Associate Director of Communications and Partnerships

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is seeking an exceptional communications & engagement leader to join us as Associate Director of Communications and Partnerships during an exciting period of transformation.

Reporting to the Chief Executive, this influential role will lead strategic communications, stakeholder engagement & partnership working across the Trust & wider health & care system.

You will lead a high-performing communications team, delivering innovative internal & external communications, supporting major transformation programmes, strengthening staff engagement & protecting the Trust's reputation. The portfolio includes media relations, digital communications, stakeholder engagement, crisis communications & partnership development.

We are looking for a demonstrably experienced & inspiring leader with a strong track record of delivering strategic communications & engagement within a complex organisation, ideally in the NHS or wider public sector. You will have demonstrable experience of leading teams, influencing at Board level, managing organisational reputation, delivering high-profile engagement programmes & supporting large-scale change initiatives.

This is an excellent opportunity to make a significant impact across one of the South West's largest NHS organisations, helping to strengthen partnerships, influence system-wide change & improve how we communicate with the people and communities we serve.

The banding of this role is subject to job matching.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will lead the development and delivery of the Trust's communications, engagement and partnership strategies, ensuring a clear and consistent organisational narrative that supports our vision, values and priorities. They will provide expert communications counsel to the Executive Team and Board, advising on reputation management, stakeholder relations and strategic communications.

The role will lead engagement with patients, staff, communities, partners, regulators and wider system stakeholders, building productive relationships that strengthen organisational influence and support collaborative working across health and care services. Responsibilities include developing communications that promote employee engagement, organisational development and cultural change, alongside providing communications leadership for major transformation, service improvement and change programmes.

• Please note that applications from temporary workers who have been engaged with the Trust for a minimum of 3 months are welcome.

Available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity. (With current line manager's agreement).

About us

We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Details

Date posted

13 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£94,356 to £108,814 a year

Per Annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

216-AH-CO8318285

Job locations

Derriford Hospital

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

The postholder will oversee media relations, digital communications, social media, website and intranet development, ensuring effective and accessible communication across multiple channels. They will lead responses to major incidents, crises and sensitive issues, including out-of-hours support where required, and ensure robust evaluation of communications and engagement activity through performance reporting, research and stakeholder feedback. Please see the attached job description for full details of the role, including key responsibilities, requirements and person specification.

Job responsibilities

The postholder will oversee media relations, digital communications, social media, website and intranet development, ensuring effective and accessible communication across multiple channels. They will lead responses to major incidents, crises and sensitive issues, including out-of-hours support where required, and ensure robust evaluation of communications and engagement activity through performance reporting, research and stakeholder feedback. Please see the attached job description for full details of the role, including key responsibilities, requirements and person specification.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Extensive demonstrable experience at a senior level with a large-scale communications function including stakeholder engagement
• Successful track record of dealing with large scale change
• Strategic leadership of significant change across the ICO of two business critical functions, both communications and the development of partnerships across networks of organisations, community groups and local authorities to deliver the ICO vison.
• Demonstrable record of improving both internal and external communications in a complex organisation
• Demonstrable experience of successful media relations including confident handling of press, radio and TV interviews on contentious subjects
• Demonstrable experience of using social and digital media to communicate with key audiences

Desirable

• Proven knowledge and practical demonstrable experience of:
• Demonstrable Acute hospital and NHS experience
• Proven knowledge of NHS organisations and structures
• Demonstrable Lobbying experience (private or public sector)
• Marketing methodology and consumer practice to support opportunity identification and revenue generation
• Working effectively in a political environment and sensitive situations.

