Senior Communications Officer - Strategic Projects (Fixed-Term Contract until February 2028)

EMAS Community Response Team; Bulwell; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust seeks a Senior Communications Officer for Strategic Projects on a fixed-term contract until February 2028. The role focuses on internal/external communications and engagement for high-level corporate projects, change management, and stakeholder relations across EMAS.

37.5 hours/week, Nottingham site, NHS Band 6 salary. The post involves developing communications plans, managing media activity, and delivering high-quality, timely communications across

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent).
• Qualification in communications, public relations or journalism.
• Trained in media and crisis management.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-standard communications service to deadlines and budget; manage projects from start to finish.
• Scope, develop and deliver communications and engagement plans for initiatives; gain approvals from senior staff.
• Lead arrangements for Virtual Conversation Café all-staff engagement events.
• Lead media relations and crisis management coverage with guidance from senior leaders.
• Manage PR merchandise database, stock levels and impact reporting.
• Produce stakeholder updates and evaluate success of communications activity.
• Develop and maintain relationships with Trust Board, staff and volunteers to support crisis management and communications.
• Coaching and mentoring to aid team communications development.
• Coordinate photography and video work on-site and for EMAS vehicles.

Skills

Project management

Media handling

Crisis management

Copywriting

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree level education

Communications/public relations/journalism qualification

Training in media and crisis management

Job description

Senior Communications Officer - Strategic Projects (Fixed-Term Contract until February 2028)

NHS AfC: Band 6

Main area Communications and Engagement Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract Fixed term: 14 months (End date for the contract is Friday 25 February 2028) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday) Job ref 335-A-2128

Site Horizon Place, Nottingham Town Nottingham Salary £39,959 - £48,117 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 08/11/2026 23:59

We are East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS), an organisation focused on delivering a high standard of emergency and urgent care to our patients across the region.

The East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EMAS) provides Emergency, Urgent and Non-Emergency pre-hospital care and transport across six counties (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire & Rutland and Northamptonshire).

Job overview

The Communications team provides corporate internal and external communications, engagement and involvement services alongside media and digital communications for East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EMAS).

Communicating with staff, volunteers, and a wide range of stakeholders across the East Midlands means the team works in a busy and challenging environment, where no two days are the same.

Under the direction of the Assistant Director of Communications, and whilst living the EMAS values, the successful candidate will provide an internal and external communications and engagement service to support strategic projects designed to achieve the EMAS vision and strategic ambitions, ensuring the delivery of high-quality care and services to our patients and staff.

They will be responsible for allocated projects from start to completion. Projects and work will be varied and include the communications and engagement for high-level corporate and change management projects, day-to-day communications, online services (website, intranet, and social media channels), and a variety of other regular and bespoke communications, including major incident and business continuity communications, and staff and stakeholder engagement.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will work closely alongside a skilled and motivated Communications team to deliver the annual work plan designed to help achieve the EMAS vision and strategic ambitions.

Responsible for the weekly scheduling and delivery of their own activities, this post holder will ensure a proactive and robust approach to internal, stakeholder, digital and media communications.

Often dealing with time critical, sensitive, complex, or contentious information, the post holder will have strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, allowing them to develop relationships and deliver objectives involving a range of organisations and individuals.

The post is suitable for a qualified communications professional, who has strong project management skills, media and crisis management experience, and produces a high standard of communications and resources.

The creation of and efficient delivery of insight led communications plans (designed to change behaviours, raise awareness, encourage action, and/or increase understanding) and project-based assignments is an essential part of this role.

At times the individual may be required to support other Communications team activity e.g. to cover annual leave, in response to issues, or when large programmes of work require additional focus.

