We have an exciting opportunity for an authentic leader who shares our values and who can intuitively, creatively and empathetically guide our Trusts communications, engagement and marketing function.

You will head up a team of bright, able and committed communication, engagement and marketing professionals who have recently come together as a single team following the merger of two trusts and the creation of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Active programmes within the team include recruitment marketing, digital transformation, clinical research promotion, our bright ideas transformation programme, engaging patients in outpatient transformation, sustainability, and the cost of living crisis.

The team provide their expertise to these longer-term programmes whilst also responding to the Trusts complex, fast-paced and ever-changing communications, engagement and marketing needs.

To succeed in our ambitions, we need to motivate and inspire our people and engage with our stakeholders and communities, and that is why we need an experienced and strategic leader who is passionate about serving the interests of our communities and who has the fortitude, intuition and empathy to lead our communications, engagement and marketing function.

You will be supported by professional leads in marketing, engagement and communications, alongside a peer

Main duties of the job

For more detail about the main duties of this role, please see the job description section below. As a key member of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, you will be joining an exceptional team working together to help our patients to stay healthy, when they need it most.

About us

Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services, which we provide to more than 615,000 people, cover more than 2,000 square miles across Devon, while some of our specialist services cover the whole of the peninsula, extending our reach as far as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford).

Alongside our two acute hospitals, we provide integrated health and social care services across a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within peoples own homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC).

Our state-of-the-art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovations, enabling us to provide world-class care to our local communities.

Its never been a more exciting time to join the Royal Devon, as youll help to shape our services as we continue along our integration journey.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For more information on the Job Description and Responsibilities please click the link below.

More detail about the role

As Associate Director, you will be responsible for the Trust-wide strategic, operational and professional leadership of our communications, marketing and engagement (CEM) services.

You will work in collaboration with colleagues across the South West and senior leaders across the Trust to ensure that all of our strategic and operational priorities are supported by high quality, creative and engaging CEM plans.

This senior role will be accountable for the highest quality of professional standards across all the functions of the team, including:

• internal communications and engagement
• public relations
• media relations
• marketing, branding and design
• governors and membership communications
• formal and informal staff, patient and public involvement and consultation
• the Trusts online presence (including websites, social media and outpatient TV screens)

Over the last three years, the RDUH has seen a number of historical milestones. This includes opening the only Nightingale Hospital in the country that cared for COVID-19 patients, undertaking ground-breaking research across a number of specialities, and being the first Trust in England to go live with an electronic patient record system across their acute and community services and the communications, marketing and engagement team have been pivotal to these achievements and many more.

Looking to the future, the RDUH has an exciting vision and very clear plans so that we can achieve our ambitions. You will be joining a Trust with a clear sense of the clinical and digital transformation it wants to achieve and a commitment to involving our patients, staff, public and members in every part of this journey.

Our team ethos is one of development, nurturing talent and ensuring people stay with us in fulfilling careers and work.

Previous applicants for Associate Director of Communications post need not re-apply, your applications are still being processed

Working Pattern: 37.5 hours per week

Interview Date: To be confirmed

For further information please contact Emily Simpson, Executive and Specialist Recruitment Lead on 07958 931414 or email emily.simpson21@nhs.net

Preference will be given to staff with Priority and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the expertise of both the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.

Benefits

We will work together to maintain a culture that develops and supports you and your team.

This might include funding for a care certificate, a degree or leadership qualifications. Or it might include days off to study, engage in CPD or rotational placements to help you hone your skills. Wherever you are heading in the NHS, we'll help you get there.

Looking after you is important to us.

We strive to help our staff create a healthy work-life balance through flexible working schemes and our family friendly policies.

If you're starting out in the NHS, you'll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days plus bank holidays.

You'll benefit from access to our own comprehensive occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups.

Salary is not the only financial benefit

You'll have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure options and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers.

You will also have access to other benefits including:

National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.

Salary sacrifice options including our OFSTED rated outstanding nursery onsite at Exeter

Car lease schemes.

The NHS Pension scheme (one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK).

Cycle to work scheme

These are just a few of the benefits available if the role is something you are interested in, we'd love to hear from you.

Person Specification

General Requirements

Essential

• See job description text above, and (where applicable) you can download a copy of the full job description

Desirable

• See job description text above, and (where applicable) you can download a copy of the full job description

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Barrack Road

Exeter

Devon

EX2 5DW

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

185-24896-5305