Senior Communications Officer

NHS National Services Scotland; East Kilbride; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in East Kilbride seeks a communications specialist to enhance public awareness and defend its reputation. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in public relations within the NHS or similar public sector. Responsibilities include working closely with media and stakeholders to ensure accurate information dissemination. The position requires a degree in communications and proven skills in managing public communications. This is a full-time role with a fixed term until April 2026, offering comprehensive benefits and a supportive environment.

Benefits

27 days annual leave

NHS Pension Scheme membership

Paid sick leave

Occupational health services

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level with relevant communications experience.
• Experience managing communications for sensitive issues.
• Knowledge of public relations best practices in health service.

Responsibilities

• Communicate effectively with media and public stakeholders.
• Support Communications Manager in promoting NHS Lanarkshire.
• Develop relationships with key stakeholders and media.

Skills

Public relations expertise

Excellent communication skills

Knowledge of Scottish media

IT proficiency

Good interpersonal skills

Education

Degree in Communications

Post-graduate diploma or equivalent

Tools

Word processing software

Presentation software

Social media management software

Job description

The Role

To effectively communicate with the media, staff, the public and other external stakeholders and to provide clear, accurate and accessible public information.

To support the Communications Manager in increasing public knowledge and awareness and protecting NHS Lanarkshire’s reputation from false or misleading information.

To provide support to the Communications Manager in the delivery of effective communications to promote NHS Lanarkshire and its services, both internally and externally.

This includes developing a positive reputation and mature relationship with the people of Lanarkshire, key stakeholders and partner organisations, local and national media, MSPs, MPs, MEPs and the Scottish Government.

NHS Lanarkshire

Have you always wanted to work with NHS Lanarkshire? Then this might be the opportunity for you to join Team Lanarkshire!

Here at NHS Lanarkshire, we put the patient at the heart of everything we do. Each colleague within the organisation plays a key role in how we deliver our healthcare services.

We proudly serve a population of 655,000 across rural and urban communities in both North and South Lanarkshire. NHS Lanarkshire is comprised of Acute Services (which currently provide hospital based services over 3 main sites), Corporate & Property & Support Services, North and South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnerships which provide integrated primary healthcare and social care services to local communities and surrounding areas.

What we\'ll need you to bring

Educated to degree level, with communications training and/or experience to post-graduate diploma level or equivalent, with a track record of providing communications solutions for high-profile, sensitive issues.

Expert knowledge and experience of public relations and communications best practice within a health service context.

Experience of planning and implementing communication initiatives and projects.

Knowledge of Scottish media and libel laws, Freedom of Information, Data Protection Act, Equality Act and patient confidentiality guidelines.

IT literate including proficiency in a variety of software packages with advanced keyboard skills including use of word processing, publications and presentations.

Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills and knowledge of Plain English standards.

Experience of newspaper/magazine production including knowledge of design and printing processes.

Knowledge of public relations and communications best practice.

Knowledge of photographic, layout and design standards.

Good “news sense” – the ability to identify a story that would be of interest to the media.

Detailed knowledge of, and established relationships with, Scottish media.

Good knowledge of Scottish political system and structures.

Good knowledge of local and national NHS structure and decision making process.

Good understanding of NHS public and patient involvement standards.

Fast and accurate note taking and typing skills.

Good interpersonal skills and ability to team work.

Full UK/EU/EEA driving licence required.

It would be great if you also have

• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience in a communications role.
• Experience in the NHS or large public sector organisation.
• Knowledge Freedom of Information Act.
• Knowledge of evaluation methodologies.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Excellent news gathering skills with ability to proactively source opportunities for positive media coverage.
• Excellent IT skills with ability to use website content management systems and social media management software.
• Excellent organisational skills with ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Excellent influencing and negotiating skills.
• Ability to take and edit photographs and videos.

Contract type

Fixed Term or Secondment until April 2026

Full time

37 hours

Please note this is a fixed term post until April 2026. Where a post only has temporary funding and an existing member of NHS Lanarkshire staff wishes to apply, this will be treated as a secondment. The employee MUST already have written agreement from their line manager to be released on a secondment before applying for the post.

Location and Working Pattern

This role will be based in Communications within University Hospital Hairmyres.

The working pattern for this role would be discussed during the interview.

Whilst this advertisement may be for a specific post(s) in a particular location, applicants who are shortlisted for interview may be considered for similar vacancies in alternative locations.

Looking to find out more?

If you’re looking to find out more, then we would love to hear from you!

Please contact Calvin Brown, Director of Communications on [e-mail].

For enquiries regarding the application form or recruitment process, please contact Anna Zastawnik-Baran, Recruitment Administrator on [e-mail] (Please remember to include the job title and reference number in your email).

Why NHS Lanarkshire?

Join us and you will discover a supportive environment where you will have the chance to add to your skills and further your career.

Some of NHS Lanarkshire’s benefits include:

• A minimum of 27 days annual leave increasing with length of service
• A minimum of 8 days of public holidays
• Membership of NHS Pension Scheme, with life insurance benefits (for more information on the NHS Pension Scheme visit the Scottish Public Pension)
• Paid sick leave increasing with length of service
• Occupational health services
• Employee counselling services
• Work-life Balance policies and procedures

NHS Lanarkshire have a range of support services on topics that can impact both on your working and personal life including occupational health, spiritual care and independent counselling. This support can be accessed using the links on this page.

Further Information

For more information on the role, please refer to the Job Description. If you’re looking for more information on the recruitment process, organisation or the services we provide, please refer to our information pack, or our recruitment webpage.

Additional Information for Applicants

• Posts close at midnight on the indicated date. However, if there are a high level of interest in this position, we may close the advert once sufficient applications are received. Please complete and submit your application early.
• For help to complete an application on Jobtrain please follow this link:
• Please check your e-mail regularly (including junk & spam folders) as well as your Jobtrain account for updates.
• We recommend using the Internet Browser "Google Chrome" or "Microsoft Edge" when using Jobtrain
• Once you have submitted your application form you will be unable to make any amendments

NHS Lanarkshire is dedicated to building a diverse workforce where everyone can thrive, develop, and succeed based on their skills, knowledge, and talent—regardless of race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or care experience or any other dimension that can be used to differentiate people from one another.

*Care experienced applicants include those who have lived with foster parents, kinship carers, or in residential/secure children’s settings.

Candidates should provide original and authentic responses to all questions within the application form. The use of artificial intelligence (AI), automated tools, or other third-party assistance to generate, draft, or significantly modify responses is strongly discouraged. By submitting your application, you confirm that all answers are your own work, reflect your personal knowledge, skills and experience, and have not been solely produced or altered by AI or similar technologies. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in your application being withdrawn from the application process.

Right to Work within the UK

NHS Lanarkshire has a legal obligation to ensure that it does not employ any worker who has not been granted the relevant permission to work in the UK.

We are required to check the entitlement to work in the UK of all prospective employees, regardless of nationality or job category. UK Visas & Immigration rules are available at the

Prospective applicants are encouraged to check eligibility in advance of applying for vacancies in NHS Lanarkshire.

Please note that all Band 1 and Band 2 posts are not eligible for sponsorship through the Skilled Worker route.