Job summary We have an excellent opportunity for two Policy and Engagement Manager to join our Acute Network team. The Policy and Engagement Manager will play a critical role in supporting the NHS Confederations work on acute hospitals in particularly for Urgent and Emergency Care Services and Elective Recovery this includes: Providing support across projects related to urgent and emergency care/elective recovery. Providing support across projects related to urgent and emergency care/elective recovery. Assisting with organising meetings and events. Engaging and building relationships with internal and external stakeholders and supporting engagement activities. Focusing on elective recovery, urgent and emergency care, and improving patient flow (attendance, admission, and discharge processes). Main duties of the job The Policy and Engagement Manager will play a critical role in supporting the NHS Confederations work on acute hospitals in particularly for Urgent and Emergency Care Services and Elective Recovery. About us The NHS Confederation is the membership organisation that brings together, supports and speaks for the whole healthcare system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The members we represent employ 1.5 million staff, care for more than 1 million patients a day and control £150 billion of public expenditure. We promote collaboration and partnership working as the key to improving population health, delivering high-quality care and reducing health inequalities. The NHS Confederations Acute Network supports acute leaders in hospitals to exchange ideas, share experiences and challenges, and influence the national agenda. The Network supports engagement across acute hospitals and promotes effective system working. Date posted 08 April 2025 Pay scheme Other Salary £45,239 a year and £4000 London Weighting (if applicable) Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working Reference number NHS1082718 Job locations Calls Wharf 2 The Calls Leeds West Yorkshire LS2 7JU 18 Smith Square Westminster London Westminster SW1P 3HZ Job description Job responsibilities The postholder will be responsible for providing support across a range of projects, including managing parts of our out of acute network programme and putting the NHS on a sustainable footing workstream. The role will provide engagement support, building relationships with members and supporting engagement activities. The role will provide support for meetings and events such as webinars, liaising with NHS Confederation members and external stakeholders, including potential funding partners. The postholder will help manage our membership administrative data and support communication to members ensuring we build and maintain an excellent reputation with our members. The role will also provide policy support for our focus on elective recovery and improving patient flow, keeping up to date with NHS England policy, relevant events and briefings and understanding the context our members operate in. This role will also focus on whole system flow and understanding how other parts of the system can help support reducing elective backlogs and reduce attendance/demand in urgent and emergency care services including aspects of social and community care. The postholder will work collaboratively with other colleagues in the organisation on integrated cross-sector work. The postholder maintains a good understanding of issues facing Acute members in order to create high quality member events and communications and building positive relationships with senior stakeholders. Responsibilities Specific accountabilities include: Policy and influencing Support and contribute to policy work that supports acute care. You will do so by: Responding to member and stakeholder insight and developing policy influencing plans on key issues, including positioning on priority areas and topics. Support and contribute to the process of identifying influencing opportunities and developments that will affect our members. Support and deliver products in partnership with funding partners within our focus areas of elective/urgent and emergency care and putting the NHS on a sustainable footing strategic focus Drawing on member priorities, expertise, and knowledge in the development of policy thinking and improvement opportunities where appropriate Delivering high quality and insightful products that provide value for members and are influential on their behalf Aligning with work across the organisation and creating synergies with the work of other teams and Networks Supporting processes to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of their policy and influencing work, against the organisations strategic impact goals Preparing briefings to help inform health and care leaders of the key issues of the day Support and deliver improvement in partnership with funding partners within our elective/urgent and emergency care focus areas Contributing to the NHS Confederations events programme, including meetings with health and system leaders, and high-profile events and conferences Communications and events Your role will promote the work of the NHS Confederation through: Be able to make a strong case for change and write and speak persuasively with a range of external audiences Work with members to deliver high quality case studies for promotion through relevant NHS Confederation challenges or external influencing Support the delivery of relevant events (e.g. NHSConfedExpo), including developing content and organising speakers Ensuring members receive relevant and timely updates from the NHS Confederation about its work and national developments of interest to members through blogs and member updates Presenting at external meetings and events as necessary to support our policy and influencing work Drafting content for bulletins, developing social media content