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Senior Communications and Strategy Manager

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University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust

15d ago

  • Job
    Full-time
    Expert Level
  • Southampton, +3

AI generated summary

  • You should have a relevant degree or equivalent experience, strong communication skills, proven strategic planning, media management, and leadership abilities, plus alignment with trust values.
  • You will manage complex communications projects, shape strategies, evaluate campaigns, and advise stakeholders to support innovation in healthcare.

Requirements

  • Qualifications / Training Required
  • - Degree in English, Marketing, Communications or Business Studies; or relevant HND, Degree, NVQ4 or first level professional qualification (or equivalent qualification or experience).
  • - Educated to degree level with a postgraduate qualification in either: journalism, marketing, public relations or related field, or equivalent experience.
  • - Significant experience across the entire communications, marketing, and engagement mix; highly skilled in various professional communication specialities.
  • - Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development.
  • Previous or relevant experience necessary
  • - Able to draw upon significant communications, corporate and strategic experience to generate original ideas and innovative solutions, where precedents may not exist, through the provision of appropriate in-depth specialist, or broad management, knowledge, and advice
  • - Excellent copywriting and editing skills, with experience in deployment across the digital marketing mix
  • - Extensive experience of preparing, implementing, and evaluating effective communications and engagement plans for a range of projects/campaigns with tangible examples of successful delivery.
  • - Experience of leading junior staff, including delegation, support, direction, and general management techniques.
  • - Experience of managing complex media enquiries.
  • - Significant experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment.
  • Values and behaviours
  • - Able to demonstrate behaviours that meet the Trust Values. Patients First, Always Improving, Working Together.
  • - Able to demonstrate behaviours that meet Health Innovation Wessex values. Innovative, Inclusive, Collaborative, Achieving, Trustworthy.

Responsibilities

  • Main duties of the job
  • At Health Innovation Wessex we improve people’s health, achieve excellence in healthcare and boost innovation and growth in our region’s life sciences and healthcare sector.
  • We are looking for a skilled communications professional to join our small team for 12 months to cover maternity leave, delivering across a broad remit in health and care's innovation landscape.
  • You’ll draw on your significant corporate and strategic experience and specialist knowledge to address communications challenges and opportunities with innovative solutions.
  • You’ll have extensive experience in preparing, implementing and evaluating effective communications and engagement strategies and plans for a range of programmes involving different stakeholder groups.
  • We are an ambitious organisation, looking for passionate and motivated people to join us with a proven track record of delivery.
  • You will need tenacity to succeed, great communication and project management skills, an ability to build new relationships quickly, and the capability to use influencing and negotiating skills to develop understanding and gain cooperation.
  • Working for our organisation
  • Health Innovation Wessex (HIW) is a company limited by guarantee, owned by the NHS and University Members with staff hosted by University Hospital Southampton.
  • Based at Southampton Science Park in Chilworth in a bright modern office easily accessible from the M3, M27 and Southampton Parkway train station, the location offers free parking with a café area and networking spaces on site.
  • 27 acres of the Science Park site are designated a protected Conservation Area and open to staff.
  • We are keen to ensure that staff enjoy a successful work/life balance and offer flexible working dependent on the requirements of the role.
  • Our hybrid working framework provides for in a minimum of 2 days in office or out visiting partners/stakeholders and home working aligned to business needs.
  • Health Innovation Wessex endorses personal development and provides training allowances to help you deliver in the role and meet your career and organisational goals.
  • We also have a proactive approach to wellbeing in line with our core values of being Innovative, Inclusive and Collaborative, with staff engagement groups shaping the organisation’s culture and driving initiatives to allow our people to flourish despite times of challenge, change and high demand.
  • Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
  • Main Responsibility
  • The successful postholder will lead and manage several complex communications projects, lead the communications strategy for Health Innovation Wessex, and lead varied operational aspects of the communications team’s delivery.
  • You will work across the organisation in a matrix manner; working beyond the remit of communications and often leading strategic areas of work for Health Innovation Wessex and contributing to the objectives of the national Health Innovation Network and its commissions.
  • General Duties
  • To take a leading role in the running of the Health Innovation Wessex communications function, with clear accountability and responsibilities for relationships, communications strategies, plans and delivery for assigned work portfolios and projects. This includes the project management of specialist communications activities to support the spread and adoption of innovation into the local NHS system, requiring strategic and sensitive decision-making, autonomous working and sound reasoning; all of which supports the overall strategic objectives of Health Innovation Wessex.
  • The role is the formal deputy to the HIW’s Associate Director (AD) for Communications, which includes managing and evaluating communications projects and campaigns; managing the communications function in the AD’s absence; and providing advice and guidance to all HIW staff, including the executive team and other senior managers, clinicians and academics in their work at/with HIW.
  • Shape, deliver and support the ongoing communications strategy and digital communications projects for Health Innovation Wessex – advising on engagement with partners, members, stakeholders, innovators, national commissioners and other organisations to underpin the organisation’s business (innovation) spread and adoption objectives. This includes planning and organising team activity with an appreciation of longer-term issues and workloads; ensuring plans complement and feed into broader operational plans and organisational strategic aims.

