Job summary
The Communications Officer will support regional and national communications as part of the NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) Communications Team, across the 12 Regional RDNs (RRDNs) and the RDN Coordinating Centre (RDNCC).
The Communications Officer will seek to adopt and share the best practice approach to their work and support the RDN in achieving its objectives and ensuring it delivers the best communications service, including developing new channels and opportunities to reach colleagues and communities, where engagement and involvement is needed the most. They will promote the reputation of the RDN as a high-quality health and care research provider using a range of different channels. They will support the delivery of a corporate communication strategy and associated communication activities, engagement events and marketing initiatives to enable the RDN to deliver on its strategic objectives and showcase the RDNs impact.
Expected Shortlisting Date: 10/04/2025
Planned Interview Date: 22/04/2025
Main duties of the job
1. Organise and manage communications campaigns to engage with public and health and care professionals in research, including external events.
2. Support campaigns targeting Life Science industry partners and building relationships with commercial organisations.
3. Maintain a contacts and communications asset database for use in engagement campaigns.
4. Ensure the website is compliant with NHS and NIHR accessibility guidelines and Information Governance and Data protection requirements.
5. Support the evaluation of multi-media campaigns including the value for money elements.
6. Ensure compliance with NIHR corporate identity and brand guidelines.
About us
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). NIHR works in partnership with the NHS, universities, local government, other research funders, patients and the public. The NIHR funds, enables and delivers world-leading health and social care research that improves people's health and wellbeing and promotes economic growth.
The whole of England will be supported through 12 NIHR Regional Research Delivery Networks (RRDNs). The RRDNs will work with the national Research Delivery Network Coordinating Centre (RDNCC) to provide a joint RDN leadership function so that the NIHR RDN as a whole functions as a single organisation with a shared vision and purpose across England.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.
Date posted: 24 March 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £37,338 to £44,962 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: C9298-TEX-0074
Job locations
St. James's University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7TF
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
* Relevant experience in a relevant speciality i.e. public relations, communications, marketing and/or journalism to post graduate level or demonstrable experience. This must include social / web-based.
Desirable
* Experience of working at a similar level in the NHS or other healthcare environment.
* Experience of providing communications.
* Demonstrable experience in a large, complex organisation.
* Experience of inter-agency working involving multiple and diverse partners.
* Proven experience of working successfully as part of several teams.
* Experience of managing a customer-focused service.
* Experience of managing a wide range of complex duties.
Skills & behaviours
Essential
* Ability to work autonomously and to exercise initiative, with creativity, drive and flexibility.
* Excellent organisational skills.
* Excellent interpersonal skills.
* Ability to operate at all levels throughout an organisation.
* Attention to detail.
* Ability to manage challenging and stressful situations.
* Strong problem-solving skills.
Additional Requirements
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
* Proficiency in preparing communication materials eg website copy and newsletter articles, and their distribution.
* Ability to write concise and clear reports and to write Standard Operating Procedures.
* Ability to prepare and deliver presentations to a high standard.
* Ability to plan, manage and deliver projects and activities, involving multiple agencies and individuals and to tight deadlines.
* Media handling skills.
* Ability to communicate complex information to a range of audiences at all levels within the organisation and externally.
* Excellent IT literacy including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or equivalent Google applications and relevant design packages e.g. Adobe InDesign, CANVA.
* Resilient and calm under pressure.
* Compassionate.
* Understanding of change and adaptable, Politically aware.
Qualifications
Essential
* Degree level education and/or equivalent level of qualification or relevant experience (e.g. Health; Media / Journalism / Web publishing).
Desirable
* Background in research and development, science or healthcare.
* European Computer Driving Licence.
Employer details
Employer name: Leeds Teaching Hospitals
Address: St. James's University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7TF
Employer's website: https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/
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