Associate Director of Communications and Engagement

• An exciting opportunity leading communications of the newly formed NHS CCG
• To establish new and innovative ways to optimise communications and engagements

About Our Client

Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is made up of local GPs and health professionals from 85 practices in the area, working together with clinicians, providers and patients. The role of the organisation is:

'To understand the needs of our local population, work in partnership with them to ensure we commission the best possible health and care services.'

We have big ambitions for communications and engagement across our geography - it is the foundation of shaping better health for the people we serve. We are looking for someone to establish new and innovative ways to optimise the connections with local communities, staff and workforce'.

Job Description

The Associate Director of Communications and Engagement will be responsible for:

• Developing communications and engagement strategies to reflect the key initiatives across the CCG agenda.
• Researching and introducing innovative approaches to communications and engagements across all channels.
• Developing user centric social media strategies. Identifying how recent technologies can increase effectiveness.
• Developing and delivering a compelling narrative around our vision.
• Leading and directing the communications functions including media and campaigns, publishing, web, public affairs and stakeholders, events and internal communications.
• Working closely with the Chief Executive, Director of Transformations and relevant Committees to advise on communications plans that will increase engagement across all channels.
• Leading on engagement with industry and stakeholder organisations, develop and maintain extensive public networks to both inform and engage patients and the public.
• Representing the CCG across the health and care communicators' network, building and maintaining links into the wider Local Government professional network.
• Providing excellent communications, political and public affairs advice to the leadership team of the CCG.
• Establishing and embedding a robust, clear and well communicated plan to ensure all media issues are handled professionally and efficiently.
• Maximising the utility of digital communications tools to create engaging internal and external communications.
• Developing and mentoring the team, working with other Senior Managers to maintain a collaborative working environment across the organisation.
• Promoting the success and culture of the CCG, its external reputation with the wider NHS, our staff and population.
• The post holder will be a part of the system wide on call rota.
• The post holder will be expected to travel across the CCG area and occasionally to key forums as requested.

The Successful Applicant

The Associate Director of Communications and Engagement will need:

• Education at Masters Level in a relevant field or equivalent working experience.
• Proven and significant leadership background at senior level.
• Proven background in leading a major change initiative with entrepreneurialism.
• Proven ability to lead and deliver complex change and strategy development in a complex and politically sensitive environment.
• To hold a membership of a relevant professional body.
• Ability to build trusted stakeholder relationships, internally and externally.
• Extensive background in delivering presentations to large groups of stakeholders.
• A successful track record of handling complex media issues.
• Demonstrated ability to act upon incomplete information to make inferences and decision making.
• Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term, adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.
• Ability to provide informative reporting to Board management.
• Ability to motivate and inspire staff.

What's on Offer

Competitive salary and benefits

Commutable from Bristol, Bath, Weston-Super-Mare, Bridgwater, Chippenham, Malmesbury, Gloucester, Newport and Cardiff

We are committed to ensuring that disabled people are afforded equality of opportunity in all stages of the recruitment process and we guarantee an interview to candidates who declare they have a disability and meet the minimum criteria of the post.

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