Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen to lead the Communications team in the South London Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN), hosted by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. The Communications Manager will lead regional and national communications as part of the Research Delivery Network (RDN) Communications Team, dispersed across the 12 Regional Research Delivery Networks (RRDN) and the RDN Coordinating Centre. As a senior member of the RDN Communications Team, you will provide a high quality, professional and proactive communications service to the RDN regionally and nationally, and will report to the RRDN Head of Strategy, Engagement and Inclusion.
Main duties of the job
This role will take responsibility for RDN communication using a range of different channels that will promote the reputation of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Delivery Network (RDN) as a high-quality health and care research organisation. They will lead the delivery of a corporate communication strategy and associated communication activities, engagement events and marketing initiatives to enable the RDN to deliver on its strategic objectives and showcase the RDN’s impact. In addition, they will have line management responsibility for the Communications Officer.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Main responsibilities include:
- 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
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Person specification
Skills & Abilities
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
Knowledge & Experience
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
Education & Qualifications
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
Values & Personal Qualities
Essential
- Compassionate
- Understanding of change and adaptable
- Politically aware
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Communications Manager with Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in Remote. It is listed as a Band 7 Administrative and IT role. The advertised salary is £58,133 - £65,261 per annum incl HCAS. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 13 Sep 2026.
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