Strategic Communications and Engagement Manager

• Providing expert advice and support to managers and colleagues into support the delivery ofcommunications and engagement objectives
• Delivering priority projectssuch as the work and health programme, as well as briefing,commissioningand managing external suppliers and specialist capacity where needed
• Building strong relationships with partners across boroughs and at system level - including local authorities.employment support providers, VCSE organisations and NHS colleagues
• Creating clear, accessible publicfacing communications and engagement materials that translate complex work and health issues into straightforward, engaging messaging
• Supporting supervision and development of more junior colleagues in the wider team

• Excellent judgement with the ability to analyse complex communications and engagement issues and advise on the best course of action
• Confidence andexpertiseto provide advice to senior directors and managers, with the ability to provide challenge as appropriate
• Able to provide and receivehighly complex, sensitive information, where co-operation and agreement arerequired
• Skilled at creating and delivering presentations for use across a range of audiences, including staff, managers,stakeholdersand the media
• Confident using a range of digital communications software, including eMarketing, web publishing, dataanalyticsand video editing tools
• Able to juggle multiple priorities,demonstratingpositivity, creativity, flexibility and openness tonew ideas and change

• We plan and fund local health and care services
• We support GPs, hospitals, mental health teams, community clinics and pharmacies.
• We work with councils and community groups so care is joined-up and easy to use.
• We listen to local people and use their ideas to improve services.
• We want health and care to be fair, simple and close to home.

• Reducing inequalities
• Investing strategically to prevent ill health
• Better supporting people with the greatest needs, so everyone stays well
• Make care more local and easier to access
• Empowered local people that feel more confident about their health and wellbeing

Essential

• Educated to Master's degree, or equivalent level of experience in a communication and/or engagement role
• Evidence of continuing professional development or training, with sound knowledge of best practice as it relates to communications and engagement.
• Good understanding of the role of the ICB and ICS within the wider NHS, including current issues and challenges and the wider political and public sector context.
• Good understanding of engagement approaches and methodologies, including co -production, direct involvement, outreach engagement and reaching seldom heard voices.
• Good understanding of all aspects of communications, including strategic planning, media and public affairs, digital communications, campaigns, marcomms and internal communications.

Desirable

• Experience of working in the NHS or wider public sector
• CIM/CIPR qualification, specialist engagement or consultation qualification

Essential

• Experience of developing and delivering strategic communications and engagement plans with tangible evidence of effective delivery and measurable impact.
• Experience of giving professional communications and engagement advice to senior leaders .
• Experience of using a range of digital channels and techniques to reach and engage a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience of delivering a robust approach to reactive and proactive media and public affairs .
• Experience of advising on and/or delivering patient and public engagement (PPE) activity to support communications and engagement objectives, with up-to-date knowledge and understanding of best practice.
• Experience of managing suppliers to deliver communications and engagement activity.

Essential

• Excellent organisational, project management, performance management and financial management skills with a methodical approach to ensuring best quality.
• Ability to work at both a strategic and operational level and to take a long-term view while juggling day-today, unforeseen or time sensitive tasks
• Ability to bring people together around shared plans and priorities, with the expertise and gravitas to coordinate communications and engagement activity across an assigned portfolio.
• Ability and/or experience of working within or managing a corporate brand, including ensuring all communications and content is accessible to everyone and reflective of our diverse communities.

Essential

• Excellent communications skills, including oral, written and presentation skills
• Exceptional editorial, copywriting, and story -telling skills, with a meticulous attention to detail and the creativity to translate complex ideas into engaging, people focused content.
• Excellent inter -personal, persuasion and negotiating skills with the ability to form and maintain productive, professional working relationships with a diverse range of individuals and groups
• Ability to translate communications and engagement requirements to a technical brief and to work with internal and external suppliers to develop communication solutions, with excellent project management skills.
• Excellent professional judgement, with the emotional intelligence and political astuteness to manage contentious or sensitive issues, ensuring the communications response is measured and thoughtful.
• Ability to act as a champion for patients and residents, ensuring that their voice influences decision making.
• Ability to work to the highest standards, demonstrating resilience to pressure, a willingness to adapt quickly to changing situations, work flexibly and retain due professionalism at all times.
• Ability to navigate challenges and stay on course, with the tenacity and drive to prioritise actions and make things happen

Essential

• Mental Effort: frequent interruption, intense concentration when reviewing/writing documents/data, presenting at board meetings.
• Emotional Effort: imparting unwelcome news to staff or stakeholders, including journalists, exposed to difficult/emotional meetings where responses may be hostile or antagonistic.

Essential

• Commitment to the values and principles of system working agreed across WNL.
• Ability to actively promote equality, diversity, and inclusion within all areas of responsibility.