Band 8d - Deputy Director of Communications, Corporate

This is a hugely exciting time to join our communications team. Over the last 12 months, we’ve rebooted our approach to how, what and where we communicate with our audiences so we’re making an impact rather than creating a noise. We’ve made huge strides in a short space of time. But we’re still a work in progress. And that’s where you come in. We need a passionate, smart and creative communications and engagement expert to help us carry on improving, bring strategic rigour to our operations and continue to integrate our content across channels so we reach our audiences effectively.

We’ve got big ambitions with a number of big redevelopment schemes in progress, including the new Watford General. You will lead on the delivery and development of a creative communications and engagement strategy to bring these to life, and ensure our local communities, patients and staff are informed, involved and understand how it will benefit them. You’ll be an expert in using audience insight and data to engage with local communities. You will have a broader leadership role within the communications team - upskilling, supporting and guiding team members.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead on the comms and engagement workstreams for our new development plans, including devising and delivering a multi-channel comms and engagement strategy to reach our audiences in the most effective way.
• Lead on branding, messaging and positioning of the redevelopment projects, ensuring they are joined up and tell a consistent, compelling and coherent story.
• Act as the strategic comms advisor for the projects and provide high-quality counsel to internal stakeholders.
• Foster and grow strong relationships with key local stakeholders, MPs, and councillors to ensure they understand what we’re doing, the benefits, and tackle any concerns proactively.
• Lead on stakeholder mapping and develop a consistent approach to keeping them informed and engaged.
• Inspire and motivate the communications team and create a culture of high-performance and empowerment.
• Use proven evaluation techniques to assess the success of communications outputs.
• Role model the behaviours linked to our values.

With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at our Trust, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes, and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others. We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work-life balance.