Communications Officer

Vacancy – Communications Officer

POSITION: Communications Officer

TYPE: Full time

SALARY: £19,000 p.a.

LOCATION: Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham

RESPONSIBLE TO: Senior Communications Officer

RESPONSIBLE FOR: Supporting the Charity Communications Team

Who we are

University Hospitals Birmingham Charity consists of four hospital charities supporting some of the busiest hospitals in Birmingham – Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital.

The Charity is dedicated to improving the experience of patients, their families and the staff who care for them.

UHB Charity raises funds to support patients of the four hospitals by providing new and innovative equipment, funding research and supporting patient and family welfare projects.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham in particular has a world class reputation, and specialises in cancer treatment, organ transplantations and trauma care. It is also home of the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, where the UK’s military patients are treated.

Heartlands Hospital has a specialist neo-natal unit and very busy children’s and maternity units.

Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital serve the towns of Sutton Coldfield and Solihull.

The opportunity: Communications Officer

The Charity is looking for a Communications Officer with proven skills in developing media and communication plans and creative content.  

As part of the Communications team working across all four sites, using all four of our hospital charity brands, you'll be in charge of designing, managing, and delivering high profile, effective and inspiring communications to a range of regional and national audiences. You will use your experience and skills to manage and deliver effective and inspiring communications.
 
You'll be pitching stories to TV, radio, press and magazine contacts and supporting those stories on social media, planning innovative and exciting social media campaigns, writing features, promoting our wide range of fundraising events and appeals and telling stories about people who do extraordinary and heart-warming things to help support patients at Birmingham’s busiest hospitals.

As well as generating positive media coverage, the successful candidate will update the Charity’s websites and social media pages, attend Charity events and help compile the Charity’s quarterly newsletters.

The post holder will assist in the development of consistent and effective departmental processes and systems and their implementation to the highest standards. This will enhance the Charity’s reputation as a respected organisation that deals with its stakeholders in a professional and timely manner.

The Charity currently employs a Senior Communications Officer and the post holder will work closely with them.

Key responsibilities

The post holder will

• Update the Charity’s websites and social media pages on a daily basis
• Source, interview and photograph case studies
• Draft press releases and liaise with media to achieve coverage in a wide range of publications and online
• Attend and photograph cheque presentations and fundraising events on and off-site (some evening/weekend working may be necessary)
• Assist with staff events
• Write and prepare newsletters and publications
• Create and manage online campaigns, including creating interesting content calendars, arranging photography and other campaign collateral
• Keep regular, up to date recordings of the Charity’s performance on social media
• Use Google Analytics to measure relevant website data
• Compile regular media coverage reports and analyse the Charity’s performance
• Be the Brand Advisor for the Charity, ensuring all collateral reflects the Charity’s brand and adheres to guidelines
• Be an advocate for social media, providing guidance, training and encouragement where relevant 
• Promote the Charity’s fundraising events, as well as external events and awareness months, to a wide ranging audience
• Provide telephone cover in the absence of other team members
• Keep contact lists on the Charity’s database up to date

Although this is a list of the key responsibilities of the post it is expected that the post holder and manager will develop and define the detail of the work to be undertaken. Any changes to the key responsibilities will be the subject of consultation with the post holder.

Ideal candidate

For this rewarding position you will need to be highly organised with experience working in a similar environment. Excellent writing and interpersonal skills and knowledge of print, broadcast and online media are crucial.

Essential

Educated to degree standard with relevant professional qualifications and/or experience

An understanding of how to achieve objectives through media campaigning and PR techniques

Able to communicate in a clear manner in writing and verbally to develop shared understanding

Able to summarise complex information and provide impactful copy

Demonstrable experience of developing stories and messages on a wide variety of topics

Working in or with the media to tell stories

Demonstrated ability to produce high quality written products in English

Knowledge of print, broadcast and online media

Experience of working to tight deadlines and under pressure

High level of IT literacy

Good team player

Willingness to work some evenings and weekends

Desirable

PR/marketing/communications qualification

Previous journalism experience

How to apply

Please send your CV with a covering letter stating your current salary and why you would be suitable for this role to mike.hammond@uhb.nhs.uk by Sunday 3 June 2018. Interviews will take place on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 June 2018.

If you wish to discuss this role, please contact Alistair McIntosh on 0121 371 4852 or email charities@uhb.nhs.uk

If you do not hear from us by 8 June 2018 we regret to inform you that we will not be taking your application further.