Job Overview
The University Hospitals of Liverpool Group has an exciting opportunity for experienced Senior Communications Officer to support high-quality internal and external communications across our Research & Innovation (R&I) portfolio. In this fixed-term role, you'll work within the Research, Innovation and Communications team to deliver timely, effective communications aligned with Trust strategy. You will collaborate with colleagues at all levels, provide specialist communications and media advice, support reputation management and create engaging content across multiple channels. This is a chance to promote groundbreaking research across all UHL Group sites and strengthen relationships with partners, patients, staff and stakeholders. Hybrid working is available, with on-site presence expected each week.
Main duties of the job
* Deliver internal and external communications supporting UHL's Research & Innovation (R&I) activity.
* Ensure R&I communications are timely, effective and aligned with Trust strategy.
* Provide specialist communications and media advice to staff, including senior leaders.
* Support proactive and reactive media work to protect and enhance the Trust's reputation.
* Lead media events, launches and visits, including high-profile and VIP engagements.
* Produce high-quality content such as newsletters, campaigns, digital assets and publications.
* Build and maintain relationships with local, regional, specialist and national media.
* Support internal campaigns to boost staff engagement with research.
* Coordinate stakeholder engagement for R&I projects with the wider Comms and Marketing team.
* Contribute to planning and delivering social media and online content.
Working for our organisation
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital. We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients. UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond. For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West. Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women's Hospital specialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services. For roles at Liverpool Women's, visit their careers page.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
External Communications
* Deliver proactive and reactive communications promoting R&I and supporting Trust objectives.
* Identify strong media stories and enhance the Trust's reputation.
* Monitor media coverage and share insights with senior staff.
* Work with partners and agencies on joint communications.
* Produce press releases, statements, briefings and promotional content.
* Support external campaigns on research and Trust priorities.
* Represent the Trust at events when required.
Internal Communications
* Deliver internal communications and campaigns promoting R&I and Trust goals.
* Work with research teams on project specific campaigns.
* Produce and manage campaign materials.
* Support staff to improve internal communication flow.
* Create staff briefings, newsletters and digital content.
* Lead internal newsletters with colleagues and design/print agencies.
Stakeholder Engagement
* Coordinate stakeholder engagement for R&I.
* Align activities with the Trust's engagement plan.
* Represent the Trust as needed.
Digital & Social Media
* Support planning and creation of social and digital content.
* Assist with online campaigns promoting research.
* Ensure digital content meets Trust branding and tone.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
* Educated to degree level or equivalent
Desirable criteria
* Professional management qualification
* Postgraduate qualification in marketing, communications or public relations
Experience
Essential criteria
* Demonstrable experience in a communications/PR environment
* Demonstrable experience of media relations management
* Demonstrable experience of social media management
* Staff management experience
* Experience of managing complex and sensitive issues
Desirable criteria
* Experience in an NHS or other public sector communications/PR environment
* Marketing experience
Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Detailed knowledge and understanding of the NHS including latest developments and policy initiatives
* Understanding, knowledge and track record of managing internal and external communications in a large organisation
* Understanding, knowledge and track record of managing media relations
* Excellent knowledge of local and national policies and priorities
Please ensure you check the email account (including junk/spam boxes) from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
Posts advertised to 'internal staff' are open to employees of hospitals within University Hospitals of Liverpool Group and you should confirm your employment within your application form.
Note: Under current Home Office Immigration Rules we are currently unable to offer right to work visa sponsorship for Band 2 and 3 roles with a salary of less than £25,000 pa as they do not meet the UK Visas & Immigration criteria.
Only those applicants who demonstrate clearly how they meet our person specification will be shortlisted for interview.
We reserve the right to close any vacancies from further applications when we have received a minimum number of applications from which to make a shortlist. Please ensure you apply without delay if you wish to be considered for this role.
Candidates applying for the role of Healthcare Assistant on the staff bank should note that due to the nature of the role, workers must be aged 18 or above when commencing in post. Applicants are therefore welcome from those aged over 18 or within 3 months' of their 18^th birthday.
The Trust is committed to promoting a healthy work-life balance and achieve fair, equitable and consistent practice. We welcome flexible working requests and will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements from day one of your employment. Not all roles are suitable for every flexible working opportunity all of the time. Flexible working options may include reduced hours, compressed hours, fixed shifts, time back in lieu and home working.
The Trust is committed to promoting equality and diversity; we value the contribution of individual talent, skills, knowledge and experience and aim for a workforce demography representative of the local community. We encourage applicants from the following groups that are currently under-represented in our workforce black, Asian and minority ethnic, lesbian, gay, bisexual and Transgender (LGBTQ+), disabled, male and age 16-24.
Trust policy requires that the cost of submitting & processing the successful applicant/s DBS application be recovered via salary deduction following start in post. The amount of £26.50 (standard disclosure) or £54.50 (enhanced disclosure) will be deducted from salary, in manageable monthly instalments for up to 3 months following commencement of employment. Bank posts require upfront payment.
From April 2017, Skilled visa applicants and their adult dependant(s) will be required to provide a criminal record certificate from each country they have lived in consecutively for 12 months or more in the past ten years.
Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
This organisation has a zero-tolerance approach to the abuse of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff must ensure they adhere to the organisations safeguarding children and adults' policy and comply with the Local Safeguarding Children and Adult Board procedures.
Staff should be mindful of their responsibility to safeguard children and adults in any activity performed on behalf of the organisation in line with the requirements of statutory guidance and legislation.
All employees (and volunteers)are expected maintain their safeguarding knowledge and skills by completing mandatory safeguarding training which includes understanding and recognising the signs of abuse and neglect and taking appropriate action.
As an organisation, we have adopted the Merseyside Domestic abuse workplace scheme which supports our staff who are experiencing Domestic Abuse /any forms of sexual violence.
If you have any personal requirements that will enable you to participate in our recruitment process please contact a member of the Recruitment Services by phone on 0151 706 4666 at the earliest opportunity to ensure that measures can be put in place to enable your application for this post.
Please note: new entrants to the NHS will commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Application numbers
This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.
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