and web text Assisting in the delivery of communications plans and delivering communications projects. Develop improvement offers for members relating to elective/urgent and emergency care Key relationships Your role will maintain relationships with: Relevant officials from the Department of Health and Social Care and arms-length Bodies such as NHS England and NHS Improvement Staff from across the wider NHS Confederation including networks, communications, member insights, and external affairs and public affairs staff Partner organisations and key stakeholders including, but not limited to, AACE, LGA, ADASS, NAPC, NHS Providers, Royal Colleges, Shelford Group and Healthwatch Academics and think tanks Team Skills Your role will contribute to a high performing team through: Working flexibly and responsively to needs ensuring effective prioritisation and meeting short notice deadlines as required Investing in own personal development through feedback and continuous learning Building effective working relationships with colleagues and contributing to effective team dynamics Key relationships The postholder is responsible for building strong relationships with: Acute Network member organisation lead contacts Partner organisations and key stakeholders, including events venue suppliers Staff from across the wider NHS Confederation, including communications and events teams Membership engagement Managing CRM contacts, groups and marketing lists ensuring information is up to date and proactively identifying changes to contacts within member organisations and is maintained in line with data protection law. Supporting the membership team in identifying members that need re-engaging and identifying potential new members to help achieve the specific objective around growth. Events Assisting the team to manage events and conferences through: Supporting the organising and running of member events and assisting the team in gathering info on priority topics, attendees and guest speakers Booking, briefing and liaising with speakers and AV/staging providers, and preparing briefings with support from the wider team Sending out marketing emails, materials and joining instructions Communications To create and distribute high quality and effective communications, through: Assisting in managing the Network's social media activity ensuring regular, varied and timely content, to ensure the channels continue to grow. Working closely with the communications team to keep the content on the network's web pages up to date and relevant for members. Drafting of copy for various audiences and types of communications Job description Job responsibilities The postholder will be responsible for providing support across a range of projects, including managing parts of our out of acute network programme and putting the NHS on a sustainable footing workstream. The role will provide engagement support, building relationships with members and supporting engagement activities. The role will provide support for meetings and events such as webinars, liaising with NHS Confederation members and external stakeholders, including potential funding partners. The postholder will help manage our membership administrative data and support communication to members ensuring we build and maintain an excellent reputation with our members. The role will also provide policy support for our focus on elective recovery and improving patient flow, keeping up to date with NHS England policy, relevant events and briefings and understanding the context our members operate in. This role will also focus on whole system flow and understanding how other parts of the system can help support reducing elective backlogs and reduce attendance/demand in urgent and emergency care services including aspects of social and community care. The postholder will work collaboratively with other colleagues in the organisation on integrated cross-sector work. The postholder maintains a good understanding of issues facing Acute members in order to create high quality member events and communications and building positive relationships with senior stakeholders. Responsibilities Specific accountabilities include: Policy and influencing Support and contribute to policy work that supports acute care. You will do so by: Responding to member and stakeholder insight and developing policy influencing plans on key issues, including positioning on priority areas and topics. Support and contribute to the process of identifying influencing opportunities and developments that will affect our members. Support and deliver products in partnership with funding partners within our focus areas of elective/urgent and emergency care and putting the NHS on a sustainable footing strategic focus Drawing on member priorities, expertise, and knowledge in the development of policy thinking and improvement opportunities where appropriate Delivering high quality and insightful products that provide value for members and are influential on their behalf Aligning with work across the organisation and creating synergies with the work of other teams and Networks Supporting processes to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of their policy and influencing work, against the organisations strategic impact goals Preparing briefings to help inform health and care leaders of the key issues of the day Support and deliver improvement in partnership with funding partners within our elective/urgent and emergency care focus areas Contributing to the NHS Confederations events programme, including meetings with health and system leaders, and high-profile events and conferences Communications and events Your role will promote the work of the NHS Confederation through: Be able to make a strong case for change and write and speak persuasively with a range of external audiences Work with members to deliver high quality case