Communications Manager

Job description

Job summary

Are you passionate about helping to improve the health and well-being of our communities in mid and west Wales?

The Communications Manager will play a key leadership role in supporting the Health Board's ambition to shift from a service focused on treating illness, to one focused on preventing ill health, or worsening of ill-health.

You will lead and inspire a communications team delivering proactive and integrated communication campaigns on a variety of health issues. Working with senior leaders,cliniciansand partners, you willprovidestrategic communications advice and ensure clear,timelyand effective engagement with staff, stakeholders, the public and the media.

The role also involves managing complex and high-profile communications situations, wherestrongcommunicationis critical. This could range from managing and responding tomajorincidents, supporting service changes programmes, managing reputationalissuesor helping communities understand and engage with important healthcare developments.

We want to hear from people who candemonstratehow their communication skills havedelivered positive outcomes, influenced behaviour change and supported organisationalobjectives.You will be a confident leader, skilledcommunicatorand trusted adviser, capable of building strong relationships and working effectively in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for an experienced and ambitious communication professional who wants to make a difference through theirwork and contribute to improved health and well-beingof our communities.

The post holder will support and deputise for the Head of Communications and will be the senior communications professional in the team.

They will take the organisation's wider strategy for how it approaches communications and engagement and then strategically plan the corporate communication functions response to this in order to deliver excellent internal, external and digital communications.

The post holder will take lead responsibility for operationally managing all corporate communications, ensuring it is legally sound and delivers on our commitments to open communication and supporting the organisation to achieve its business objectives and live its values.

The post holder will identify and maximise opportunities for improving the effectiveness of corporate communications activity on behalf of the organisation.

If this sounds like you, please tell us in your application how you meet the essential criteria. We would love to hear about your relevant experience and ideas.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

About us

Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties.

We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services.

We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.

Our services are provided in:

• Four main hospitals: Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest
• Five community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire
• Two integrated care centres: Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings
• 47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 99 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers
• Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services

Job description

Job responsibilities

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Interviews will be held on 01/10/26

Job description
Job responsibilities

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Interviews will be held on 01/10/26

Person Specification

Qualifications and Knowledge

Essential

• Educated to Masters Level or equivalent level of work experience including practical knowledge and experience of methods and approaches as they relate to public relations, communications and media
• Evidence of higher/ further education/continued professional development (such as professional/management qualifications)
• Highly developed in-depth specialist knowledge and experience of communications, engagement and media. The post holder will therefore require expert knowledge of health and public practices, as well as a thorough understanding of local and national political networks and infrastructure.
• Knowledge and expertise on the various tools and techniques of communications including new media and e-communications
• Detailed knowledge of the legislation governing media, and slander/ libel laws
• Possess a political awareness and understanding of the complex NHS and political issues and changing strategic situations to advise senior manages.

Desirable

• Working knowledge of media management systems (e.g. Veulio system)
• Understanding of Welsh legislation and WG delegated powers

Experience

Essential

• Evidenced ability to work across professional and organisational boundaries in an atmosphere of change/ complex structures and partnership working
• Experience of project management
• Ability to work to deliver to strict deadlines

Desirable

• Experience of journalism and responsive media communications in a large public sector organisation

Language skills

Essential

• Welsh Language level 2 (Full details around the expectations associated with level 2 may be found at the bottom of this page)

Desirable

• Welsh Language level 5 (Full details around the expectations associated with level 5 may be found at the bottom of this page)

Other

Essential

• Ability to travel across the Health Board area in a timely manner.
• Flexible approach to work and needs of the service and a willingness to work outside of normal working hours when required (evening and weekends).

Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge

Essential

• Educated to Masters Level or equivalent level of work experience including practical knowledge and experience of methods and approaches as they relate to public relations, communications and media
• Evidence of higher/ further education/continued professional development (such as professional/management qualifications)
• Highly developed in-depth specialist knowledge and experience of communications, engagement and media. The post holder will therefore require expert knowledge of health and public practices, as well as a thorough understanding of local and national political networks and infrastructure.
• Knowledge and expertise on the various tools and techniques of communications including new media and e-communications
• Detailed knowledge of the legislation governing media, and slander/ libel laws
• Possess a political awareness and understanding of the complex NHS and political issues and changing strategic situations to advise senior manages.

Desirable

• Working knowledge of media management systems (e.g. Veulio system)
• Understanding of Welsh legislation and WG delegated powers

Experience

Essential

• Evidenced ability to work across professional and organisational boundaries in an atmosphere of change/ complex structures and partnership working
• Experience of project management
• Ability to work to deliver to strict deadlines

Desirable

• Experience of journalism and responsive media communications in a large public sector organisation

Language skills

Essential

• Welsh Language level 2 (Full details around the expectations associated with level 2 may be found at the bottom of this page)

Desirable

• Welsh Language level 5 (Full details around the expectations associated with level 5 may be found at the bottom of this page)

Other

Essential

• Ability to travel across the Health Board area in a timely manner.
• Flexible approach to work and needs of the service and a willingness to work outside of normal working hours when required (evening and weekends).

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.
Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the .

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. .

Additional information
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the .

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. .

Employer details

Employer name

Hywel Dda University Health Board
Address

Across the healthboard

Across the healthboard

SA31 3BT

United Kingdom

Employer's website