Qualifications

Essential

• Masters degree or equivalent plus additional in-depth proven professional knowledge acquired through training and demonstrable experience over an extended period.
• Specialist communication qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience or proven knowledge
• Proven evidence of continued professional development
• Appropriate professional memberships/qualifications or equivalent (e.g. membership of Institute of Public Relations)

Desirable

• Professional communication/PR qualification
• Relevant postgraduate qualification.
• Management qualification

Aptitude and Abilities

Essential

• High order leadership skills
• Political awareness and sensitivity.
• Ability to demonstrate a thorough proven understanding of NHS structures, processes and current issues
• Ability to build relationships with the media, politicians and all key stakeholders
• Good interpersonal skills and personal presence

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Extensive demonstrable experience at a senior level with a large-scale communications function including stakeholder engagement
• Successful track record of dealing with large scale change
• Strategic leadership of significant change across the ICO of two business critical functions, both communications and the development of partnerships across networks of organisations, community groups and local authorities to deliver the ICO vison.
• Demonstrable record of improving both internal and external communications in a complex organisation
• Demonstrable experience of successful media relations including confident handling of press, radio and TV interviews on contentious subjects
• Demonstrable experience of using social and digital media to communicate with key audiences

Desirable

• Proven knowledge and practical demonstrable experience of:
• Demonstrable Acute hospital and NHS experience
• Proven knowledge of NHS organisations and structures
• Demonstrable Lobbying experience (private or public sector)
• Marketing methodology and consumer practice to support opportunity identification and revenue generation
• Working effectively in a political environment and sensitive situations.

Qualifications

Essential

• Masters degree or equivalent plus additional in-depth proven professional knowledge acquired through training and demonstrable experience over an extended period.
• Specialist communication qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience or proven knowledge
• Proven evidence of continued professional development
• Appropriate professional memberships/qualifications or equivalent (e.g. membership of Institute of Public Relations)

Desirable

• Professional communication/PR qualification
• Relevant postgraduate qualification.
• Management qualification

Aptitude and Abilities

Essential

• High order leadership skills
• Political awareness and sensitivity.
• Ability to demonstrate a thorough proven understanding of NHS structures, processes and current issues
• Ability to build relationships with the media, politicians and all key stakeholders
• Good interpersonal skills and personal presence

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).

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 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

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Derriford Hospital

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Derriford Hospital

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Job responsibilities

The postholder will oversee media relations, digital communications, social media, website and intranet development, ensuring effective and accessible communication across multiple channels. They will lead responses to major incidents, crises and sensitive issues, including out-of-hours support where required, and ensure robust evaluation of communications and engagement activity through performance reporting, research and stakeholder feedback. Please see the attached job description for full details of the role, including key responsibilities, requirements and person specification.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Extensive demonstrable experience at a senior level with a large-scale communications function including stakeholder engagement
• Successful track record of dealing with large scale change
• Strategic leadership of significant change across the ICO of two business critical functions, both communications and the development of partnerships across networks of organisations, community groups and local authorities to deliver the ICO vison.
• Demonstrable record of improving both internal and external communications in a complex organisation
• Demonstrable experience of successful media relations including confident handling of press, radio and TV interviews on contentious subjects
• Demonstrable experience of using social and digital media to communicate with key audiences

Desirable

• Proven knowledge and practical demonstrable experience of:
• Demonstrable Acute hospital and NHS experience
• Proven knowledge of NHS organisations and structures
• Demonstrable Lobbying experience (private or public sector)
• Marketing methodology and consumer practice to support opportunity identification and revenue generation
• Working effectively in a political environment and sensitive situations.

Qualifications

Essential

• Masters degree or equivalent plus additional in-depth proven professional knowledge acquired through training and demonstrable experience over an extended period.
• Specialist communication qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience or proven knowledge
• Proven evidence of continued professional development
• Appropriate professional memberships/qualifications or equivalent (e.g. membership of Institute of Public Relations)

Desirable

• Professional communication/PR qualification
• Relevant postgraduate qualification.
• Management qualification

Aptitude and Abilities

Essential

• High order leadership skills
• Political awareness and sensitivity.
• Ability to demonstrate a thorough proven understanding of NHS structures, processes and current issues
• Ability to build relationships with the media, politicians and all key stakeholders
• Good interpersonal skills and personal presence