Communications and Engagement Manager inLeeds/London inLeeds/London PUBLISHED SUN 17 NOV 2024

Do you believe in improving lives through digital, data, innovation and technology?

We're looking for an exceptional values-led professional to join our busy team. We provide expertise to the Transformation Directorate (4000+ colleagues) ensuring communications is at the heart of planning and decision-making, alongside delivering corporate comms.

This role flexes across multiple programmes, getting involved in everything from products to life sciences, digital infrastructure to data.

You're a communications generalist with specialised knowledge grounded in practical experience across multiple channels. You routinely develop communication plans to support business objectives and take ownership of delivery from start to finish. Your written and verbal skills are exemplary and you're comfortable providing advice and support to senior leaders in a complex environment.

A natural relationship builder, collaborator and problem solver you're happy working autonomously whilst also being a first-rate team player. You'll be planning, developing and delivering a broad range of activities with multiple opportunities to stretch and grow.

If you've got the right experience and the right attitude, we'd love to hear from you. In return, you'll be involved in meaningful, varied work with supportive managers, a strong commitment to the right values and behaviours and a great team spirit.

There are 3 positions for this vacancy.

The post holder will be expected to support the business needs of theTransformation Directorate. You can be reassigned to different directorates as the business priorities for NHS England change and develop.

Location - Please note this job vacancy is based in either Wellington Place, Leeds LS1 4AP, Wellington House, London SE1 8UG.

About us

• Develop compelling, integrated, content to best achieve the aims and objectives in their assigned area(s) contributing to forward planning and gridding processes
• Deliver communications and engagement activity for assigned area(s), developing an excellent understanding of how they align to the communications objectives for NHSE and the overall strategy and business plan
• Build effective working relationships with other directorates, regional teams and the national comms team to ensure a one-team coherent approach
• Provide communications and engagement advice across, for example, written, social media, events, media and marketing disciplines and support to directorate staff to support their work.
• Produce a broad range of written communications to the highest standard; using expertise and experience to identify the right channels and styles for specific audiences Spot communications opportunities and risks and work with national communications team to manage as appropriate
• Develop communications and engagement plans for specific projects and manage their effective implementation, ensuring the needs of your defined audiences are met
• Works on own initiative yet recognises when an issue warrants escalation
• Provide support to directorate teams on all aspects of their stakeholder engagement.
• Contribute and participate in the development of professional capability and expertise
• Where required, manage and lead direct reports

Develop credibility as a communications adviser, providing advice and support whilst building strong relationships within their assigned area(s)

• Ensures involvement and consultation where necessary and takes action when required
• Ensure adherence to NHSE approval processes and gain sign-off at the appropriate level
• Deputise for line manager
• Develop close working relationships with policy and delivery teams
• Ensure value for money and compliance with communications spend control processes
• Identify potential issues that could impact NHSE
• Contribute to business planning and budgeting for their assigned area(s)
• Contribute to the teams administration, planning, evaluation and reporting processes
• When required, provide guidance and support to commissioners working in areas affected by service reviews around their legal duties to engage and consult. Ensure each service review complies with statutory guidance, NHS Englands legal responsibilities and processes around managing consultations.
• When required, advise on, design and deliver national consultation activity across a range of services in directorate portfolios

The post holder will support the Head of Department and their team to ensure that their work stream of programmes are planned and managed effectively and take the lead in assisting in their successful delivery:

• Manage the teams business support function, including developing and managing the teams business plan, progress and reporting risk and issue management.
• Liaise with appropriate functions within the regions, organisation and the Sector.
• Manage all corporate business returns, including planning and workforce returns.
• Develop and implement a content management system to ensure information is properly managed and best practice is shared across the team, Directorate and the wider NHS organisation.
• Take a lead in the coordination of training & development and recruitment activity across the team.
• Oversight and management of all aspects of the team/ project budgets

The postholder requires the ability to work to the requirements of the job and workload with an unpredictable work pattern that may include a fast, professional response out of hours such as overnight or at weekends to meet the demands of both the organisation and others to meet deadlines (outside of on-call arrangements).