Job vacancy: Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool

Job summary

Main area

Research Communications

Grade

Band 8a

Contract

Permanent

Hours

Full time
Flexible working
Home or remote working

37.5 hours per week

Job ref

287-LHP-5-24-A

Employer: Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Liverpool Science Park
Town: Liverpool
Salary: £53,755 - £60,504 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: Today at 23:59

Communications and Public Affairs Manager

Band 8a

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post-holder will lead on the following broad areas:
Strategic comms (40%)

Provide strategic comms support in areas required on behalf of the partnership
overall, focussing on the messaging across and between partner organisations

Lead on public affairs and advocacy for LHP including visibility and messaging to
political party conferences, and high-level strategic visits such as mayoral and
ministerial roundtables

Lead on the development of a compelling narrative about health and life sciences
innovation in Liverpool, amplifying the activity of member organisations and
highlighting the excellence and opportunity across the city region

Ensure that member organisations are bought into the process, amplifying
messages where possible and augmenting the narrative to focus a pan-regional
opportunities and successes
Public affairs (20%)

Mobilise and present, in order to influence perception, opportunities and policy, the
insights available from across LHP – to regional and national stakeholders such a s
politicians, government and funding agencies

Develop and sustain high-quality professional relationships that can be mobilised in
support of the partnership including media, political and life sciences sectors

Connect LHP and its partners to the wider comms and public affairs sectors,
bringing personal networks, insights and expertise that support advocacy on a wider
stage
Supporting specific initiatives and events (15%)

Assess the requirements for internal and external contributions to comms strategies
for programmes and support links to external agencies where necessary

Convene and provide authoritative leadership within cross-discipline and crossorganisation working groups

Be alert to the political and organisational sensitivities of partnership working and
intervening to tactfully advise where necessary

Oversee the delivery of high-quality and high-profile events ensuring collateral and
messaging is consistent with overall objectives of the partnership
Operational oversight (15%)

Take responsibility for the website, production of newsletters, overseeing social
media and stakeholder mapping and management

Managing and developing staff including: a small number of core team members
responsible for direct LHP work, advice, support and mentoring for staff in partner
organisations who are working on specific programmes where strategic advice is
being sought from LHP

Produce regular performance management reports to the LHP board and its partner
organisations, attending the Board when appropriate

Oversee budgets and staff associated with the delivery of LHP comms. (This may
well increase over time as the delivery model develops)
Provide leadership and example in creating the optimal culture for LHP (10%)

Provide high calibre and visible leadership to build and sustain an effective team
and to create healthy relationships across the partnership

Develop close working relationships with partner organisations and a wide range of
other multi- agency organisations

Take ownership of all areas of comms and public affairs activity, identifying and
pursuing opportunities that form a portfolio in their own right, with delegated
authority from the MD

Act as a senior representative and ambassador for LHP, locally, regionally, and
nationally

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Degree and equivalent experience in a related field
Master’s degree/postgraduate qualification in a related field

Exper

Essential criteria

Significant experience of working in a complex life sciences organisation or University or NHS Trust in a senior comms or public affairs role
Experience of working high closely with academic and care provider organisations to develop a collective narrative and promote the workings of the partnership

Desirable criteria

Significant leadership experience at board level, or equivalent, in a complex organisation with multiple stakeholders

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Excellent understanding of the requirements of complex marketing projects and commissioning external support appropriately
Excellent understanding of digital media and marketing techniques with the ability to deliver impact – in particular demonstrating a keen awareness of the importance of design, visual impact and branding

Desirable criteria

A thorough understanding of the life science sector, both public and private sector, gained through experience in health or life science organisations

Skills

Essential criteria

Evidence of ability to sustain and deploy high quality professional networks
Gravitas, credibility, political acumen and judgement with the ability to represent LHP, communicate its vision and position it effectively
A strategic thinker with a proven track record in delivering strategic plans working across multi-agency partners
Outstanding written and verbal presentation and communication skills
Ability to market LHP’s services including identifying new opportunities to increase collaboration
Excellent interpersonal skills and high levels of emotional intelligence
oven leadership skills and an ability to deliver system change and achieve challenging goals
Highly developed negotiating, persuading and influencing skills
Ability to motivate and support development of a positive culture with a flair for building and sustaining professional relationships
Effective management of external providers and contractors, delivering value for money
Ability to analyse, interpret and convey highly complex information
Ability to solve problems effectively

Please ensure you check the email account (including junk/spam boxes) from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.

Only those applicants who demonstrate clearly how they meet our person specification will be shortlisted for interview.

We reserve the right to close any vacancies from further applications when we have received a minimum number of applications from which to make a shortlist. Please ensure you apply without delay if you wish to be considered for this role.

Candidates applying for the role of Healthcare Assistant on the staff bank should note that due to the nature of the role, workers must be aged 18 or above when commencing in post. Applicants are therefore welcome from those aged over 18 or within 3 months’ of their 18^th birthday.

The Trust is committed to promoting a healthy work-life balance and achieve fair, equitable and consistent practice. We welcome flexible working requests and will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements from day one of your employment. Not all roles are suitable for every flexible working opportunity all of the time. Flexible working options may include reduced hours, compressed hours, fixed shifts, time back in lieu and home working.

The Trust is committed to promoting equality and diversity; we value the contribution of individual talent, skills, knowledge and experience and aim for a workforce demography representative of the local community. We encourage applicants from the following groups that are currently under-represented in our workforce black, Asian and minority ethnic, lesbian, gay, bisexual and Transgender (LGBTQ+), disabled, male and age 16-24.

Trust policy requires that the cost of submitting & processing the successful applicant/s DBS application be recovered via salary deduction following start in post. The amount of £18+£5 (standard disclosure) or £38+£5 (enhanced disclosure) will be deducted from salary, in manageable monthly instalments for up to 3 months following commencement of employment. Bank posts require upfront payment.

From April 2017, Skilled visa applicants and their adult dependant(s) will be required to provide a criminal record certificate from each country they have lived in consecutively for 12 months or more in the past ten years.

Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.

This organisation has a zero-tolerance approach to the abuse of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff must ensure they adhere to the organisations safeguarding children and adults’ policy and comply with the Local Safeguarding Children and Adult Board procedures.

Staff should be mindful of their responsibility to safeguard children and adults in any activity performed on behalf of the organisation in line with the requirements of statutory guidance and legislation.

All employees (and volunteers)are expected maintain their safeguarding knowledge and skills by completing mandatory safeguarding training which includes understanding and recognising the signs of abuse and neglect and taking appropriate action.

As an organisation, we have adopted the Merseyside Domestic abuse workplace scheme which supports our staff who are experiencing Domestic Abuse /any forms of sexual violence.

If you have any personal requirements that will enable you to participate in our recruitment process please contact a member of the Recruitment Services by phone on 0151 706 4666 at the earliest opportunity to ensure that measures can be put in place to enable your application for this post.

Please note: new entrants to the NHS will commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.

For agenda for change banded roles; salary payments will reflect the 2023/24 pay scales. The 2024/25 pay scales will be paid in October 2024 including any backpay due. Therefore should the successful applicant start in post prior to October, the salary will initially reflect the 2023/24 pay scales.