Working for our organisation

Working for us not only provides job satisfaction of knowing that what you do makes a real difference to our patients, but we offer a range of other great benefits too:

• Flexible approach to working patterns, we understand the importance of a work life balance and have a wide selection of rotas for part-time and full-time staff
• Holiday entitlement of 27 days rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years, plus public bank holiday entitlement (pro rata for part time).
• Pay enhancements for out of hours, shift and overtime working, career and salary progression and annual personal development review.
• Uniform will be provided where this is a requirement of the role
• Expert training and support from our dedicated in-house education team.
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme.
• Occupational Health support along with an Employee Assistance Programme
• NHS Discounts in over 200+ stores including Holidays, Days out, Car insurance, Restaurants and Clothing.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes and cycle to work.
• An exceptional place to work to provide with high-quality emergency care to save lives and make a difference to people
• A first-class employer, promoting equality, diversity and inclusion of our employees. We are a Rainbow Accredited organisation, and a Veteran Aware and Disability Confident employer.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Provide a high-standard communications service to agreed deadlines and within budgetary requirements. This includes the management of communications and engagement for the strategic and change management projects allocated, from start to completion, in direct liaison with project leads and task and finish groups, and under the guidance of the Assistant Director of Communications.

2. Scope, develop, deliver and refine communications and engagement plans for local and EMAS-wide initiatives identifying target audiences from internal, stakeholder, digital and media groups, and the channels and tactics to use; gaining approval and engagement from senior staff and partner agencies, and implementing plans to ensure:

a) objectives, milestones, and deadlines are met

b) information flows smoothly

c) cost-effective purchasing and effective budget management

d) progress is monitored and plans adjusted to reflect evaluation and learning

3. As directed by the Assistant Director of Communications, lead the arrangements for and participation in Virtual Conversation Café all-staff engagement events.

4. Guided by the EMAS values, and in respect of the strategic projects allocated, be aware of any positive news stories that are beneficial to promote on the organisation’s behalf, and lead media relations and the handling of breaking news stories and development of lines or action to take to rebut misleading or inaccurate coverage, with support and strategic direction from the Assistant Director of Communications or Head of Communications.

5. Be responsible for the development, maintenance, and monitoring of the EMAS public relations merchandise database, ensuring accurate records of stock requests, usage and impact are maintained. Identify opportunities to showcase the positive impact of educational merchandise through news stories and social media activity. Monitor stock levels and usage trends, escalating replenishment requirements as necessary. Review merchandise activity to identify opportunities to improve effectiveness, and support EMAS priorities and maximise value for money. Undertake an annual review of the merchandise offer and make recommendations for improvement to the Assistant Director of Communications.

6. In respect of the strategic projects allocated, be responsible for the production of stakeholder updates, evaluating success and continuous development to ensure we meet the needs of our audiences.

7. Lead evaluation of the EMAS ‘Leaders are the communicators’ approach, including monitoring the use, effectiveness and impact of the monthly ‘Your Leaders’ Briefing’ and associated resources. Review, analyse and coordinate responses to the leader feedback, identifying emerging themes, concerns and opportunities from local conversations and to inform EMAS communications activity. Make recommendations for continuous improvement and support the production and distribution of the monthly ‘Your Leaders’ Briefing’ to ensure it remains relevant, effective and aligned with EMAS business plan deliverables.

8. Provide communications support to the EMAS Charitable Funds Committee, including the maintenance and development of promotional resources and materials. Identify and coordinate opportunities to showcase the impact of charitable funding through case studies, news stories, etc. Monitor communications outputs and outcomes relating to the charity, producing reports for the Committee on activity, impact and emerging opportunities to increase awareness, engagement and support for the charity.

9. Self-manage own workflow requirements and be responsible for managing own routine administration processes.

11. Provide high quality copywriting, editing and design assistance for patient and public information materials, producing digital audio and video publications and managing print and design services within budgetary requirements.

12. Lead on the co-ordination of photography and video/film work on-site or on EMAS vehicles relating to strategic projects, ensuring the relevant policies and procedures are adhered to and consent forms completed and stored securely.

13. Assist in all forms of communications, including public and internal consultations and engagement in a measurable manner, and the provision of information as agreed with the Assistant Director of Communications, to organisations that monitor and regulate EMAS.

