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Job overview
The Communications and Engagement Manager plays a key role in delivering high-quality, professional and responsive communications and engagement activity for Whittington Health to support the Trust’s ambitions. The post-holder leads on and supports a range of internal and external communications projects and campaigns, providing expert advice and support, shaping and delivering strategic communications and engagement activity and ensuring that all the materials the team produces is of a high standard.
The post holder will work in a dynamic and fast paced environment, enjoying working at the heart of a busy NHS organisation, where no two days are the same. The role features the opportunity to make a real impact by helping to protect and enhance the Trust's reputation while communicating and engaging with patients, local communities, and colleagues across the Trust and wider health and care system.
The Communications and Engagement Manager is a key member of the Communications and Engagement Team. They will support a number of significant programmes, depending on the needs of the Team and the Trust, which may include the procurement of an electronic patient record, potential expansion of a Community Diagnostic Centre, a systemwide transformation of maternity and neonatal services, plus the rollout of a new clinical strategy and the Trust’s ambitions as a leader in Neighbourhood Working.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will own the planning delivery and evaluation of individual projects across a diverse brief.
Delivery of projects and campaigns will include the design, creation and publication of a wide range of materials to execute them. This includes social and digital resources, physical assets, engagement materials and other tactical products such as proactive media releases and reactive statements.
Managed by the Head of Communications and Engagement, the post holder will support the day-to-day running of the team, ensuring the delivery of regular communications activities, including populating and critically examining the planning grid, creating and/or supervising internal and external newsletters, webinars and town halls.
They will lead or support on identifying and delivering engagement in the communities we serve, placing listening and involvement at the heart of developing our plans.
The post-holder will regularly generate proactive media opportunities, and will develop plans to ensure that generated media opportunities support the strategic ambitions of the Trust, ensure our vision, values and other key messages are clearly articulated.
The communications team may flex over time depending on organisational need, but at the point of recruitment the post holder will line-manage two Communications and Engagement Officers, ensuring that they are supported to thrive in their role, and that their work is timely and of high quality.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the Job Description and Person Specification for more information, or call Mike Smith for a chat about the role.
Applicant requirements
This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- Ability to command the confidence of colleagues, staff, Directors and Board members
- Knowledge of myriad communication channels, their strengths and weaknesses.
- Politically astute with proven track record of developing networks
- Proven ability to manage and deliver to deadlines and within resources
- Proven ability to think and plan strategically and prioritise work programmes in the face of competing demands
- Excellent written, and verbal/oral communication skills
- Excellent numerical, critical reasoning skills
- Effective negotiation and influencing skills
- Ability to deal with highly complex or highly sensitive information
- Ability to communicate effectively to a range of audiences, including those with significant barriers to understanding or acceptance or in a hostile or emotive environment
- Ability to identify, lead and facilitate new initiatives
- Ability to build relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, partners and interested parties
- Significant influencing and persuasion skills
Desirable
- A good understanding of the NHS and the changing environment, including awareness and understanding of current and impending health policy developments
- Understanding of current data protection and freedom of information legislation
- Understanding of impact of current health policy developments on provider organisations
Experience
Essential
- Experience of complex communications and engagement activity
- Experience of issues management, including crisis management and confident handling of stakeholders and media on contentious subjects
- Experience of line management within a complex organisation
- Experience of creating opportunities and working collaboratively with internal and external partners
- Experience of using digital channels including social media to communicate with key audiences
- Experience of project ownership, including planning, delivery and evaluation
- Experience managing a budget for projects or campaigns
Desirable
- Experience of engagement with a diverse range of stakeholders
- Experience in the NHS, or another politically high-profile setting
- Experience of working innovatively, using new and emerging tools to improve impact
- Experience of developing and delivering business cases
Personal qualities
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Excellent political awareness and sensitivity
- Excellent team player
- Emotionally resilient and able to work to demanding timetables
- Positive, and curious with creative energy and a bias to action
Education and qualifications
Essential
- Master’s degree, specialist communication postgraduate qualification, or equivalent experience
- Evidence of continued learning and development in communications and engagement
Desirable
- Project Management qualification or equivalent experience
- Membership of a professional body such as the CIPR or PRCA
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Communications and Engagement Manager with Whittington Health NHS Trust in Whittington Hospital. It is listed as a Band 7 Administrative and IT role. The advertised salary is £58,133 - £65,261 per annum inclusive of HCAs. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 27 Aug 2026.
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