Head of Communications

NHS; Horley; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job description

As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will lead ABC's communications strategy, drive measurable impact, generate income through our innovative CURA solutions, and safeguard the organisation's stellar reputation at both regional and national levels. This is a unique opportunity to shape communications excellence in primary care, while leading a talented team and contributing directly to the future of integrated healthcare.

Main duties of the job

• Lead ABC's communications strategy to support organisational goals and measurable outcomes
• Serve on the Senior Leadership Team, line-managing two Communications Coordinators
• Oversee internal and external communications, brand management, and media relations
• Drive income generation through the CURA solutions portfolio, with Consultant support
• Manage departmental budgets, suppliers, and business planning processes
• Champion audience engagement, digital optimisation, and impactful storytelling
• Maintain ABC's national reputation through proactive PR, crisis communications, and award submissions
• Support internal communications, ensuring clarity, accessibility, and staff engagement

About us

Alliance for Better Care (ABC) is a GP Federation uniting 77 NHS GP member practices across 98 sites within 24 Primary Care Networks in Sussex and Surrey. We support our Primary Care colleagues - and their patients - to transform how healthcare is delivered in their communities.

We work closely with GP Practices, PCNs, Hospitals, Community Organisations, and the Third Sector. These vital partnerships enable us to deliver a truly integrated approach that offers the support and expertise needed to effectively serve our populations.

• Generous annual leave allowance
• Access to NHS pension
• Bespoke training programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

Job responsibilities

Strategic Planning

Maintain and evolve ABC's communications strategy in line with organisational goals. Ensure a clear understanding of the assets and resources required to build on the team's excellent reputation and deliver objectives with measurable outcomes and demonstrable success.

Senior Leadership and Team Development

Serve as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to the delivery of ABC's strategy and overseeing the line management of two Communications Coordinators, one focused on central projects and the other dedicated to delivering communications support services through the CURA solutions portfolio.

The postholder is responsible for the professional development of all team members, ensuring they have clearly defined objectives, can track their progress, and understand how their work aligns with wider organisational goals. In line with ABC's management culture, team members will have clearly defined responsibilities, supported appropriately to ensure their success.

Communications Development

Lead the evolution of ABC's communications approach, with a focus on audience engagement, channel optimisation, appropriate technology, and a balanced use of in-house and outsourced capabilities. The postholder will also be responsible for departmental governance, including impact reporting, business planning, business continuity, and policy development.

Income Generation - CURA

The Head of Communications plays a pivotal role in income generation through the CURA solutions portfolio. In addition to leading the CURA brand and communications strategy, the postholder will develop and deliver high-quality communications services, ensuring excellent customer satisfaction. They will also take direct responsibility for selling the full range of CURA solutions and supporting the team to achieve annual financial targets.

This area of responsibility will be supported by the external Consultant who originally developed CURA. The Consultant will work alongside the postholder to ensure a smooth transition, maintain service continuity, and support the Communications Coordinator in delivering to both new and existing customers. The Consultant will also strengthen the CURA offer to maximise impact and income. While the Consultant will supervise this area of work, overall line management will rest with the postholder.

During this time, the Consultant will report directly to the ABC Chief Executive and work closely with the Associate Director of Transformation.

Budget Responsibility

Responsible for the management of all operational and staffing budgets within the Communications Team. This includes oversight of external suppliers, income forecasting, and outsourced technology and subscription services.

Brand Reputation Management

Maintain and grow ABC's stellar reputation as an organisation known for best practice, innovation, and impact, with a strong national profile.

Safeguard and enhance the organisation's brand through proactive and responsive communications including PR, crisis communications, and reputation monitoring.

Act as brand guardian by maintaining, developing, and enforcing brand guidelines. Ensure consistency in both visual and verbal identity across all channels and touchpoints, supported via our central brand portal.

Showcase the organisation's impact and success by leading award submissions, developing compelling case studies, and promoting ABC's work across the NHS regionally and nationally.

Conduct regular brand audits to assess messaging consistency, alignment with brand values, and identify opportunities for enhancement.

Internal Communications

Serve as a trusted and proactive internal partner across the business simplifying content, making it engaging, and ensuring it is accessible to staff.

Act as the eyes and ears of the organisation, working collaboratively with all departments to share important updates such as policy changes, system developments, service information, best practice, good news stories, and internal initiatives.

Manage key internal communication channels across digital and offline platforms, including the intranet (MS Teams and SharePoint), staff newsletter, internal sections of the website, office signage and notices, training events, system inductions, and webinars.

External Communications

Deliver a confident and reassuring external profile for ABC by sharing key information with stakeholders through our external channels.

Oversee the members newsletter, social media platforms, website, and external events. Ensure timely and relevant content is submitted to and shared via system and community partners.

Act as the first point of contact for crisis communications, media, and PR enquiries. Work closely with the Board and Executive Leadership Team to manage proactive and responsive PR activity. This includes coordinating with ICB partners on high-profile opportunities, providing media training, and briefing ABC spokespeople ahead of interviews and site visits.

Reports to: Associate Director, Transformation.

Base: Flexible working between the HQ (Horley Health Hub), on-site locations including Crawley, and home. As a flexible employer, we prioritise outcomes over location.

For more information, please see the full job description.

Person Specification

Other

• Collaborative working
• Motivated and inspires others
• Ability to work flexibly, use initiative, prioritise workload and delegate
• Self-starter able to set and deliver own objectives
• Champion of equality and valuing diversity

Skills & Abilities

• Confident presenter and trainer
• Digitally literate and confident user of new technology
• Creative thinker with an appreciation for aesthetics
• Website Content Management Systems including Wordpress / equivalent
• Microsoft Teams / SharePoint
• Newsletter management software including Mailchimp / equivalent
• Website analytics platforms including Google Analytics / equivalent
• Social Media management tools including Hootsuite / equivalent
• Graphic Design programmes/tools including Adobe / Canva / equivalent

Qualifications

Experience

• Senior Leadership experience
• Leading a communications department with line management responsibilities internal and external
• Media training

Knowledge

• Project Management
• Budget Management
• Media / PR management
• Campaign Development
• Brand Development
• Reporting / analytics
• Social Media Management
• Event management physical and virtual
• External supplier management

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.

£50,901.77 to £57,323.66 a year depending on experience