FAQs

What is the duration of the Senior Communications and Strategy Manager position?

The position is for 12 months to cover maternity leave.

What qualifications are required for this role?

A degree in English, Marketing, Communications, or Business Studies is required, along with a postgraduate qualification in a related field or equivalent experience.

Is prior experience in the NHS important for this role?

While not mandatory, having an appreciation of the challenges involved with communications and transformation in the NHS is advantageous for success in this role.

Where is the office located for this position?

The office is based at Southampton Science Park in Chilworth, which is easily accessible from the M3, M27, and Southampton Parkway train station.

How many days a week will I be expected to work in the office?

You will be expected to work a minimum of 2 days in the office or out visiting partners/stakeholders, with the remainder being home working aligned to business needs.

What type of projects will I be managing in this role?

You will lead and manage several complex communications projects, as well as shape and deliver the communications strategy for Health Innovation Wessex.

Will I have the opportunity to lead junior staff?

Yes, the role includes experience in leading junior staff, including delegation, support, and direction.

Is there a focus on staff wellbeing within the organization?

Yes, Health Innovation Wessex has a proactive approach to wellbeing, aligning with their core values and encouraging staff engagement in shaping the organization’s culture.

Are applications for secondment welcomed?

Yes, applications for secondment are welcomed for this role.

What values are emphasized by Health Innovation Wessex?

The values are Innovative, Inclusive, Collaborative, Achieving, and Trustworthy, alongside the Trust values of Patients First, Always Improving, and Working Together.

University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust

🏥 #NHS careers @UHSFT 🌡 Putting patients first 🤝 Working together 🔬 Always improving #LeadingTheWay

Science & Healthcare
Industry
10,001+
Employees
2011
Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS) offers a broad range of healthcare services, including specialized and emergency care, to the community. Their ultimate mission is to provide exceptional patient care, support, and treatment through innovation and excellence. UHS aims to improve health outcomes and enhance the patient experience by fostering a dedicated, skilled workforce and implementing advanced medical practices.

Benefits

  • Staff Discounts

    Receive discounts for major retailers and experiences with the Blue Light card, plus other salary sacrifice schemes.

  • 24/7 Wellbeing Support

    You can access impartial, confidential advice from qualified counsellors for many different issues.

  • Cycle to work

    Keep active with tax-free bikes and save up to 30% on cycling gear.

  • Park & Ride

    The Adanac Health & Innovation Campus provides a park and ride service.

  • Training & development

    We support development from entry level apprenticeships through to post doctoral research.

  • On-site Facilities

    Access to free gym membership, numerous eateries and bespoke gardens at our Southampton General site

  • Childcare support

    Support and advice is available to all employees on any childcare related issue.

  • Savings on childcare

    Access to childcare vouchers and our fee direct scheme.