14. Develop and maintain positive relationships with the Trust Board, staff and volunteers, offering professional guidance and advice to senior managers and colleagues for crisis management and emergency planning, including being actively involved in serious untoward incident and independent inquiries where appropriate.

15. Support Communications team members and other employees through coaching and mentoring to aid their communications development.

16. Be aware of changes or updates to legislation that impact on this role and the function of the Communications team, for example the FOI Act and General Data Protection Regulation.

17. Deputise for the Assistant Director of Communications and Head of Communications, as directed.

18. Responsible for managing own routine administration processes, including devising, and maintaining databases and project plans.

19. Work independently, being managed rather than supervised.

20. Full driving licence is essential as is the ability to travel across the East Midlands and on occasions further afield.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent)
• Qualification in communications, public relations or journalism
• Trained in media and crisis management

Experience

• At least three years working in the communications industry with a range of external and internal stakeholders
• At least three years’ experience in media handling and working with significant responsibility in a media office environment, managing crisis, conflicting priorities, highly sensitive, confidential or contentious information, tight deadlines, political angles
• At least three years working with social media networks and journalists, producing high standard written copy, capturing photos and video, and preparing individuals for proactive and reactive attention
• At least three years’ experience of advising executive and senior managers, including Board members, on media handling and stakeholder engagement
• Writing communications and engagement plans, and effectively communicating messages via a range of mechanisms and materials, identifying appropriate times for broadcast or two-way engagement

Skills

• Excellent spoken, written and proof-reading skills, good numeracy and IT skills, keeping attention to detail
• Able to apply creativity and innovation to develop their approach to new and traditional communications and engagement channels based on insights or analysis

Skills

• Full driving licence and ability to travel across the East Midlands

The East Midlands has a lot to offer:

Making a Difference

Action Packed Roles

Support and Belonging

Accessibility

If you have any accessibility requirements at any point during the recruitment process, then please contact the recruiting manager.

If you haven’t heard back from us within eight weeks of the closing date please consider your application unsuccessful.

Due to the high volume of applications received we are unable to provide updates on the progress of applications and only successful candidates at shortlisting stage will be contacted, regrettably feedback will not be provided. If you are unsuccessful at this stage please refer back to the job description, person specification and advertised requirements for ways to improve your future applications.

Internal candidates applying for vacancies must have completed their probationary period (stated within your contract) at point of application.

East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust is an equal opportunities and Disability Confident employer,committed to ensuring equality of opportunity. We actively encourage interest from across our diverse communities. Black and Minority Ethnic staff are currently under-represented within our workforce, and we welcome applications from within these communities.

We are keen to promote a positive work-life balance. We recognise the importance of being able to spend quality time with family and friends and to engage in your own personal interests outside of work, which alongside work helps us to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. We are committed to embedding the NHS People Promise to support colleagues to work flexibly in a way that works for our patients, for us and for you. Many of our staff already work flexibly in many different ways, including job share, part-time or other flexible working patterns. Please talk openly to us at interview about flexible working opportunities. In addition, if a role is advertised as home based, we remain committed to supporting flexibility around workplace locations, so please talk to us about the options available to you. If it works for our service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

At EMAS we believe that our culture should be built upon our core values and that our behaviour should reflect these. Our values – respect, integrity, contribution, teamwork and compassion - underpin everything we do – how we deliver our services and how we work with each other. We believe that it’s our people who make EMAS what it is.

Our Vision -Respondingto patient needs in the right way,developingour organisation to become outstanding for patients and staff, andcollaboratingto improve wider healthcare.

Please note we reserve the right to withdraw this vacancy if an internal member of staff on our redeployment register expresses an interest and is successful for this vacancy, or if a sufficient number of applications is received.

Please be aware if you are applying for a Frontline role, an Enhanced DBS clearance check will be required, and depending on the nature of other non-patient facing roles this check may also be required if offered a position with EMAS (Al l spent and unspent convictions must declared).

If you are not part of the update service, you will be liable for the payment and this will be deducted from your first months’ salary. The current cost of an enhanced DBS check is £46.88.

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