Senior Media and PR Officer

Do you want a role where you can see a real impact from the media coverage you and your colleagues secure? By promoting blood, plasma, organ, stem cell and tissue donation you’ll be encouraging ordinary people to do something extraordinary – to give life to others. There are lots of exciting scientific and medical services and developments too – so you hopefully enjoy getting to grips with new medical areas and promoting how an organisation like ours is striving to find new and even better ways to help patients.

If you like the challenge of developing and delivering a clear media narrative, care passionately about working effectively across different communications channels, and can hit the ground running, please apply for this role. NHS Blood and Transplant is an ambitious organisation that wants to be the best organisation of its type in the world. We’re looking for a Senior Media and PR officer who cares about making a difference, is comfortable working with colleagues at all levels of the organisation, stakeholders and people with a personal story to share and enjoys working in a busy press office. Your influence and skills will contribute to the organisation’s success and the lives we save and improve on a daily basis.

Main duties of the job

• In this role you will be responsible for supporting the Communications team to deliver high quality, evaluated communications to recruit new donors and showcase the work of NHSBT.
• Supporting the Media and PR team and the wider communications team, including internal and public affairs to deliver high quality, evaluated communications to recruit new donors and showcase the work of NHSBT.
• You will be assigned to work on Plasma but may be moved between projects as needed.
• Working with colleagues across the organisation to source stories and information and with colleagues across the communications mix – including marketing, public affairs, and internal communications - to deliver joined up and effective communications plans.
• Working as part of a 24/7 press office, delivering proactive media handling - national and local announcements, consumer media coverage - and reactive media handling.
• Using your excellent news sense and creativity to produce high quality and engaging media materials aimed at different types of media and audiences.
• Building influential relationships with key journalists.
• To use media and PR to recruit new donors and identify new trends and channels to reach our target audiences.
• You will be required to travel and spend time away from base, which will occasionally involve working irregular hours and overnight stays when required, with prior notice plus paid media on call duties.

About You

Experience and Knowledge

• Demonstrable experience of producing high quality communications plans.
• Advanced keyboard skills with ability to deliver extremely high levels of accuracy.
• Experience of developing and delivering internal communications programmes using a wide range of channels and media.
• Understanding of and respect for donor/patient confidentiality.
• Experience of working with information technology using Microsoft Office packages (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams and PowerPoint).

Qualifications and Training

• Degree plus post graduate diploma or equivalent experience in marketing/communications or similar field.
• Demonstrate commitment to own Continued Professional Development (CPD).

About Us

It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, you’ll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need. Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do. By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work – and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we’ll save and improve more lives than ever. You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

What we offer:

• NHSBT promotes flexible working opportunities where the role will allow.
• 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service and to 33 days after 10 years.
• NHS pension scheme. The NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns).
• We’ve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career.
• Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. It’s open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.

This vacancy will close at 23:59 on Sunday 5th January 2025. Interviews date(s) to be confirmed. For informal enquiries please contact – Suzi Browne, Media and PR Manager via email at suzanne.browne@nhsbt.nhs.uk