studies for promotion through relevant NHS Confederation challenges or external influencing Support the delivery of relevant events (e.g. NHSConfedExpo), including developing content and organising speakers Ensuring members receive relevant and timely updates from the NHS Confederation about its work and national developments of interest to members through blogs and member updates Presenting at external meetings and events as necessary to support our policy and influencing work Drafting content for bulletins, developing social media content and web text Assisting in the delivery of communications plans and delivering communications projects. Develop improvement offers for members relating to elective/urgent and emergency care Key relationships Your role will maintain relationships with: Relevant officials from the Department of Health and Social Care and arms-length Bodies such as NHS England and NHS Improvement Staff from across the wider NHS Confederation including networks, communications, member insights, and external affairs and public affairs staff Partner organisations and key stakeholders including, but not limited to, AACE, LGA, ADASS, NAPC, NHS Providers, Royal Colleges, Shelford Group and Healthwatch Academics and think tanks Team Skills Your role will contribute to a high performing team through: Working flexibly and responsively to needs ensuring effective prioritisation and meeting short notice deadlines as required Investing in own personal development through feedback and continuous learning Building effective working relationships with colleagues and contributing to effective team dynamics Key relationships The postholder is responsible for building strong relationships with: Acute Network member organisation lead contacts Partner organisations and key stakeholders, including events venue suppliers Staff from across the wider NHS Confederation, including communications and events teams Membership engagement Managing CRM contacts, groups and marketing lists ensuring information is up to date and proactively identifying changes to contacts within member organisations and is maintained in line with data protection law. Supporting the membership team in identifying members that need re-engaging and identifying potential new members to help achieve the specific objective around growth. Events Assisting the team to manage events and conferences through: Supporting the organising and running of member events and assisting the team in gathering info on priority topics, attendees and guest speakers Booking, briefing and liaising with speakers and AV/staging providers, and preparing briefings with support from the wider team Sending out marketing emails, materials and joining instructions Communications To create and distribute high quality and effective communications, through: Assisting in managing the Network's social media activity ensuring regular, varied and timely content, to ensure the channels continue to grow. Working closely with the communications team to keep the content on the network's web pages up to date and relevant for members. Drafting of copy for various audiences and types of communications Person Specification Qualifications Essential Knowledge of contemporary UK health policy, policy priorities and service delivery challenges and the wider NHS Understanding of the UK political environment and the operation of government, preferably related to healthcare Experience of engaging stakeholders via roundtables/forums for shared purposes Digital communications experience, particularly developing content, drafting bulletins and social media Well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to grasp complex issues quickly, and to interpret and present them for a variety of audiences Excellent communication and the ability to build strong personal relationships High levels of self-motivation, the ability to be responsive and agile in a rapidly changing environment and to work under pressure to meet deadlines Experience of delivering change/improvement Desirable Experience of working with press and media Ability to write accessible and compelling policy narratives and ability to make a strong case for change and write and speak persuasively with a range of external audiences Ability to produce work closely informed by member priorities and needs Working in acute related matters e.g. social care, flow, commissioning, capital, waiting listsetc. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Knowledge of contemporary UK health policy, policy priorities and service delivery challenges and the wider NHS Understanding of the UK political environment and the operation of government, preferably related to healthcare Experience of engaging stakeholders via roundtables/forums for shared purposes Digital communications experience, particularly developing content, drafting bulletins and social media Well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to grasp complex issues quickly, and to interpret and present them for a variety of audiences Excellent communication and the ability to build strong personal relationships High levels of self-motivation, the ability to be responsive and agile in a rapidly changing environment and to work under pressure to meet deadlines Experience of delivering change/improvement Desirable Experience of working with press and media Ability to write accessible and compelling policy narratives and ability to make a strong case for change and write and speak persuasively with a range of external audiences Ability to produce work closely informed by member priorities and needs Working in acute related matters e.g. social care, flow, commissioning, capital, waiting listsetc. Employer details Employer name NHS Confederation Address Calls Wharf 2 The Calls Leeds West Yorkshire LS2 7JU Employer's website https://www.nhsconfed.org/ (Opens in a new tab)