Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and strategically minded communications leader to join King's Health Partners (KHP) as Head of Communications on a fixed-term maternity cover basis.
This is a unique opportunity to lead communications for one of the UK's leading Academic Health Sciences Centres, working across a partnership that brings together King's College London, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
As a member of the KHP Senior Leadership Team, the postholder will lead the development and delivery of integrated communications strategies that support implementation of the KHP Strategy to 2030, strengthen partnership working, enhance reputation and engagement, and demonstrate the impact of KHP's work across research, education, innovation and healthcare improvement.
The successful candidate will be an experienced communications leader with a strong track record of operating in complex organisational environments. They will be comfortable working with senior leaders, Executive teams and Boards, navigating competing priorities, influencing across organisational boundaries and translating complex information into compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
Main duties of the job
You will lead the KHP Communications Team and act as the senior communications adviser to the Executive Director, Chief Strategy and Operating Officer, Executive Group and wider Senior Leadership Team.
Working across the partnership, you will lead the development and delivery of strategic communications activity that supports KHP's strategic priorities in:
- Personalised Health
- Digital Health and Data Science
- Population Health
- Capacity Building and Engagement
- Clinical Academic Integration
- Policy and Partnerships
You will build and maintain effective relationships with senior stakeholders across partner organisations, supporting collaborative communications approaches, joint messaging and coordinated responses where appropriate.
The role requires strong political awareness, excellent judgement and the ability to navigate complex organisational environments, balancing the priorities of multiple partners while protecting and enhancing the reputation of KHP.
You will also play a key role in communicating the impact of KHP's work to staff, students, patients, partners, funders and wider stakeholders, ensuring that the value of partnership working is clearly articulated and understood.
About us
King's Health Partners (KHP) brings together world-leading research, education and clinical care across four partner organisations:
- King's College London
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Our ambition is to improve health and care through partnership, innovation and collaboration, delivering the KHP Strategy to 2030 through a focus on Personalised Health, Digital Health & Data Science and Population Health.
KHP offers a collaborative and supportive working environment, with opportunities to engage with leading researchers, clinicians, educators and system leaders. We are committed to professional development and provide a wide range of learning, networking and development opportunities across the partnership.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Advice
- Lead development and delivery of KHP's communications strategy aligned to the KHP Strategy to 2030.
- Act as principal communications adviser to the Executive Director, Chief Strategy and Operating Officer, Executive Group and Senior Leadership Team.
- Provide expert advice on reputation management, stakeholder engagement, media relations and strategic communications.
Partnership Communications
- Lead communications activity across the KHP partnership and strategic portfolios.
- Develop collaborative communications approaches with partner organisations.
- Support implementation of the Partnership Framework and emerging governance arrangements.
- Build strong relationships with communications leaders across KHP partner organisations and key external stakeholders.
Reputation, Engagement and Influence
- Protect and enhance KHP's reputation locally, nationally and internationally.
- Lead strategic communications relating to KHP's major programmes, partnerships and initiatives.
- Develop compelling narratives that demonstrate the impact of KHP's work across research, education, innovation and healthcare improvement.
- Support engagement with funders, policy makers, regulators and external partners.
Communications Operations
- Lead and manage all KHP communications channels, including digital platforms, social media, newsletters, publications, events and stakeholder engagement activity.
- Ensure communications activity complies with accessibility standards and best practice.
- Oversee evaluation and continuous improvement of communications activity.
People Leadership
- Lead, develop and support the Communications Team.
- Manage team objectives, performance, development and wellbeing.
- Promote a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
International and Strategic Partnerships
- Lead communications relating to KHP's national and international partnerships, including academic, research, innovation and healthcare collaborations.
- Support engagement with organisations such as the Academic Health Science Centre network, European University Hospital Alliance (EUHA), Health Innovation Network South London and other strategic partners.
Person Specification
Knowledege/Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to Masters or equivalent experience with evidence of continued learning/development and/or further study
Desirable
- Post graduate communications or management qualification
Skills- Strategic Communications Leadership
Essential
- Evidence of leading communications strategy and providing communications advice at Executive, Board or senior leadership level
Skills- Partnership Working and Stakeholder Influence
Essential
- Evidence of building relationships and influencing across complex organisations, partnerships or systems
Skills-Reputation, Political Acumen and Complex Communications
Essential
- Evidence of managing sensitive, high-profile or politically complex communications and protecting organisational reputation
Skills- Leadership, Delivery and Team Management
Essential
- Evidence of leading teams and delivering complex communications programmes, campaigns or projects
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 UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
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. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details
Employer name
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Guy's Hospital
Great Maze Pond, Guy's Hospital
London
SE1 9RT
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx (Opens in a new tab)
This listing was aggregated from publicly-available sources. The employer holds an A-rated sponsor licence at the time of this listing, but sponsorship of this specific role is not guaranteed — the employer's offer and UK Visas and Immigration are the final authority. Details may have changed since our last update — verify with the employer via the Apply link.