Senior Communication and Engagement Officer

**Senior Communication and Engagement Officer**

**Location**: Cardiff

**Job Type**: Temporary

**Duration of booking**: Ongoing, no end date specified

**Proposed start date**: ASAP

**Sector**: Healthcare

**Base**:Hospital

**Band**: 6

**Pay Rates**:
£16 - £19 paye per hour

£17 - £20 paye inclusive per hour

£18 - £21 umbrella per hour

*depending on skill and experience*

**Working Days and Hours**:Monday to Friday 37.5 hours per week

**Job Summary**

The post-holder will support the Head of Communications and Engagement in the provision of communications and engagement services. The post-holder may be expected to represent the Head of Communications and Engagement at Executive Board meetings and meetingswith other members of senior management - offering strategic advice over appropriate responses to lines of enquiry and working with senior managers to develop and issue media messages. This role requires an individual with an ability to challenge thinkingamongst senior staff members where necessary. The post holder will support the Head of Communications and the Executive Board within the organisation to share corporate objectives and to actively promote the University Health Board values and services amongstthe internal workforce, service users, external partners and stakeholders.

**Job Duties**
- Be responsible for the day to day operational management and strategic development of the University Health Board media function, balancing proactive media coverage and service development against the reactive demand of a busy press office.
- Work closely with the Head of Communications and Engagement to develop and implement a strategic press and media strategy across all media, including press, broadcast and new media and specialist healthcare publications /trade journals.
- Ensure effective planning in connecting all elements of the media management from press to TV and radio, to digital and social media.
- Ensure the handling and daily management of a modern press office for the organisation, using traditional and new media - this will require extreme sensitivity particularly in relation to the reporting of service users’ points of view on any substantivechange programmes.
- Work closely with the Head of Communications and Engagement to lead the development of a strategy for Crisis Response Communications, relationship management in the event of any incidents or public health outbreaks, and developing and implementing effectiveplans to respond.
- Take a lead on planning and implementing responses to any major health protection issues affecting the University Health Board, working with key stakeholders and senior colleagues in the organisation and colleagues in NHS Wales.
- Work closely with the Head of Communications and Engagement to offer swift and decisive decision making in relation to leading and responding to any issues as they arise.
- Work independently guided by the organisation strategies, policies, corporate vision and objectives, advising on how these should be interpreted and implemented across traditional media (local, regional, national and specialist) and new media.
- Be politically aware and understand the complex NHS and political issues and changing strategic situations.
- Build communications into all long-term strategic planning, advising, influencing and persuading the Executive Team and Board Members and other senior staff members on appropriate approaches where necessary.
- Where necessary, exercise judgment and make significant and informed decisions which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options for best handling a media situation and managing communications with different stakeholders, e.g.a planned service change programme.
- Develop knowledge and understanding of the tools and techniques that can be best used within the area of traditional and new media and share best practice with colleagues.
- Develop and maintain strategic links, broader public service and third sector communications teams as well as developing close working relationships with media contacts, key partners, stakeholders, promoters and external PR consultants.
- Take a lead on managing stakeholder engagement initiatives to communicate the corporate vision andobjectives e.g. organising and promoting stakeholder events and localised / collaborative campaigns.
- Work collaboratively with the communication and engagement team to establish, maintain, deliver and continually improve the use of traditional and new media.
- Attend, report to and contribute to discussions at meetings of the communications and engagement team.
- Ensure consistent and accurate use of the brand and identity, and wider brand in any media communication, and comply with identity and style guidelines across all content and external communication channels.
- Maintain the strictest confidentiality when dealing with the documentation and ensure compliance with Data Protection legislation.
- Provide arrangements and a media service that support use of the Welsh medium and compliance with the Welsh Government and Welsh Language Commissioner’s standards.
- Ensure the University Health Board meets its statutory obligations in relation to the Welsh language.
- Carry out any other duties of a comparable nature as and when required.

**Education/ Qualifications**
- Degree or equivalent
- Postgraduate diploma in communication studies and/or public relations and/or marketing/ and/or journalism