Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
The Communications Officer will support regional and national communications as part of the NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) Communications Team, which is dispersed across the 12 Regional RDNs (RRDNs) and the RDN Coordinating Centre (RDNCC). The Communications Officer will report to the Communications Manager and support the provision of a high quality, professional and proactive communications service to the RDN regionally and nationally.
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.
Main duties of the job
1. Business Planning
2. Information & Administration
3. Operational Management
4. Service Improvement & Development
5. Performance Management
6. Communication & Stakeholder Management (NHS And Non-NHS)
7. Ensuring Patient, Carer And Public Inform And Influence Delivery Of RDN Strategy
8. Corporate Governance
Job responsibilities
1. Support the development, implementation and evaluation of communications projects, including events and campaigns across the full range of media and communication channels, ensuring that information is tailored appropriately for the targeted recipients.
2. Liaise with health and care staff, patients, service users, general public, commercial organisations, academia and other interested parties with a view to actively increasing the profile of the RDN regionally and nationally by developing strong partnerships and working relationships.
3. Identify, translate and disseminate complex messages about RDN services and NIHR activity into clear and compelling communications messages, demonstrating RDNs impact for a range of stakeholders including patients, carers and the public.
4. Work with the Study Participation Inclusion and Stakeholder Engagement functions to maintain effective relationships with customers and stakeholders.
5. Support the Communications Manager in the development of policy in relation to communications activities.
6. Support the Communications Manager in the development and implementation of policies within their area of responsibility and input into the development of national policies and guidelines.
7. Support projects to launch new initiatives for dissemination of impact and for patient and public engagement and involvement.
8. Support the development of communications, marketing and media handling advice for managers, staff and committees.
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
1. Degree level education and/or equivalent level of qualification or relevant experience (e.g. Health; Media / Journalism / Web publishing).
2. Background in research and development, science or healthcare.
3. European Computer Driving Licence.
Knowledge and Experience
1. 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 media.
2. Demonstrable experience in a large, complex organisation.
3. Experience of inter-agency working involving multiple and diverse partners.
4. Proven experience of working successfully as part of several teams.
5. Experience of managing a customer-focused service.
6. Experience of managing a wide range of complex duties.
7. Experience of working at a similar level in the NHS or other healthcare environment.
8. Experience of providing communications support to a local authority.
9. Good understanding of the health and care research environment.
Skills and Abilities
1. Ability to work autonomously and to exercise initiative, with creativity, drive and flexibility.
2. Excellent organisational skills.
3. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
4. Proficiency in preparing communication materials eg website copy and newsletter articles, and their distribution.
5. Excellent interpersonal skills.
6. Ability to operate at all levels throughout an organisation.
7. Ability to write concise and clear reports and to write Standard Operating Procedures.
8. Ability to prepare and deliver presentations to a high standard.
9. Ability to plan, manage and deliver projects and activities, involving multiple agencies and individuals and to tight deadlines.
10. Ability to communicate complex information to a range of audiences at all levels within the organisation and externally.
11. Excellent IT literacy including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or equivalent Google applications and relevant design packages e.g. Adobe InDesign, CANVA.
12. Ability to manage challenging and stressful situations.
13. Strong problem-solving skills.
14. Staff training skills.
Values and Personal Qualities
1. Understanding of change and adaptable.
2. Politically aware.
3. Resilient and calm under pressure.
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.
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
£44,806 to £53,134 a year Per annum incl. HCA
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