Communications Manager

Job summary Royal Papworth Hospital has an international reputation for excellence.
Our communications team strives for those same high standards to promote the trust's reputation and help deliver its strategic objectives.This role has become available due to growth in the team, with this postholder working across both our internal and external channels.We are looking for an experienced communicator with all-round skills and a passion for storytelling to a range of audiences, taking sometimes complex detail and translating it into easy-to-understand, engaging content.For example, one day you might be supporting an internal project by crafting a difficult message that needs to be communicated in a clear and concise way; the next you could be working on a press release to secure media coverage on an innovative piece of research.We need someone who is enthusiastic about building relationships with people and understands the importance of making sure our channels are effective for the people and stakeholders we communicate with, whether that's staff, patients, visitors, the public or partners across healthcare and life sciences.This position also requires being part of a 24/7 on-call rota and will be expected to deputise for the head of communications as and when required.
Main duties of the job *Develop, implement and evaluate communication projects for a wide range of audiences.
*Take proactive steps to keep aware of developments in the media and health landscape, identifying and optimising opportunities for telling our story.
*Significantly contribute to the Trust's digital comms strategy across social and website, coming up with new ways of telling stories through regular, engaging content that meets the needs of target audiences and supports organisational objectives.
*Develop an understanding of the way in which employee engagement works at the Trust, using this knowledge to help shape the internal comms strategy, setting clear objectives to boost staff experience.
*Commission, write, edit, proof-read and co-ordinate content for staff communication channels and external publications.
*Work with the colleagues to ensure patient communications materials are accurate and up-to-date.
*Provide specialist communications advice to senior leaders, managers, staff and committees and work with other departments to provide communications support for Trust projects, identifying and delivering storytelling opportunities along the way.
*Respond to queries received via the hospital's website and social media channels.
*Work with external consultants/agencies including designers and video production agencies.
*Deputise for the Head of Communications when required.
About us Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is the UK's leading heart and lung hospital, delivering care to more than 50,000 patients a year in its new state-of-the-art hospital in Cambridge.
We perform the most heart and/or lung transplants in the UK and carried out the UK's first successful heart transplant in 1979.
It also offers emergency heart attack treatment, sleep centre care and is one of just five centres nationally for those in severe respiratory failure.
Based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus the largest centre of medical research and health science in Europe the Trust is at the heart of treatments of the future.
Royal Papworth became the first hospital trust in the country to be rated outstanding in all five areas assessed by the Care Quality Commission - a rating it still holds today.
The Trust holds its values of compassion, excellence & collaboration at its core, and all colleagues joining the team are expected to uphold these in their day-to-day roles & interactions.
Royal Papworth is proud of its diverse workforce and encourages people to embrace their individuality.
The Trust values difference and welcomes all applications irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity, race, religion & belief, sex and sexual orientation.
Providing they meet the minimum post criteria, applicants with disabilities will be offered an interview.
For a street view tour: Job description Job responsibilities On this page you will find a Role Profile which provides information about the hospital and full details about the role.
We recommend that you review this and refer to it as you complete your application.
Please include how you will meet the Trust Values Compassion, Excellence and Collaboration.
If you would like more information about the role or working at Royal Papworth Hospital, please get in touch with the contact for this role.
Person Specification Qualifications Essential *Degree-level education or equivalent experience.
*Evidence of ongoing professional development and training in the communications field.
Desirable *Relevant postgraduate qualification in communications, marketing or journalism.
Experience Essential *Highly developed knowledge of communications, public relations, journalism and marketing communication techniques, approaches and procedures; acquired through training to relevant degree level or equivalent plus training and/or experience in the communications field.
*Substantial experience of managing media relations and/or internal communications in a large, public-facing organisation.
*Experience of managing social media accounts for a brand / organisation.
*Experience of leading and managing complex projects - involving management of timescales/deadlines and budgets.
*Experience of and implementing external and/or internal communications strategies and plans.
*Experience of managing proactive and reactive media relations, including managing the media in crisis situations.
*Experience of operating at a strategic level, when required and deputising for team head.
*Understanding/awareness of the NHS and wider health agenda, including knowledge of Trust stakeholders and local political environment.
*Excellent written and oral communication skills.
*Able to think strategically and plan communications for maximum impact on organisational objectives.
*Able to come up with creative solutions to communications needs.
*Ability to provide peer support and motivate colleagues.
*Ability to receive, analyse, translate and present complex, sensitive information into plain language and deliver messages appropriately to key audiences where cooperation and/or engagement are required.
*Proactively seek out projects and stories that can benefit from communications support.
*Work well under pressure, with an ability to effectively and calmly manage a number of different and competing priorities to tight deadlines, responding to interruptions and unpredictable, urgent requests.
*Good interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate with and secure the confidence of senior staff and build effective relationships with a wide range of colleagues.
Desirable *Experience of managing external agencies, including web, print and design agencies.
*Managing and protecting house/organisation style and corporate identity/image.
*Experience of handling and delivering confidential, high-profile and sensitive issues.
*Occasional need for lifting and moving goods and materials and equipment to events.
Additional Criteria Essential Please provide evidence of your commitment to uphold the Trust's values: Compassion, Excellence, Collaboration *Confident *Calm under pressure *Motivated, helpful and approachable *Forward thinking, innovative, creative and enthusiastic *Flexible, co-operative and adaptable to change *Resilient and professional *Understanding/awareness of the NHS and wider health agenda, including knowledge of Trust stakeholders and local political environment.
*Excellent written and oral communication skills.
*Able to think strategically and plan communications for maximum impact on organisational objectives.
*Able to come up with creative solutions to communications needs.
*Ability to provide peer support and motivate colleagues.
*Ability to receive, analyse, translate and present complex, sensitive information into plain language and deliver messages appropriately to key audiences where cooperation and/or engagement are required.
*Proactively seek out projects and stories that can benefit from communications support.
*Work well under pressure, with an ability to effectively and calmly manage a number of different and competing priorities to tight deadlines, responding to interruptions and unpredictable, urgent requests.
*Good interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate with and secure the confidence of senior staff and build effective relationships with a wide range of colleagues.