Job summary
- Main area
- Communications
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Fixed term: 11 months (Until 31 March 2026, so contract length depends upon agreed start date)
- Hours
- Part time - 22.5 hours per week (0.6 FTE, pattern to agreed with successful candidate)
- Job ref
- 980-RAF1322-C
- Employer
- Health Research Authority
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Manchester Office
- Town
- Manchester
- Salary
- £46,148 - £52,809 Per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 27/04/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Comms and Engagement Manager (Clinical Trials Regulations)
NHS AfC: Band 7
The HRA is a Non Departmental Public Body with the remit to protect and promote the interests of patients and the public in health and social care research. We do this by supporting and promoting a robust and efficient regulatory and governance framework in the UK. We provide the Research Ethics Service (RES), Confidentiality Advice function, assessments and assurances on behalf of the NHS, and learning, guidance and advice for the research community. Our ambition is to make the UK a great place to do research, where more money invested in research goes into carrying out relevant, good quality research.
Our purpose is to ensure that research involving NHS patients and members of the public is approved through a proportionate and robust system, that they are provided with the information they need to help them decide whether they wish to take part, and that their opportunity to do so is maximised by simplifying the processes by which high quality research is assessed. We have already delivered significant improvements by centralising and simplifying the approval of research in the NHS in England, and are undertaking a range of significant programmes to deliver further improvements.
Job overview
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The HRA has been working with the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on new clinical trials regulations for the UK. Proportionate legislation, complemented by guidance, has been designed to facilitate well-designed research and provide a framework for innovation in clinical trials and clinical trial design. The changes are a key part of the UK vision for the future of clinical research. We are now in a transition period before changes come into effect in 2026. The Communications and Engagement Manager will work as part of the HRA’s project team which is supporting the implementation of the new legislation, and will support the organisation’s stakeholders through upcoming change. They will manage strategic stakeholder relationships and act as an ambassador for the clinical trial regs project, within and outside the organisation. |
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work closely with the HRA’s communications and policy and engagement teams. They’ll co-ordinate stakeholder groups, and ensure that evaluation metrics and stakeholder intelligence are gathered and shared across the organisation. They’ll also work closely with colleagues at MHRA to produce high-quality, effective communications.
A self-starter with creative ideas, the Communications and Engagement Manager will manage their own work, ensuring delivery to timelines that support the progress of the programme as a whole and support the needs of the organisation. Their work will help ensure that our stakeholders have the information that they need to successfully support them through change, helping make it easier to do clinical trials that people can trust in the UK.
Working for our organisation
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for you, not just us and the work we do.
We’re committed to creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know from experience that different ideas, perspectives, and backgrounds create a stronger, more creative workplace that help us to deliver the best services.
We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of our community. This includes:
• age
• disability
• ethnicity
• gender identity and expression
• religion or belief
• sex
• sexual orientation
• other diverse characteristics
We have policies in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process.
When applying to work here, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement – if it works for you, we’ll do our best to make it work for us.
Please note, if applying to our Bristol, Manchester or Nottingham locations, we are only able to offer the role as home based. If applying to Newcastle we can consider an office based contract, to be discussed at interview.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
We’re looking for an experienced engagement professional with excellent communications skills to join the project team to help us to achieve the project benefits.
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Developing strong relationships with key external stakeholders to help deliver the objectives of the project
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Leading on engagement to ensure that the views and experience of patients, the public and the research community inform our work
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Developing and maintaining effective relationships with communications and engagement managers of partner and key stakeholder organisations
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Planning and running stakeholder events such as workshops, interviews and user research to make sure that the new regulations reflect user and stakeholder need
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Delivering presentations and briefings to key external stakeholders, and internally as required, and representing the HRA at workshops, training events and meetings as required.
Communication:
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Commissioning and writing clear and engaging information for internal and external audiences, including presentations, press releases, web and intranet content and newsletter articles
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Working with the communications and policy and engagement teams to manage the distribution of comms to internal audiences and external stakeholders, for example through press, digital and social media, ensuring all materials adhere to HRA guidelines
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Developing effective ways to evaluate and measure the reach, success and impact of communications and engagement activities to enable learning and improved ways of working.
Planning and organisational skills / analytical skills
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Co-ordinating stakeholder groups to ensure they are effective and well managed, key information is communicated, and feedback is gathered and shared
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Writing and implementing a communications and engagement strategy and developing and delivering communications and engagement plans that use a range of techniques and approaches
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Gathering, analysing and effectively using intelligence from stakeholder interactions, whether through senior meetings, stakeholder groups or external conferences and networks, to ensure that learning is shared across the programme and the organisation
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Working with policy and guidance colleagues to enhance the usefulness and impact of information, guidance and advice for external audiences and encouraging imaginative and engaging ways to present that information.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Educated to degree level or equivalent experience
Knowledge, Skills and Expertise
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of the range of stakeholders with an interest in health research and established connections with those stakeholders
- Knowledge and experience of communications, media relations, digital media management techniques and evaluation
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of the UK research environment and research governance
Experience
Essential criteria
- Strong stakeholder engagement experience, including developing engagement plans, running stakeholder groups and incorporating feedback into projects or programmes
- Experience of leading the development and implementation of communication and engagement plans
Desirable criteria
- Experience working for a complex organisation in a political landscape
Analytical and Judgemental Skills
Essential criteria
- Strong analytical and judgemental skills including the ability to make decisions on communications and engagement options, interpreting and presenting options
Interpersonal skills
Essential criteria
- Good networking and influencing skills: an ability to build and maintain stakeholder relationships
- Excellent communication skills: an ability write and present in an engaging and clear way, tailored to the needs of the audience
Other
Essential criteria
- Commitment to inclusivity and valuing diversity
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Eve Hart
- Job title
- Head of Communications
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 02071048245
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