Communications Manager

• Understand the communications needs of all RRDN services and support the optimisation of those services through effective and impactful communications
• Lead on the production of corporate communications aligned to the RDN strategic objectives
• Undertake regional and cross regional events management
• Triangulate/scope impact statements and stories for potential media and other coverage in conjunction with regional stakeholders
• Lead and deliver national/regional campaigns and communications channels

• provide support to research sites to enable the effective and efficient initiation and delivery of funded research across the health and care system in England
• enable the strategic development of new and more effective research delivery capability and capacity. This will include bringing research to under-served regions and communities with major health and care needs
• work jointly with the Coordinating Centre in the strategic oversight of the NIHR RDN. This will ensure that the Portfolio is maintained as a cohort of high-quality, fully-funded, viable and deliverable studies. It will also ensure that the NIHR RDN as a whole serves the research delivery needs of investigators and R&D teams and is responsive to the changing domestic and global environment for health and care, life sciences and health research.

Essential

• Degree level (or equivalent experience) with extensive professional experience working in communications, media, web publishing or marketing, preferably in the health sector

Desirable

• Background in research and development, science or healthcare

Essential

• High level of experience in a relevant speciality i.e. public relations, communications, marketing and/or journalism to post graduate level or demonstrable experience. This must include social / web-based media
• Demonstrable experience of working in a large, complex organisation
• High level of knowledge around the full range of public and health professional communication channels and their effective deployment, including around the latest technologies for digital engagement and techniques around behavioural change
• Experience of inter-agency working involving multiple and diverse partners
• Experience of line management
• Experience of managing a customer-focused service
• Experience of working at a similar level in the NHS or other healthcare environment
• Good understanding of the health and care research environment

Desirable

• Experience of providing communications support to a local authority

Essential

• Ability to exercise initiative
• Excellent organisational skills
• Attention to detail
• Staff training skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent leadership skills
• Ability to operate at all levels throughout an organisation
• Ability to write concise and clear reports and to write Standard Operating Procedures
• Ability to work to tight deadlines under pressure
• Experience of managing a wide range of complex duties
• Ability to prepare and deliver presentations to a high standard
• Ability to plan, manage and deliver projects and activities, involving multiple agencies and individuals to tight deadlines
• Media handling skills
• Ability to communicate complex information to a range of audiences at all levels within the organisation and externally
• Excellent IT literacy including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or equivalent Google applications and relevant design packages e.g. Adobe InDesign, CANVA
• The ability to manage challenging and stressful situations
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Ability to work autonomously and to exercise initiative, with creativity, drive and flexibility

Essential

• Compassionate
• Understanding of change and adaptable
• Politically aware