Senior Communications and Public Affairs Officer

NHS; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 33,000; Full time

Job summary

A health and care organization in Wales is seeking a Senior Communications and Public Affairs Officer to engage with political parties, manage media relations, and support public affairs initiatives. The ideal candidate has strong communication skills and experience in media roles, with a good understanding of Welsh legislative processes. This position offers a competitive salary and flexible working patterns.

Qualifications

• Experience of being in a communication/media role or public affairs at Senior Officer level.
• Good knowledge of Welsh Government legislative processes and the Senedd.
• Experience of delivering successful media and public affairs engagement plans.
• Strong writing skills for political and media audiences under tight deadlines.
• Strong understanding of the Welsh media and relationships with journalists.

Responsibilities

• Engage with political parties and liaise with journalists.
• Write and distribute media releases and content for communications channels.
• Monitor media and political developments for proactive publicity.
• Develop bespoke public affairs support for members.
• Support the Assistant Director with agenda items and papers.

Skills

Experience in a communication/media role

Knowledge of Welsh Government legislative processes

Strong writing skills

Understanding of the Welsh media

Experience with CMS and email marketing

Job description

Job summary

Are you passionate about communications, public affairs, and making a difference to health and care across Wales? The Welsh NHS Confederation is seeking a talented Senior Communications and Public Affairs Officer to join our dynamic External Affairs team and support the organisations media and political connections.

Main duties of the job

As our Senior Communications and Public Affairs Officer, you will:

• Engage with political parties, including Members of the Senedd and Members of Parliament, and liaise with journalists.
• Write and distribute media releases, statements, opinion pieces, and briefings and create content for our communications channels, including the website and social media.
• Monitor media and political developments to identify opportunities for proactive publicity for the work of the Welsh NHS Confederation and its members.
• Develop and deliver bespoke public affairs support to members, including producing briefings on political development.
• Supporting the Welsh NHS Confederation Health and Wellbeing Alliance and Policy Sub-Group through drafting minutes for meetings and supporting the Assistant Director with agenda items and papers.
• Represent the Welsh NHS Confederation at events and meetings.

About us

The Welsh NHS Confederation is the national membership body representing the leaders of the organisations making up the NHS in Wales: the seven local health boards; three NHS trusts; Health Education and Improvement Wales; and Digital Health and Care Wales. We are part of the NHS Confederation and host NHS Wales Employers.

Details

Date posted: 03 November 2025

Pay scheme: Other

Salary: £32,930 a year

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 12 months

Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number: NHS1150588

Job locations: Ty Glan yr Afon, 21 Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff, CF11 9AD

Job responsibilities

Reporting to the Assistant Director, the Senior Communications and Public Affairs Officer will support the organisations media and political connections and its external affairs ambitions.

This role will support delivery of the overall work programme of the Welsh NHS Confederation, particularly in respect of communications and public affairs work, through significant engagement with NHS leaders from across Wales, the media, and Members of the Senedd (MSs). Members views and priorities (NHS leaders in Wales) will be at the heart of this work.

Working within the External Affairs team, the post holder will have responsibility for day-to-day political monitoring and communications, including developing content for our newsletters, social media channels, website and publications. This will include designing assets and creating videos and other media.

The post holder will work with the Welsh team to ensure consistent messages are delivered to members and external audiences across the breadth of our work. They will support our political and media handling, including liaising with journalists, drafting messages, producing press releases and statements and media monitoring.

Political engagement

• Engage with political parties, including Members of the Senedd and Members of Parliament. This includes attending meetings, drafting correspondence and developing succinct content for briefings so that issues and developments affecting our members can be progressed and accurately relayed.

Communications

• Work with the External Affairs team to develop key messaging.
• Write and distribute media releases, statements, blogs, opinion pieces, newsletters and key publications to maintain the Welsh NHS Confederations profile on behalf of its members.
• Write content for the Welsh NHS Confederations communications channels, including website and social media accounts, and creating videos and other media.

Media monitoring and engagement

• Monitor media interest in and coverage of health issues to identify opportunities for proactive publicity for the work of the Welsh NHS Confederation and its members.

  Stakeholder engagement

  • Develop strong relationships with key stakeholders, including those in government, members of the Welsh NHS Confederation Health and Wellbeing Alliance, membership bodies, think tanks and patient groups.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with communications teams in member organisations and Welsh Government communications officials.

  Supporting members

  • Develop and deliver bespoke public affairs support to members, including producing briefings on political development.
  • Supporting the Welsh NHS Confederation Health and Wellbeing Alliance and Policy Sub-Group through drafting minutes for meetings and supporting the Assistant Director with agenda items and papers.

  Representing the Welsh NHS Confederation

  • Represent the Welsh NHS Confederation at events and meetings.

  Any other duties considered appropriate.

  Person Specification

  Experience – Essential

  • Experience of being in a communication/ media role or a public affairs or government relations role at Senior Officer level or equivalent.
  • Good knowledge and understanding of Welsh Government legislative process and the work of the Senedd, especially in health and care.
  • Experience of delivering successful media and public affairs engagement plans, strategies and campaigns that meet organisational objectives, with an understanding of how various media outlets and political parties operate.
  • Strong writing skills, with specific experience in producing communication products for media and political audiences against tight deadlines.
  • Strong understanding of the Welsh media, and ability to build good relationships with journalists, exercising care and discretion.
  • Experience of using CMS (content management systems) and email marketing automation software.

  Experience – Desirable

  • Welsh speaking

  Employer details

  Employer name: NHS Confederation

  Address: Ty Glan yr Afon, 21 Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff, CF11 9AD

  Employer's website: https://www.nhsconfed.org/