Job summary
This is a fixed term contract for 9-12 months depending on start date.
Do you enjoy producing creative, high-impact, digital content? Are you able to manage a diverse workload of projects? Would you like to contribute to an organisation making a meaningful difference to peoples lives?
Were looking for a Communications Manager to join the NIHR Academys communications team. In this role, you will be a key part of a team responsible for developing and implementing communication plans that attract and engage health and social care professionals with academic careers and training.
The teams remit covers a broad range of communication areas, including but not limited to, social media, content development, website management, press office, internal communications, events, webinars and email marketing. This role will have the opportunity to work across different communication areas, working with a multitude of stakeholders including other NIHR offices and the Department of Health and Social Care.
Main duties of the job
A key element of this role is to take day-to-day responsibility for managing the communication of training programme funding opportunities provided by NIHR, working with those already engaged with the organisation, while also focusing on increasing its reach into target audiences, especially those working in areas of health and social care currently under-represented in clinical research career paths.
You will be involved in the coordination and production of a wide range of digital communications and marketing materials including web copy, newsletters, social media content, press releases and case studies whilst ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion in communications and stakeholder engagement.
The successful applicant will be an excellent communicator with the ability to work flexibly and collaboratively across the organisation and with colleagues and stakeholders to manage a diverse workload of projects.
You will have experience of working with a variety of communications software packages, design and content management systems including e-marketing, webinar platforms and enterprise social media management platforms.
You will be accustomed to setting SMART objectives and using evaluation and insight to learn and continually improve the work you and the wider team produce.
About us
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has a mission to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. The NIHR plays a pivotal role in attracting, training and supporting the best researchers and complements the additional NIHR investment in world-class research facilities and a skilled research workforce.
This role is hosted by the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) and delivers the work of the NIHR, leading on policy, strategy and delivery in respect of academic training in England and working closely with other NIHR centres and the Science Research and Evidence (SRE) Directorate at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. Support the Senior Communications Manager and work as part of the NIHR Academy Communications team to deliver NIHR Academy Executives external communications strategy and the internal communications plan, supporting the delivery of the NIHR Academy business plan
2. Take day to day responsibility for delivering aspects of NIHR Academy Executives communications strategy including the promotion of Academy awards, working with a multitude of stakeholders including other NIHR national centres and DHSC
3. Work with communications colleagues from across NIHR to ensure delivery of the NIHRs corporate communications strategy contributing to the delivery of programmes of work in a number of cross NIHR communications working groups
4. Identify external communications opportunities for the NIHR Academy Executive and ensure that NIHR Academy has an appropriate online presence
5. Keep up to date with developments in communications, including digital communications and social media and advise programme teams and colleagues on their potential use by the organisation to enhance communication plans
6. Work with the Senior Communications Manager to ensure that all members of NIHR Academy Executive are aware of, and implement, the elements of the NIHR Academy Executive communications strategy including NIHR-wide initiatives and branding guidelines
7. Ensure that communications comply with GDPR and information governance guidelines and policies
8. Liaise with colleagues across NIHR Academy to provide content and copy for dissemination through NIHR and other external communication channels
9. Update the NIHR website to ensure that the overall style and content are appropriate and appeal to target audiences and meet accessibility guidelines
10. Provide communications support for conferences, events and workshops delivered and attended by colleagues
11. Evaluate and measure the reach, success and impact of the organisations communications activities, analysing results and providing recommendations on how to further improve communications plans
12. Support the communication of complex research findings through the development, publications and dissemination of case studies, press releases and news articles
13. Support the preparation of reports and papers for strategic and policy meetings and publication
14. Liaise with other national centres, NIHR and DHSC staff and the academic community as necessary
15. Act as a point of contact with the media and one of the key contacts for other external enquiries about the work of NIHR Academy
16. Deputise for the Senior Communications Manager at meetings as required
Person Specification
Other Criteria
Essential
17. Good knowledge of professional internal and external communications practice
18. Strong understanding of the expectation on public sector communications to be open, honest, and non-political
19. Knowledge of communications software packages, design and content management systems including e-marketing, webinar platforms and enterprise social media management platforms
20. Knowledge of information governance and GDPR requirements in relation to communications activities and campaigns
Qualifications
Essential
21. Education to degree level (or equivalent experience), in marketing communications, public relations or journalism
Desirable
22. Career progression through continuing professional development
Experience
Essential
23. Experience of implementing communications programmes with complex themes
24. Experience in the development and editing of digital and multi media content for different channels and audiences including case studies, presentations, reports, press releases and newsletters
25. Experience of project management for complex programmes including planning, stakeholder engagement, reporting on progress and evaluation
Desirable
26. Experience of dealing with the press and media
27. Experience of working in a large and complex organisation
28. Experience in supporting the delivery of webinars
29. Experience of working in a large, complex organisation
30. Experience of working with or within a healthcare, research or education environment
Skills & Behaviours
Essential
31. Good relationship management and interpersonal skills
32. Works effectively and collaboratively as part of a team
33. Able to work independently and on own initiative
34. Pays close attention to detail
35. Works accurately with attention to detail and demonstrates strong proof reading skills
36. Effective project and time management skills; able to set goals and standards and prioritise effectively especially in a deadline-driven environment
37. Able to communicate in an engaging manner both orally and in writing conveying complex information to different audiences
38. Ability to develop, publish and disseminate communications including web copy, articles, reports, case studies, press releases, presentations, webinars
39. Strong project and time management skills
40. Ability to measure and evaluate the impact of communications activities and campaigns
41. Ability to use a variety of content management, email marketing and digital communications tools and platforms
42. Good working knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, online meeting tools and Google suite
43. Ability to maintain confidentiality
Desirable
44. Implementation and execution of paid digital and social media campaigns
45. Developing and implementing virtual and hybrid events and conferences
46. Writing for the web demonstrating a practical understanding of SEO and accessibility