Head of Communications
Closing date is 25 June 2026
We are seeking an experienced and strategically minded communications leader to join King's Health Partners (KHP) as Head of Communications on a fixed-term maternity cover basis. This is a unique opportunity to lead communications for one of the UK's leading Academic Health Sciences Centres, working across a partnership that brings together King's College London, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
As a member of the KHP Senior Leadership Team, the postholder will lead the development and delivery of integrated communications strategies that support the implementation of the KHP Strategy to 2030, strengthen partnership working, enhance reputation and engagement, and demonstrate the impact of KHP's work across research, education, innovation and healthcare improvement.
Main Duties of the Job
You will lead the KHP Communications Team and act as the senior communications adviser to the Executive Director, Chief Strategy and Operating Officer, Executive Group and wider Senior Leadership Team.
Working across the partnership, you will lead the development and delivery of strategic communications activity that supports KHP's strategic priorities in:
- Digital Health and Data Science
- Population Health
- Capacity Building and Engagement
- Clinical Academic Integration
- Policy and Partnerships
You will build and maintain effective relationships with senior stakeholders across partner organisations, supporting collaborative communications approaches, joint messaging and coordinated responses where appropriate.
The role requires strong political awareness, excellent judgement and the ability to navigate complex organisational environments, balancing the priorities of multiple partners while protecting and enhancing the reputation of KHP.
You will also play a key role in communicating the impact of KHP's work to staff, students, patients, partners, funders and wider stakeholders, ensuring that the value of partnership working is clearly articulated and understood.
About Us
King's Health Partners (KHP) brings together world‑leading research, education and clinical care across four partner organisations:
- King's College London
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Our ambition is to improve health and care through partnership, innovation and collaboration, delivering the KHP Strategy to 2030 through a focus on Personalised Health, Digital Health & Data Science and Population Health.
KHP offers a collaborative and supportive working environment, with opportunities to engage with leading researchers, clinicians, educators and system leaders. We are committed to professional development and provide a wide range of learning, networking and development opportunities across the partnership.
Job Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership and Advice
- Lead development and delivery of KHP's communications strategy aligned to the KHP Strategy to 2030.
- Act as principal communications adviser to the Executive Director, Chief Strategy and Operating Officer, Executive Group and Senior Leadership Team.
- Provide expert advice on reputation management, stakeholder engagement, media relations and strategic communications.
- Partnership Communications
- Lead communications activity across the KHP partnership and strategic portfolios.
- Develop collaborative communications approaches with partner organisations.
- Support implementation of the Partnership Framework and emerging governance arrangements.
- Build strong relationships with communications leaders across KHP partner organisations and key external stakeholders.
- Reputation, Engagement and Influence
- Protect and enhance KHP's reputation locally, nationally and internationally.
- Lead strategic communications relating to KHP's major programmes, partnerships and initiatives.
- Develop compelling narratives that demonstrate the impact of KHP's work across research, education, innovation and healthcare improvement.
- Support engagement with funders, policy makers, regulators and external partners.
- Communications Operations
- Lead and manage all KHP communications channels, including digital platforms, social media, newsletters, publications, events and stakeholder engagement activity.
- Ensure communications activity complies with accessibility standards and best practice.
- Oversee evaluation and continuous improvement of communications activity.
- People Leadership
- Lead, develop and support the Communications Team.
- Manage team objectives, performance, development and wellbeing.
- Promote a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
- International and Strategic Partnerships
- Lead communications relating to KHP's national and international partnerships, including academic, research, innovation and healthcare collaborations.
- Support engagement with organisations such as the Academic Health Science Centre network, European University Hospital Alliance (EUHA), Health Innovation Network South London and other strategic partners.
Person Specification
- Educated to Masters or equivalent experience with evidence of continued learning/development and/or further study.
Skills – Strategic Communications Leadership
- Evidence of leading communications strategy and providing communications advice at Executive, Board or senior leadership level.
Skills – Partnership Working and Stakeholder Influence
- Evidence of building relationships and influencing across complex organisations, partnerships or systems.
Skills – Reputation, Political Acumen and Complex Communications
- Evidence of managing sensitive, high‑profile or politically complex communications and protecting organisational reputation.
Skills – Leadership, Delivery and Team Management
- Evidence of leading teams and delivering complex communications programmes, campaigns or projects.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
£80,698 to £92,984 a year p.a. inc HCA (pro rata)
