Job overview
We are recruiting for a Communications Officer based at our Bedford Hospital site, with occasional travel to our Luton & Dunstable site.
If you can balance staff communications and engagement, deliver effective campaigns, and develop compelling online content, this could be the ideal role for you.
This position offers an excellent opportunity for someone with the right skills, experience and drive to design and deliver communications and marketing initiatives that help position Bedfordshire Hospitals as the NHS Trust of choice for patients across Bedfordshire and beyond.
We welcome applications from candidates with experience in stakeholder engagement, marketing, communications, digital media or journalism. You will be an exceptional written and verbal communicator, highly organised, and committed to building a career in communications. Strong initiative, administrative capability and organisational skills are essential.
This is a unique chance to shape and influence a developing communications agenda, lead on internal communications, stakeholder relations and community engagement, and make a meaningful contribution to the Trust’s vision and future plans.
This is a part time vacancy, and we can be flexible with how the hours can be worked. However, we would also consider applicants who want to work full time.
Main duties of the job
1. Manage the communications inbox, responding promptly to staff and external enquiries.
2. Source, write and edit content for the Trust’s staff magazine, and support the production of material for the members’ magazine.
3. Lead or advise on the planning and delivery of promotional events, including liaison with stakeholders and the media.
4. Interpret and present complex information in clear, accessible formats for press releases, newsletters, advertisements, website content and other materials, ensuring positive representation of the Trust.
5. Provide guidance to managers and departments on producing patient information materials, including leaflets and other publications.
6. Update and maintain content across the Trust’s internet and intranet sites.
7. Provide communications support to key priority projects such as digitisation, redevelopment and merger integration.
8. Contribute to the development of the Trust’s communications and marketing strategies, campaigns and plans.
9. Co‑ordinate photography and photo opportunities, and support the team with filming and interview arrangements.
10. Work to tight deadlines, manage competing priorities and handle an unpredictable workload effectively
Working for our organisation
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities
11. Manage the communications inbox, responding to staff and external enquiries
12. Source, write and edit the Trust’s staff magazine and assist with producing material for the members magazine;
13. Lead or advise on the planning of promotional events including liaison with stakeholders and the media;
14. Understand and present often complex information in more accessible forms in the preparation of press releases, newsletters, advertisements, web site content etc in such a way as to maximise positive coverage of the Trust;
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
15. Degree in relevant subject area (e.g. Communications, marketing, media etc..) or equivalent qualification, or equivalent experience
Desirable criteria
16. Relevant postgraduate or industry-recognised qualification (CIM/ CIPR)
Experience
Essential criteria
17. Significant experience of managing digital content and development
18. Experience of using Content Management Systems (CMS)
19. Experience of managing content for social media
20. Experience within corporate communications
21. Experience of working across Departments/ organisations to deliver projects and plans
22. Experience of working in a politically sensitive environment
23. Experience of working in a high pressure environment
24. Experience of event organisation and management
Desirable criteria
25. Experience working within NHS Communications
26. Experience of developing new websites and intranets
Knowledge
Essential criteria
27. Knowledge of principles of media relations work
28. Competent in working across multiple teams and projects
29. Competent in researching and writing materials for use in corporate communications channels
Desirable criteria
30. Advanced IT skills, especially Adobe design, video editing sites, Microsoft packages including Word, PowerPoint and Excel
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.