Job summary
- Main area
- Communications
- Grade
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 279-7439465-SEP25
- Employer
- 279 University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- St Richard's Hospital
- Town
- Chichester
- Salary
- £47,810 - £54,710 per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 16/10/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Communications Manager (Charity)
Band 7
About our Trust
At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute Trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.
Our hard-working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to always put our Patient First . In fact our mission is summed up by our ‘where better never stops’ motto and you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
As part of our commitment to access for all, please see the different ways you can access the application form:
https://apps.trac.jobs/accessibility?_ts=1
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Job overview
Reporting to the Interim Head of Fundraising & Communications, the Communications Manager will provide specialist support across the charity and its partners, ensuring work is managed and planned effectively, evaluated and reported on. The post holder will also take responsibility for ensuring that appropriate data is available, analysed and presented to support decision making.
The post holder will work to design, deliver, monitor and evaluate a multi-disciplinary communications programme that will promote the work of the charity, ensuring all performance targets and Standard Operating Procedures are adhered to.
The post holder will be responsible for managing the communications and marketing of high profile events, such as the Goodwood Ball and the Brighton Pavilion Ice Skate, as well as provide project management expertise and support across the charity to support the organisation’s objectives, including maintenance of the charity website, publication of the annual report and accounts and the annual impact report.
Main duties of the job
· Providing senior, strategic communications support for a range of strategic fundraising (grant management and voluntary services initiatives) within the charity, creating content for specific fundraising constituencies through a range of media.
· Use suitable social media, website metrics and other analysis tools to measure communications and engagement activity and produce reports to evaluate effectiveness.
· Recommending improvements and innovations to widen the reach and effectiveness of our communications.
· Manage the organisation of media interviews, filming/photo opportunities and press conferences in support of the agreed charity plan.
· Develop materials, templates and facilitate best practice project management to enable the Charity and Voluntary Services team to meet its responsibilities.
· Present complex, sensitive or contentious information to key internal and external audiences in order to support our objectives.
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Candidate Information Pack: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Communication
· Providing senior, strategic communications support for a range of strategic fundraising (grant management and voluntary services initiatives) within the charity, creating content for specific fundraising constituencies through a range of media.
· Use suitable social media, website metrics and other analysis tools to measure communications and engagement activity and produce reports to evaluate effectiveness.
· Recommending improvements and innovations to widen the reach and effectiveness of our communications.
· Manage the organisation of media interviews, filming/photo opportunities and press conferences in support of the agreed charity plan.
· Develop materials, templates and facilitate best practice project management to enable the Charity and Voluntary Services team to meet its responsibilities.
· Present complex, sensitive or contentious information to key internal and external audiences in order to support our objectives.
Service Delivery and Improvement
· Take responsibility for the design, development, monitoring and evaluation of the charity’s strategic and operational plan.
· Manage communication projects that support the charity, Voluntary Services and charity partners’ work programmes.
· Responsible for the charity’s support to health and wellbeing, staff development and progression through supporting delivery of the Patient First STARS Awards, the annual Volunteering Conference and other evolutions as required and appropriate. Working with colleagues across the team to analyse and understand sensitive, complex or controversial information and determine communications objectives and how best to use different communications channels in order to meet identified objectives.
· Work to provide ready and available support to the Chair and members of the Charitable Funds Committee, to develop the communications strategy, providing expert and specialist advice and support.
· Use analytical skills to collate raw communications data to support the analysis and impact of the charity’s communications programme, allowing for redress and adjustment as required.
· Use own judgement to decide how to meet agreed objectives, which are reviewed at agreed intervals.
· Develop key performance indicators to enable monitoring of the team’s success in contributing to achievement of the charity’s strategic ambitions.
· Develop the use of metrics and qualitative reports on charity communications activities to measure their impact on success and inform future activities in contributing to achievement of the charity’s strategic ambitions.
· Research and recommend innovative new approaches and technologies to develop the charity.
· Support the Chair of the Charitable Funds Committee and the Director of Charities & Voluntary Services, to agree standard work across the team including for internal communications, crisis management, pro and reactive media management and general enquires into the team.
· Maintain procedures, standards and policies around events and VIP visits and ensure they are implemented consistently and appropriately.
People Management and Development
· Line manage the Communications Officer.
· Ability to manage change through motivation and leadership.
· Knowledge and skills of human resources, and the ability to act sensitively and effectively.
· Capable of handling and diffusing complaints.
· Coach and develop staff.
· Build and maintain effective relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, represent the charity in accordance with our values.
· Present complex and sensitive information to a range of internal and external stakeholders.
· Share knowledge and expertise across the team and Trust.
· Comply with Trust-wide staff management policies and procedures.
· Ensure staff have annual appraisals and Personal Development Plans.
Person specification
Essential
Essential criteria
- Degree qualification or equivalent with knowledge acquired by experience and substantial programmes of knowledge development to postgraduate level
- Masters qualification or equivalent knowledge and experience
- Specialist communication qualification in a non-profit setting or equivalent experience or knowledge
- Proven experience of Communications in a non profit/NHS setting.
- Good communication skills to enable effective communication of highly complex and sensitive to different audiences
Desirable criteria
- Completion of project management skills course, e.g. PRINCE2
- Up to date knowledge of NHS policy and developments
- Experience in the NHS, public or private and charity and/or voluntary sectors
- Proven evidence of evaluating and enhancing corporate publications and programmes, e.g. the charity’s annual report, charity’s impact report, web presence and digital media footprint
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Essential criteria
- Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
- Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Rae Helfgott-Bates
- Job title
- Programme Delivery Support
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01273 664708
- Additional information
Email contact preferred.
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