Deputy Director, Strategic Communications

Job summary

Why you should apply:We value the different experiences our people bring to their work.We're working to create an environment where everyone can make a full contributionno matter their background, identity, or circumstances.Which means, we encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and abilities.Our work matters. You matter.We operate a hybrid working approach which offers you an informal, flexible way of blending home and office working.

Flexible working opportunities - we value and respect the diversity of our employees, and applications from prospective candidates who require flexible working arrangements are welcomed; these include part-time hours, job sharing, flexible hoursand part-remote set ups.

27 days annual leave increasing to 33 days with service.

A generous pension (with our contribution equal to 20.6% of your earnings)

NHS Discounts including shops, restaurants, gym, mobile phones, and insurance.employee benefit schemes including our Season Ticket Loan, CarLease and Bike to Work schemes.We use NHS Terms and Conditions of Service (Agenda for Change) pay rates. Most new employees to the NHS will start at the bottom of the band. You can find more information about Agenda for Change pay rates herePay scales for 2023/24 | NHS Employers.

Main duties of the job

• Take the lead on developing the integrated Communications Strategy for NHS England working with national, regional and directorate functions, based on insight, with effective delivery and evaluation of that strategy.

• Lead strategic collaboration and coordination across national, regional and directorate communications functions in delivering against the national communications and organisational strategic objectives.

• Ensure delivery of ad hoc communication plans and strategies where necessary.

• Ensure NHS England's communications and engagement is based on insight.

• Support the Executive group with strategic communications planning and provide senior strategic counsel to the organisation's leadership.

• Oversee the work to improve communications expertise across the NHS, and inside NHS England. Ensuring the best, most cost effective and appropriate training is available for those across the communications division.

• Work across a multiple range of high-level senior stakeholders, including government and senior civil servants and deal with complex political situations.

• Ensure PACE has a deliverable development offer.

• Drive innovation, creative thinking, and alternative ways of communicating with new and core audiences.

Ensure the effective running of the Communications Business Operations function, including HR, recruitment, and budgetary matters.

About us

In April 2023, NHS England, NHS Digital, and Health Education England merged to create a new, single organisation to lead the NHS in England. This new NHS England is designed to create a simpler, smaller, high performing, organisation that leads the NHS more effectively and is a better place to work. Speaking with one voice to the service.

The new NHS England board have set out the top-level purpose for the new organisation to lead the NHS in England to deliver high-quality services for all, which will inform the detailed design work and we will achieve this purpose by:

• Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities.
• Making the NHS agreat place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential.
• Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
• Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
• Delivering value for money.

If you would like to know more or require further information, please visit https://www.england.nhs.uk/ .

Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in-person.