Are you an experienced communications and engagement whizz with a knack for inspiring people?
NHS Devon is recruiting a Head of Communications and Engagement to lead an award-winning team in connecting with Devon communities, sharing key messages, and shaping the future of healthcare across the county.
If you’re a creative, strategic thinker who thrives in a fast-paced environment and loves making a real impact, we want to hear from you.
We welcome applications from inspiring and compassionate leaders, with strong moral values and attention to detail.
As the Head of Communications and Engagement, you’ll work under the Deputy Director of Communications and Engagement to drive our strategic communications and engagement approach, leading a passionate team to offer expert advice to senior leaders, deliver impactful messages, and involve local communities and stakeholders. We’re looking for someone who has:
* Significant experience in senior communications or engagement roles
* Compassionate leadership skills with a talent for inspiring your team and getting things done
* A good understanding of diverse communities – and how to engage them
* Excellent writing, media, and digital skills – you know how to craft a message that resonates
* A passion for the NHS and a real drive to make a difference.
If you're a communications and engagement pro who wants to make a difference in the NHS in Devon, this is an amazing opportunity to help to shape the future of the Devon’s NHS.
Main duties of the job
* Be an inspirational leader and nurture the development of the communications and engagement team.
* Create and implement an NHS Devon communications strategy, working with the Deputy Director of Communications and Engagement to engage stakeholders, including members of the NHS Devon Board, staff and system stakeholders.
* Support NHS Devon and the wider system to deliver on strategic objectives.
* Work closely with One Devon communications leads to create a high performing network with a shared purpose and agreed work plan, ensuring that both system and placed based work is well aligned and supported.
* Provide strategic communications and involvement support for the successful implementation of service transformation and change programmes; ensuring a robust programme of involvement and consultation in light with NHS Devon duties, adhering to current legislation and ensuring the ICB meets its statutory obligations.
* Ensure local and national stakeholders are identified and strategic plans are in place to maintain good relationships.
* Participate in executive meetings (when required), developing and agreeing key consistent and co-ordinated messaging including core briefings internally and external handling of corporate decisions and responses.
* Undertake complex and detailed information analysis of specific projects/reports requiring high levels of concentration and for a range of audiences.
* Deputise for the Deputy Director of Communications and Engagement, as required.
Person specification
Qualifications
* Educated to masters’ level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.
* Extensive knowledge of specialist areas, acquired through a post graduate qualification or equivalent experience or training.
* Ability to oversee and be responsible for the budget setting for a number of teams/services across a directorate and understand the interdependencies.
* Must have a strong understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and how these impact on the overall strategic objectives; implementing and adapting as required.
* Possess a very strong understanding of, and the ability to navigate, the relationships between NHS organisations and wider system, regional and national organisations.
* Significant experience of successfully operating in a highly politically sensitive environment.
* Significant experience of co-ordinating strategies in complex and challenging environments.
* Member of relevant professional body, e.g. CIPR, CIM.
Experience
* Experience of holding overall responsibility for identifying and managing high level risks.
* Experience of leading the development of briefing papers and correspondence at chief officer and board level.
* Experience of monitoring budgets and business planning processes.
* Evidence of continued professional development.
* Experience of identifying and interpreting National policy and leading implementation.
* Significant demonstrated experience in a healthcare environment.
* Very strong understanding of the public sector.
* Experience of leading on significant service change and public consultation.
Skills and Attributes
* Highly developed communication skills with the ability to communicate on highly complex matters and difficult situations.
* Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.
* Ability to produce and present concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to a broad range of stakeholders, including senior and board level, as required.
* Adept at nurturing key relationships and maintaining networks.
* Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to assimilate, analyse and disseminate highly complex information effectively.
* Devise, manage and execute highly sensitive or complex communications, in sometimes agnostic/hostile situations, in relation to leading organisation/transformation change.
Other
* Operate effectively in a highly demanding environment.
* Adept at dealing with high uncertainty and frequent change, showing exceptional adaptability and flexibility.
* Determination, perseverance, and resilience.
* Strong ability to engage with, learn from and depart knowledge and experience to peers, other professionals and colleagues.
* Strong ability to develop and maintain confidentiality and trust.
* Highly professional calm and efficient manner.
* Strongly effective organiser, influencer and networker.
* Demonstrates a strong desire to improve performance and make a difference by focusing on goals.
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
Name: Nicola Bonas
Job title: Deputy Director of Communications and Engagement
Email address: [emailprotected]
Telephone number: 07837 446620
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