Newcastle University are delighted to advertise this exciting opportunity for an experienced communications professional to join us as Communications Manager for the National Institute of Health and Social Care (NIHR) Research Support Services (RSS) Public Health Specialist Centre.
The (NIHR) aims to increase the generation and use of public health research in non-NHS settings and has made substantial investment of >£21 million in a new NIHR Research Support Service Public Health Specialist Centre with a national remit to support this.
The vision of this NIHR RSS Public Health Specialist Centre is to develop the infrastructure, capacity and capability to support practitioners and researchers to carry out high quality public health research, outside the NHS, to produce robust evidence to improve population health and reduce health and care inequalities. Based within the Population and Health Sciences Institute in the Faculty of Medical Sciences this post offers an exciting opportunity to be a key part of the team to establish this new Centre and to take the lead in developing and delivering the communication strategy.
Working as part of the RSS Public Health Specialist Centre leadership team, you will develop, implement and deliver the Centre’s strategy across key digital channels to raise the profile of the Centre and its services to research with stakeholders across England.
You will have excellent writing skills and attention to detail with a proven ability to communicate complex material clearly and succinctly to a range of audiences with various accessibility requirements. You will be people focused, excellent at building relationships with key stakeholders and support a collaborative environment, fostering a culture of trust and mutual respect. You will be a team player and comfortable working with colleagues across different organisations to ensure the (RSS) Public Health Specialist Centre’s service is communicated effectively to a diverse range of audiences particularly with Research Support Services and local government across England.
A background in Higher Education or public health research is not essential. We are interested in your transferrable skills, experience in delivering creative communications and how you would use these to develop and support the delivery of the Centre’s strategy.
The position is available immediately, fixed term until 30th Sept 2028 in the first instance, it is offered on a full- or part-time basis and we would be happy to discuss arrangements for flexible and/or blended working. Please state your desired working arrangements in your application.
Informal enquiries are welcomed - to discuss this role further, please e-mail Kay.Howes@ncl.ac.uk
The Faculty of Medical Sciences is committed to supporting equality, diversity and inclusion for all staff and students.
Key Accountabilities
Establish and raise awareness of NIHR RSS Public Health Specialist Centre and its services, focus and values, to national and international stakeholders
Develop, implement and deliver the Public Health Specialist Centre communication strategy. Ensuring local government voice and representation feeds into the development and delivery of the strategy
Proactively research, develop/write, package and promote stories of services available, research supported and achievements including public involvement activities and research impact, working closely with colleagues to identify services and topics to promote and then communicating these to a specialist and non-specialist audiences via a range of media
Take the lead on developing (including working alongside an external agency) and editing content for a new Public Health Specialist Centre website, including, but not limited to, photographs, video, graphics and social media content
Work closely with the Press Offices within the RSS Public Health Specialist Centre host institution and the NIHR and Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC), to be the interface to facilitating the inclusion of the Specialist Centre in NIHR communications
Establish and manage NIHR RSS Public Health Specialist Centre social media accounts
Develop content strategies to drive visitors to the Public Health Specialist Centre website and create a plan to monitor and improve user experience and site performance. Undertake regular reviews of the content to ensure it is up to date, correct and fit for purpose
Benchmark, track and report on website and social media analytics for the Public Health Specialist Centre website and social media accounts
Ensure messaging is integrated and aligned to wider NIHR, DHSC, Local Government and University communications
Build and nurture highly productive relationships with colleagues in the NIHR Research Support Services across England, particularly with the Public Health Hub (to be established), DHSC and fellow NIHR communications colleagues nationally as well as colleagues in the regional and Newcastle University communications communities that share common goals with the RSS Public Health Specialist Centre
Work with colleagues within the Public Health Specialist Centre Management Team to support event activities by providing communications expertise in this area, including the development of relevant publication materials, promotion of events and associated digital communications needed to promote or run events
To lead on special projects as they arise within NIHR RSS Public Health Specialist Centre
Any other relevant activities required by the Director or Operating Officer of the RSS Public Health Specialist Centre
**The Person **
Knowledge, Skills and Experience (Essential)
Demonstrable experience of developing, delivering innovative and engaging communications using a variety of appropriate channels and techniques, to a wide variety of audiences, ensuring accessibility of communication to diverse audiences with different needs (e.g., easy read/screen reader accessible)
A proven track record in the production of print and online publications and publicity materials
Excellent writing skills and attention to detail with a proven ability to produce clear, concise copy for online and offline publication, and to summarise complex material clearly and succinctly for a range of audiences
Advanced IT skills including the use of Microsoft Office suite, in particular Word, Excel, and Outlook, and a high level of competency in researching information using the internet
Excellent planning, organisation and time management skills
Outstanding team working skills
Proven ability to use initiative, to think strategically and to adopt an active approach to problem solving
Experience of managing and monitoring social media channels
Experience of working with web-management software
Experience of working in a customer-focused environment
Experience of working to tight deadlines
Desirable
Proficiency in the full range of Adobe Creative Suite Applications
Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary, collaborative environment
Attributes & Behaviours (Essential)
To be proactive and seek out relevant stories and activity and actively engage and promote these internally and externally
Confidence and professionalism in personal interactions with colleagues and a friendly demeanor, able to establish and maintain good working relationships with colleagues and others at all levels whilst having the ability to negotiate and influence where appropriate, both within and outside the University, to ensure high-quality communications
Ability to undertake independent research into a topic to inform communications activities
Ability to work independently and as part of a team, working on own initiative and in juggling a busy workload, involving the management of multiple tasks
Flexible and adaptable in working with different disciplines and coping with changing and conflicting priorities; with a flexible approach to work, including a willingness to attend and assist with events held in the evening and at weekends
Qualifications (Essential)
Educated to degree level or equivalent
Desirable
Relevant communications/marketing qualifications, for example, CIM Professional Certificate, or equivalent
For more information and to apply, click 'Apply Here'.
