Communications Lead - London, United Kingdom - Great Ormond Street Hospital

Description

Job overview

We are looking for a unique communications professional to lead on a new specialist NHS service for children and young people.

This new role is responsible for the leading the communications work for the NHS Children and Young People's Gender Service (London) which starts in April this year. You will be working with and supporting communications professionals from three partner organisations.

National crisis comms experience is a must, along with the ability to act with flexibility, confidence, diplomacy, and collaboratively. The successful candidate will regularly advise and liaise with senior clinicians, management and stakeholders in a complex environment. They will be responsible for the media management of this service including devising the media strategy and leading media handling.

The interview will be held the week commencing 27 May. Hybrid interview options will be available.

To arrange an informal chat, please email .

Main duties of the job

This role will develop, implement and evaluate the communications (internal and external), engagement and media handling for the NHS Children and Young People's Gender Service (London) on behalf of three organisations.

The closing date given is a guide only. There may be some occasions where we have to close a vacancy once sufficient applications have been received. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification criteria for this post will be shortlisted. Please note that where high volumes of applicants have been received, additional criteria may on occasion be used to determine the final shortlist.

Applications from job seekers who require current skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

Working for our organisation

We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants and employees are treated fairly and consistently. We are proud to be accredited as a Disability Confident Employer, a member of Business Disability Forum and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

We have active and Executive supported BME, LGBT+ and Allies, Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions and Women's staff networks. Staff networks are employee-led groups formed around interests, issues and a common bond or background. Staff network members create a positive and inclusive work environment at Great Ormond Street Hospital by actively contributing to the Trust's mission, values and efforts specific to inclusion. All our staff networks are open to any employee.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents please view the attachment/s below.

Person specification

Culture and Value

Essential criteria

• Consolidated GOSH values

Academic/Professional qualification/Training

Essential criteria

• Relevant degree level qualification or equivalent professional communications qualification or five years' experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development with strong communications and engagement element.

Desirable criteria

• Communications, public relations or relevant master's qualification

Experience/Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Specialist knowledge and experience of delivering internal and external communications and engagement in an NHS or other politically high-profile environment, including stakeholder, patient, and public engagement.
• Demonstrable track record of successful delivery of communications and engagement activities at a senior level.
• Successfully teaching, training and advising senior leaders to deliver media interviews on complex and contentious issues. Experience of line-management
• Demonstrable experience of using social and digital media to communicate with key audiences.
• Demonstrable experience of using social and digital media to communicate with key audiences.
• Proven experience in proactively building relationships, to support cooperation across multiple internal and external partners.
• Evidence of providing and receiving highly complex, sensitive information and effectively communicating it.

Desirable criteria

• Considerable experience of leading successful media relations including confident handling of media interviews on contentious and sensitive subjects at a national level
• Experience of working with children and young people to gain feedback.

Skills/Abilities

Essential criteria

• Politically astute with the ability to listen to audience/ stakeholder viewpoints, cooperate and use feedback to adjust communications.
• Ability to lead with emotional intelligence whilst dealing with various pressing tasks simultaneously.
• Strong track record of managing highly complex situations requiring analysis, interpretation comparison of a range of options and giving advice to senior colleagues.
• Experience of communicating complex information to a range of audiences, advising on the best approaches and procedures.
• Plan and organise a broad range of complex activities, compare options and adjust plans and/or strategies.
• Experience of horizon scanning, supporting people to embrace new ways of working and proactively managing issues that may arise.
• Extensive knowledge and ability to respond to national and NHS policy, adapting our local communications to deliver new policy requirements.
• Knowledge and experience of inclusive and accessible communications, acting as a champion for these areas to ensure targeted and understandable communications.
• Able to respond quickly on a daily basis to offer sound advice to senior leaders. Able to adapt and respond to complex, sensitive and changing issues
• Skilled at commissioning, managing and analysing communications metrics to support high-profile service development, including managing a budget
• Strong project management skills, able to prioritise complex projects within competing demands and ensuring delivery to a high quality on time.
• Confident in managing complex, confidential and sensitive information, directing senior leaders and clinicians on the best course of action.
• Able to work within processes and frameworks, including reporting verbally and in writing to key committees as required.
• Knowledge of evaluation practices, including monitoring the impact and quality of work and regularly reporting to the Director of Communications and other senior leaders, including the CEO.

Desirable criteria

• Background of working at a senior level, holding management responsibilities for a team
• Ability to negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and potentially controversial issues.
• Good presentation skills able to deliver presentations to a range of internal and external audiences.