Communications Officer - Surrey

NHS; Crawley; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 50,000

Job description

• Location - Hybrid working - There will be an expectation to travel to sites within Surrey and travel to SECAmb HQ in Crawley.

We're looking for a fantastic communications specialist to join our busy Corporate Communications Team and help us to tell our story!

As a communications officer you will be an enthusiastic communicator, with a nose for a good story, passion for great content, flair for making connections and solid experience of proactive and reactive media management.

You will provide credible communications advice and influence across the organisation and to a senior level of the Trust when managing complex and challenging issues and to tight deadlines.

Keen to learn and develop new ways of communicating, you will need to be willing to get creative in developing social media posts using graphic design and videos to deliver our messages.

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for delivering day to day communication requirements both internally and externally.

The role includes creating, implementing, and evaluating communication plans as well as being responsible for routine media enquiries, composing written and creating digital content material across all Trust communications channels and mechanisms, as well as supporting the delivery of internal and external campaigns and other major communications projects.

The role will also be aligned to work closely with the operational teams in either Surrey or Sussex to support and improve local communication, as well as identifying positive local opportunities for wider sharing.

The post holder will be responsible for:

• Supporting the delivery of the Trust's Communications & Engagement Strategy
• Developing, managing and delivering effective internal and external communications through the Trust's various communication channels
• Supporting local management teams in their area, to improve local communications and identifying local opportunities to positively enhance the Trust's reputation
• Representing the Trust's Communications Team in providing credible communication expertise at external and internal meetings as well as liaising directly with patients and service users for the purpose of promoting the work of the Trust. Therefore, the postholder will need to be willing to travel to other locations and have a full driving licence.

About us

• NHS employees will be eligible to join the NHS Pension Scheme
• A minimum 27 days' holiday each year, increasing with service.
• Personal and professional development and training opportunities.
• Salary Sacrifice schemes for cars or push bikes.
• Access to our award-winning Wellbeing services
• Access to occupational health and counselling services.
• Access to NHS discounts, offering NHS employees a range of money-saving deals.

Job responsibilities

You will need:

• A relevant degree and/or latest 18 months previous experience in a relevant field such as journalism or public relations
• Good news sense to be able to develop positive news about our Trust
• Sound understanding of graphic design and video editing tools such as Canva or Adobe Creative Suite or Final Cut Pro
• Good basic photography skills
• Full driving licence

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level in a related area (communications, marketing, PR or journalism), or equivalent training and experience gained in a communications/marketing environment to post grad diploma level, or equivalent training and experience.
• A valid Driving Licence

Knowledge

• Excellent knowledge of communications and PR techniques and procedures and an interest in the PR and communications profession and best practice

Experience

• Significant experience of producing a wide range of written information tailored to different audiences and communications channels, which adhere to brand guidelines and best practice
• Significant experience of working with the media

Skills

• Highly developed spoken and written English and ability to identify and develop news stories

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.