Company Description
Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.
Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.
Job Description
Isle of Wight NHS Trust (IWT) and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust (PHU) provide NHS care for a population of 800,000 in Portsmouth, South East Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Our 11,000 staff operate from two main sites: Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth and St Mary's Hospital in Newport, Isle of Wight. Both Trusts are rated 'Good' by the CQC.
We are looking to appoint an inspirational, dynamic and highly creative individual to lead and tell our story, showcasing how we are delivering excellent care for our communities.
This is a pivotal role providing strategic leadership, professional advice, and expertise. You will lead a team delivering and continually improving our external and internal communications and public engagement work. You will also manage and prioritise a significant and complex portfolio of services including the 24/7 media relations service, public engagement, event engagement and public consultation.
You will need to be a senior communications and engagement expert with proven track record as inventive, driven and compassionate leader. You will be comfortable working in fast-paced and often unpredictable environments, managing complex and evolving stakeholder relationships and be a natural collaborator, both inside and outside of the organisation.
You will report to, and work closely with, the Chief People Officer and Chief Executive to ensure we manage, protect and enhance the reputation of our organisation, through clear and coherent messaging and impactful communications that reflect our objectives and strategic plans.
Joining IWT and PHU means becoming part of a dedicated team focused on delivering excellent care for our communities. You will play a crucial role in shaping how we communicate our mission and achievements to the public, ensuring that our message is clear, impactful, and aligned with our strategic plans.
If you are a seasoned communications professional with the necessary attributes to succeed in this pivotal role, we welcome your application. Be part of our story in delivering outstanding healthcare services.
Please see enclosedCandidate Brieffor full details on the role requirements.
For further details and to arrange an informal conversation, please contact Penny Emerit, Chief Executive via Jayne Bonilla, Executive Assistant to Chief Executive and Chairman on 02392 286770 or Kelvin Cheatle, Interim Chief People Officer via Helen Edwards, Executive Assistant to Interim Chief People Officer on 02392 283256
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional Degree/Post Graduate Qualification in Communications, Public Relations or related field or equivalent experience
- Evidence of sustained personal and professional development
Experience
- Extensive experience at a senior level with a large-scale communications function including stakeholder engagement
- Successful track record in dealing with large scale change
- Demonstrable record of improving both internal and external communications in a complex organisation
- Experience of successful media relations including confident handling of press, radio and TV interview on contentious subjects
- Demonstrable experience of using social and digital media to communicate with key audiences
- Extensive experience of crisis strategy and management
Skills And Knowledge
- High level of political knowledge and influencing skills
- Ability to demonstrate a thorough understanding of NHS structures, processes and current issues
- High order leadership, communication and presentation skills
- Ability to make difficult decisions that support strategic aims and long term vision
- Ability to build relationships with the media, politicians and all key stakeholders
Additional Information
The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront of everything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and DisAbility, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe we can offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most.
We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.
