Senior Media Officer

Integrated Care System; Brighton, Worthing; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A major healthcare provider is seeking a Senior Media Officer to manage media relations and enhance the organization’s public profile. The role involves collaborating with various teams to develop strategic communications and effectively engage with journalists. The ideal candidate should have substantial experience in public relations or communications, with a focus on content creation and media strategy. This full-time role is based in Brighton with a salary range of £38,682 to £46,580 per annum.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in communications or public relations.
• Proven track record in media strategy and public engagement.
• Strong ability to build relationships with journalists and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead on reactive external media management.
• Manage and enhance the NHS Trust's public profile.
• Produce press releases and communication materials.

Skills

Media relations

Content creation

Analytical skills

Communication

Project management

Education

Degree or equivalent work experience

Postgraduate qualification in journalism or communications

Tools

Adobe

Canva

Hootsuite

Job description

Go back University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Senior Media Officer

The closing date is 21 August 2025

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced Senior Media Officerto join the Trust's communications and engagement team, with a particular focus on media relations.

We're one of the biggest NHS hospital Trusts in the country - so we need to find someone who can be a key part of our team representing around 20,000 colleagues working across seven hospitals, and serving a huge population in Sussex.

This role is crucial in shaping and delivering our media strategy, effectively handling enquiries from journalists into our busy press office, and ensuring our messages reach the right audiences effectively.

The role is full-time (37.5 hours), Agenda for Change Band 6, and based at Worthing Hospital or Brighton, with travel as required to Haywards Heath, Chichester, and Shoreham.

Main duties of the job

• Manage media relations, including responding to inquiries and proactively pitching stories.
• Develop and implement media strategies to enhance the NHS Trust's public profile.
• Monitor media coverage and provide analysis to senior leaders
• Create compelling content for press releases, social media, and other communication channels (both internal and external).
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure consistent messaging across all platforms.
• Organise and manage press events and media briefings.
• Work with clinical teams to ensure patient-focused information is effectively communicated, helping to improve patient engagement and overall experience.

About us

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in ourWellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Job responsibilities

• The primary responsibility of this post will be to lead on reactive external media management the successful candidate will take responsibility for handling the many media enquiries received by the team, in terms of liaising with (often senior) colleagues to source and agree content, liaising with journalists to ensure good relationships and smooth interaction, and liaising with other system partners to promote partnership with health and care colleagues.

The role will also involve working in the following key areas, in addition to the primary task of media relations; Internal communications and engagement; External communications and stakeholder engagement; social media

Working with the Head of Content to develop high quality communications content to support Patient First and organisational priorities as well meeting day-to-day communications requests from colleagues and external stakeholders, including local, national and trade media.

Work with the wider team to develop content via the content management system for the trust website, and intranet, and other online communications platforms (including social media management tools such as Hootsuite). Must consider and meet the interests of a wide range of audiences from many and varied backgrounds and perspective both within and outside the organisation.

Work independently, with minimal supervision and using complex and sensitive information, such as including serious incident reports, service change programmes and public health campaigns, to use judgement to make decisions regarding the creation of content across print, digital, and social media platforms, for both internal and external communications, including in support of events and briefings. This includes using software such as Adobe, Canva and systems such as Hootsuite on a daily basis.

Represent the team in discussions with colleagues from the wider Trust, bringing influence to bear in decisions about appropriate and optimal communications support

Take the lead on liaising with senior colleagues, and decision-making around content, for internal communications requirements during business continuity issues including industrial action, and other potential interruptions to patient care services

Deputise for the Head of Content as required

Provide instruction, support and guidance to Communication Officers as needed.

Media relations

The postholder will be the main point of contact with journalists, and will:

Decide how to respond to difficult organisational situations and significant reputation threats, including sensitive content and requests from local, national and trade media.

Represent the communications team in high media profile and difficult inquests.

Prioritise workload to handle interruptions for urgent requests.

Manage information for difficult or sensitive stories, presenting information in a clear and concise way.

Undertake proactive media engagement, media plans and events and reporting on coverage.

Assist with organising and briefing for media interviews, filming/photo opportunities and press conferences.

Responsible for overseeing the management of the media inbox and handle reactive requests as required.

Liaise with senior Trust colleagues, as appropriate, to respond to media enquiries to ensure accurate, impactful information is organised and presented in a way to promote/protect the reputation of the Trust

Liaise directly with senior communications staff at key partners notably NHS England and NHS Sussex to negotiate and agree approaches and responses to high profile, challenging media requests

Support briefings of colleagues both internally and externally as appropriate with regard to media coverage

External communications and stakeholder relations;

The postholder will support the wider work of the team in producing excellent external communications and building strong relationships with key partners, by:

Creating timely, accurate and informative communications with local stakeholders including MPs, Local Authorities, NHS system partners and other NHS stakeholders.

Taking responsibility for the planning and delivery of event organisation including media tours, VIP visits, and the launch/opening of new services/buildings.

Working with the HoC and ADCE and team on the development and production of corporate publications, telling the UHSussex story in a lively, inclusive, informative and accessible way.

Developing materials in a range of formats for our website, intranet and social media channels. Adobe and Canva will be used daily.

Create high quality press releases with minimal supervision that highlight organisational priorities.

Analyse and interpret complex information, such as improvement plan reports, performance dashboards and HR and clinical policies to create clear communication materials for a range of eternal audiences. Materials may include graphics, presentations and briefing documents.

Internal Communications and engagement:

Internal communications plays a key role in helping the approximately 20,000 staff feel connected with the organisation, receive important information and build a sense of community. Alongside the primary focus on media the postholder will play an important role in other aspects of the teams activities around internal communications, namely:

Represent the communications team and offer expertise and guidance in meetings, including for staff awareness day campaigns, winter planning, infection prevention outbreaks and campaigns, service changes (temp and permanent).

Take the lead on daily operational internal communication requirements relating to business continuity incidents affecting patient services.

Work closely with internal stakeholders to deliver the process from planning to implementation to maximise engagement and content generation for intranet, website, newsletters, social media etc.

Analyse, understand and communicate complex and sensitive information in a range of circumstances, often under significant time constraints, managing competing demands. This may include patient safety reports, service change proposals, performance reports and contentious media enquiries.

Create original content for the trusts internal communications including daily and weekly newsletter/emails, staff social media platforms and regular internal events.

Project manage, research and obtain the necessary approvals of content for newsletters, social media, intranet and website.

Supporting recruitment and retention communications work creating written and video material for a range of audiences and communications channels.

Recommending improvements and innovations to widen the reach and effectiveness of our internal communications.

Providing communications support for the Patient First Improvement Programme, including the creation of content for a range of channels.

Being a part of the team which delivers the trusts annual Patient First Staff Achievement Awards and Recognition event.

Work independently with minimal supervision, using own initiative to create content for staff and stakeholder briefings, working to the Head of Content and the Assistant Director of Communications.

Develop and lead communications plans that help create inclusive, impactful and informative campaigns.

Liaise with and direct external suppliers, such as printer and AV agencies, to purchase material, services and equipment, ensuring the organisation receives value for money and stays within budget.

Person Specification

Experience / Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent work experience
• Post graduate qualification or equivalent experience in journalism, media, communications, public relations or any other relevant subject area
• Significant experience of working in communications/PR or equivalent
• Experience of planning, creating and delivering proactive media to support an organisation's objectives
• Experience of writing, editing and producing internal / staff publications.
• Proven experience of using social media in a professional capacity to achieve specific objectives
• Ability to build effective relationships especially with local journalists, senior managers and clinical staff.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.

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.

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

£38,682 to £46,580 a yearPer annum, pro rata