experienced and skilled communications and engagement professional for the following role:

Senior Communications and Engagement Officer - This position will provide the successful candidate with an exciting opportunity to work on a wide range of interesting projects, alongside a professional team of Communication and Engagement and Digital Services colleagues. This is an excellent opportunity for the right candidate to support the provision of communication and engagement services, relating to the provision of current and future healthcare across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

The post-holder will be required to deliver a high standard of effective communications and have knowledge of social marketing; modern methods of digital communication and engagement will be essential. Excellent relationships with partner organisations will also be fundamental to the role.

Main duties of the job

• Support the Head of Communications and Engagement in the provision of communications and engagement services within Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
• Represent the Head of Communications and Engagement at Executive Board meetings and meetings with other members of senior management - offering strategic advice over appropriate responses to lines of enquiry and working with senior managers to develop and issue media messages.
• Support the Head of Communications and the Executive Board within the organisation to share corporate objectives and to actively promote the University Health Board values and services amongst the internal workforce, service users, external partners and stakeholders. To participate in an out-of-hours on-call rota.
• Have a vital role in establishing and communicating key messages to safeguard the University Health Board reputation, limit adverse publicity and promote a positive image to increase public and stakeholder understanding of the University Health Board's objectives and services.
• Support any change programmes to existing University Health Board service provision, and any supporting public consultation.
• Introduce, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the University Health Board external profile amongst media and key stakeholders, and making improvements where appropriate.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this role; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

About us

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is one of the largest Integrated Health Boards in the UK, employing over 15,000 staff, providing over 100 specialist services. Working across 6 hospital sites, we have a diverse range of career opportunities to offer. Serving around 500,000 people living in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, we are focussed on the health and care needs of our local population whilst working with our partners to develop regional services.

Our mission is "Caring for People, Keeping People Well" and our vision is that every person's chance of leading a healthy life should be equal. As an organisation we are unashamedly ambitious for our population's health, rising to the challenges of today and tomorrow through our 10-year strategy, Shaping our Future Wellbeing. We are contributing to a healthier Wales with great emphasis placed on innovation and improvement, learning from around the world and leading the way in clinical research. Partnership working is strong at Cardiff and Vale, and we work closely with our staff and our community.

Cardiff, the thriving Welsh capital, is a fantastic city to live and work in with an abundance of sports, arts and cultural attractions. Situated to the west of Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan offers a combination of beautiful Welsh countryside and a dramatic natural coastline. Whether city life or rural living, Cardiff and the Vale offers the best of both worlds.

Job responsibilities

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent Postgraduate diploma in communication studies and/or public relations and/or marketing/ and/or journalism

Knowledge and Skills

• Experience of, and evidence of, working in partnership with NHS organisations, broader public services and the third sector at all levels. Practical experience of crisis response communications, and managing internal and external relationships in the event of outbreaks and incidents.

Knowledge and Skills

• Exceptional media handling skills with the local, national and specialist media Communicate effectively including excellent spoken and written skills

Knowledge and Skills

• Able to apply creativity and innovation to develop their approach to new and traditional media, based on new concepts, insights or analysis. A wide variety of skills that leverage traditional, digital and social media to inform, instruct and improve.

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.