Job summary
- Main area
- Communication
- Grade
- 9
- Contract
- 3 months (Fixed term contract)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 sessions per week
- Job ref
- 427-7549122
- Employer
- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal United Hospitals Bath
- Town
- Bath
- Salary
- £109,179 - £125,637 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 24/10/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 04/11/2025
Employer heading

Interim Director of Communications - BSW Hospitals Group
9
Job overview
BSW Hospitals Group is a collaborative of three NHS Foundation Trusts, working together to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire. We are committed to innovation, inclusivity, and transformation in healthcare delivery where everyone matters.
We are seeking an exceptional Interim Director of Communications on a 3 month fixed term basis to specifically lead on our next phase of strategic communications across the Group alongside finalising the redesign of our shared communications function. This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for shaping a resilient, professional and efficient infrastructure and embedding a compelling narrative that connects our staff, patients, partners, and the public to our vision and values.
You will play a pivotal role in shaping how we communicate across our three Trusts going forwards, including the development of a Group-wide communications strategy.
Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, Executive Team and Communications Leaders across our Organisation, you will provide expert advice on all aspects of communications and reputation management.
Interviews will take place on 4th November. We anticipate the successful candidate will join us in late November, subject to the completion of all employment checks.
Main duties of the job
You will oversee brand management of our Group, acting as a spokesperson when required and managing high-profile issues with professionalism and sensitivity. You will also drive innovation in how we tell our story—leveraging digital platforms, multimedia content, and creative campaigns to enhance our reach and influence.
As a key representative of the Group, you will engage with regional and national communications networks, including Integrated Care Systems (ICS) and NHS England (NHSE), ensuring our messaging aligns with wider system priorities.
Finally, you will provide leadership to establish the framework for a high-performing and financially sustainable communications function.
We’re looking for a dynamic, values-led leader with an appreciation of our context and extensive experience in senior communications roles, ideally within healthcare or public sector. You will have a strategic mindset with the ability to translate complex objectives into clear messaging and exceptional communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
Working for our organisation
At the RUH we put people at the heart of what we do, working together as one team to make a difference for our patients, each other, and our community. No matter what your role is, we value everyone’s contribution in supporting the exceptional, person-centred care we pride ourselves on.
We are proud to be in the top 20 best hospitals to work for in the country.
We are committed to creating a compassionate and inclusive environment. This can be seen in our growing community of staff networks – celebrating successes and creating opportunities to listen and learn. We value our differences, champion kindness and civility, and truly believe that diversity makes us stronger.
A culture of learning, developing and innovating is the thread that runs throughout our whole organisation. We want to support you to thrive, taking your career to its full potential.
We value staff wellbeing, with a well-established programme of support. We believe in a holistic approach spanning all aspects of living a healthy life, including physical, emotional, spiritual and financial wellbeing. We’ve even got a pool!
We are committed to supporting you and hope you want to join our team. In the meantime, find out more about living and working the beautiful historic city of Bath, learn about our extensive package of staff benefits, and read about how we’re providing healthcare fit for the future with the landmark Dyson Cancer Centre and our passion for research.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to attached job description and person specification for more information about the opportunity.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Educated to masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.
- Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development
Skills and experience
Essential criteria
- Extensive knowledge of specialist area of communications, acquired through post graduate diploma or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to master’s level equivalent
- Demonstrated understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement
- Ability to provide and receive, convey and present highly complex, sensitive and/or contentious information to large groups, responding openly to questions to ensure full understanding and engagement
- Ability to demonstrate a high level of expertise in providing senior leadership
- Demonstrated experience of leadership, vision, strategic thinking and planning with highly developed political skills
- High level analytical skills and the ability to draw qualitative and quantitative data from a wide range of sources and present in a clear concise manner
Applicant requirements
This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Joss Foster
- Job title
- Chief Strategy Officer
- Email address
- [email protected]
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