Job summary
- Main area
- Communications
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8c
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (On call communications rota)
- Job ref
- 284-24-6883370-COCM
- Employer
- Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Birmingham Children's Hospital
- Town
- Birmingham
- Salary
- £74,290 - £85,601 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 29/01/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 12/02/2025
Employer heading
Deputy Director of Communications and Engagement
NHS AfC: Band 8c
Flexible working arrangements may be considered and discussions with the recruiting manager regarding this are encouraged.
Job overview
We are looking for an ambitious, brave and compassionate senior leader who will support delivery of our vision to be the best place to be cared for and the best place to work.
Exceptional communications experience and expertise are required as well as proven ability to build effective relationships across the UK’s only Women’s and Children’s healthcare provider – with senior leads as well as colleagues from all levels and professions, as well as with external partners.
The successful candidate will need to influence, advise and set strategy, leading the team to deliver effective communications and engagement activity within and outside the organsiation.
This is a perfect role for someone who is passionate about making a difference to patients and families, with the skills to deliver against strategic objectives balancing the day-to-day requirements of a busy communications and engagement function.
Main duties of the job
This Deputy Director of Communications and Engagement position is required to bring strong leadership, management, communications and marketing expertise to the Trust and to build, protect and maximise the Trusts’ reputation.
The Deputy Director will do this by taking a strategic approach, which is fully aligned with the Trust’s priorities and values. They will be responsible for developing a comprehensive communications strategy that addresses the immediate needs whilst also recognising the medium-term requirements and longer-term ambitions.
The Deputy Director will provide strategic leadership to ensure operational day-to-day delivery of key internal, external and digital communications priorities along with staff engagement programmes.
The Deputy Director will work closely with the Chief Executive, Executive Team and Board, other internal leaders including clinical and operational leads and staff networks. They will also have relationships with leaders outside the organisation including Trust stakeholders, partner organisations and community groups.
Interviews will take place on 12th or 14th February TBC.
Working for our organisation
Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust is the first of its type in the UK. Our Trust was formed in February 2017 to drive forward our commitment to provide the highest quality, world-class physical and mental health care for our women, children and families. Uniting our hospitals means more seamless care; more investment to make greater advances in our specialist treatment and world-leading neo-natal and fetal work. Importantly, it also gives us a greater voice in shaping the future of family-centred care.
Birmingham Children's Hospital is a UK leading specialist paediatric centre with an international reputation in several areas.
Birmingham Women's Hospital is one of two dedicated women's hospitals in the UK, with the busiest single site maternity unit, delivering more than 8,200 babies a year offering a full range of gynaecological, maternity and neonatal care.
Forward Thinking Birmingham (FTB) Mental Health Services are a unique, innovative community and inpatient mental health partnership. Alongside partners FTB offers care pathways of mental health assessment and treatment for young people aged 0-25 years old.
Our Trust is committed to creating the best place to work. We believe in promoting and enhancing inclusion, diversity and equality and encourage applications from all areas of the community, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, race, religion or sexual orientation.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
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Development and implementation of a communications strategy, accompanying work plan and targets that reflects the needs and challenges faced by the Trust, including:
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Evaluation of communications activities
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Development of the communications and engagement team to support the delivery of the strategy
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Develop and implement an internal communications and engagement strategy including having lead responsibility for the national staff survey and other staff feedback systems.
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Manage the continued development of the brand/corporate identity of the Trust.
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Develop the communication strategy and public engagement process for future configuration of services and hospital developments.
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Manage potentially difficult/complex emotional situations with staff and stakeholders within change programmes for successful outcomes.
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Ensure that clear plans are in place for responding to major incidents and day-to-day business continuity.
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Responsible for departmental budget, ensuring adherence to it through ongoing monitoring of expenditure, supported by appropriate documentation available for scrutiny. Constantly strive for best value and greater efficiency in the use of this budget.
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Designing and implementing monitoring systems to ensure effectiveness of different methods of communications across the hospitals, local communities and key stakeholders, evaluating its impact and formulating strategy for handling arising issues.
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Embed systems for monitoring and reporting of communications performance.
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Hold responsibility for key policies, ensuring they are implemented effectively and kept up to date including for use of social media, film, photography and visits.
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Develop and implement an income generation strategy.
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Carry out any other relevant duties that may be delegated by the Chief Executive or Executive Management Team.
Person specification
Qualifications and experience
Essential criteria
- Training to relevant degree level or equivalent plus training and/or experience in communications field to master’s level equivalent.
- Substantial experience in communications / public relations in complex organisation at senior management level including at head of department level
- Experience as a line manager in a communications environment.
- Proven track record of achievement in a relevant field
- Proven track record of delivering against set objectives
- Substantial experience of developing and implementing complex policies and strategies across large, highly complex organisations
- Experience working with a complex and diverse range of clients
- Proven track record of reputation management
Desirable criteria
- Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations
- Communications or Marketing qualification or equivalent experience
- Postgraduate qualification in communications, public relations or marketing
- NHS communications/ public relations experience at senior management level
- Experience of developing and implementing marketing strategies
- Marketing experience
- Experience working at Executive or Board level
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Ruth Wilkin
- Job title
- Executive Director Communications & Partnerships
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
Please email [email protected] for an informal discussion.
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