Job title: Senior Communications and Stakeholder Manager - Q (24-month contract)

Transcription

1 Job description Job title: Senior Communications and Stakeholder Manager - Q (24-month contract) The Health Foundation We are an independent charity committed to bringing about better health and health care for people in the UK. Our aim is a healthier population, supported by high quality health care that can be equitably accessed. We learn what works to make people s lives healthier and improve the health care system. From giving grants to those working at the front line to carrying out research and policy analysis, we shine a light on how to make successful change happen. We make links between the knowledge we gain from working with those delivering health and health care and our research and analysis. Our aspiration is to create a virtuous circle, using what we know works on the ground to inform effective policymaking and vice versa. We believe good health and health care are key to a flourishing society. Through sharing what we learn, collaborating with others and building people s skills and knowledge, we aim to make a difference and contribute to a healthier population. About Q Q is a flagship initiative, led by the Health Foundation, connecting people with improvement expertise across the UK. Q s mission is to foster continuous and sustainable improvement in health and care. To achieve this, we are creating opportunities for people to come together as an improvement community sharing ideas, enhancing skills and collaborating to make health and care better. Job Description 1

2 The Q community is made up of a diverse range of people, including those at the front line of health and social care, patient leaders, managers, researchers, policymakers and others. This diversity boosts the power of Q as a source of innovation and practical problem solving. There are currently over 2,000 members in the community. Born out of Q, the Q Lab brings people together from across the UK (including Q members and others) to make progress on challenges facing health and social care. Working on a single challenge for nine to 12 months, the Lab uses existing knowledge to develop an indepth understanding of the issue, develop ideas, test solutions and share learning. A pilot Lab is due to conclude in April 2018 with a second Lab planned to start in the summer. Q is supported and co-funded by NHS Improvement. We are also working with Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Health and Social Care Northern Ireland and Public Health Wales to deliver Q. For more information about Q, visit q.health.org.uk. Purpose of the role The Senior Communications and Stakeholder Manager is a senior member of the Q project team, leading the growing communications and engagement functional team supporting the successful delivery of Q. The overall size of the functional team is seven posts (including this one). The Senior Communications and Stakeholder Manager is also a senior leader within the Health Foundation s wider communications team. The post holder is responsible for leading the development and overseeing implementation of the overarching integrated communications strategy in support of Q, which encompasses marketing communications, media, digital communications, stakeholder relations and community engagement. S/he ensures there are appropriate links into the Health Foundation s corporate narrative for improving health and care in the UK. The Senior Communications and Stakeholder Manager is responsible for representing Q, and directly influencing, networking with and managing very senior stakeholders to support the delivery of the initiative. This involves developing and implementing strategic influencing plans to build and maintain Q s reputation and profile to help achieve its ultimate ambitions for boosting the profile of improvement and organising the rapid sharing of ideas. Working with the Marketing and Communications Manager for Q Labs, the post holder S/he has overall responsibility for the development and delivery of effective and integrated communications and stakeholder engagement and relationship management to support the Q Improvement labs and the prototype Lab. S/he has overall responsibility for a budget of approximately 250,000 per annum, including reporting, maintaining accountability for and achieving value for money with expenditure. Working with the Digital Communications and Engagement Manager (to be appointed) and the Community Manager s/he is ultimately responsible for the community engagement and relationship management strategy in place for Q, to support and grow the connections necessary to develop a flourishing community. Senior Communications and Stakeholder Manager - Q 2

3 Using expert knowledge of communications and community engagement best practice, s/he is a significant contributor to the collaborative design of the shape, scope and strategy for the long term initiative - particularly with regard to how people will connect, share information, and communicate inside and outside of Q community. S/he works with the Deputy Director of Improvement, and other key internal stakeholders, to influence both policy and practice communities with insight gained from Q. The programme of communications and community engagement activity delivered by the Q communications function is integral to the successful delivery of this high profile 10m initiative. Accountable to Reports directly to the Assistant Director of Communications and works closely with the Deputy Director of Improvement and Director of Communications. Direct reports Three posts directly report to the Senior Stakeholder and Communications Manager for Q Marketing and Communications Manager Q Digital Communications and Engagement Manager Marketing and Communications Manager Q Labs. Please see the chart below for the wider functional team structure. Senior Stakeholder & Communications Manager - Q Marketing & Communications Manager - Q Digital Communications & Engagement Manager Marketing & Communications Manager - Q Labs Marketing & Communications Officer Community Manager - Q Communications Assistant Salary: circa 55,000 per annum plus benefits Hours per week 37.5 (core office hours are 9:00am 5:30pm Monday to Friday) A willingness to travel and undertake some out of hours activities may be associated with the events and stakeholder management aspects of this post. Senior Communications and Stakeholder Manager - Q 3

4 Key relationships The Senior Communications and Stakeholder Manager is responsible for representing Q, and directly influencing, networking with and managing a diverse range of stakeholders, including very senior stakeholders, to support the delivery of Q. S/he is expected to support senior colleagues with managing national system-level leaders and members of the community, as well as stakeholders with a vested interest in Q. S/he needs to have excellent relationship management skills and the ability to work with and influence stakeholders at different levels of seniority and from a diverse range of professional backgrounds. S/he works closely with colleagues, including senior managers and directors, providing strategic communications and marketing advice, and influencing beyond line management boundaries to achieve agreed communications objectives for Q. The post holder commissions and manages a range of external suppliers and freelancers (covering many areas such as website development, market research, design, copy writing and editing) to deliver key elements of the communications strategies. Key responsibilities The main duties and responsibilities of the post include: actively contributing to the collaborative design of the shape, scope and strategy for Q. managing and leading the communications and engagement function of Q, ensuring high quality, coherent, manageable and creative communications are supporting Q s on-going design and delivery. This includes providing effective and supportive management and leadership to Q s communications and engagement function and line managing the Marketing and Communication Manager for Q, Marketing and Communications Manager for Q Labs and Digital Communications Manager (to be appointed). overseeing the development and delivery of integrated marketing and communications strategies and plans (including marketing, digital, stakeholder engagement, media and community engagement) to support Q as a whole, the Q Lab(s) and the members. developing and delivering strategic influencing plans for the initiative that aim to increase and maximise the profile of Q and improvement as a whole at a UK-wide level. This involves increasing reach and visibility and getting active support from and engagement with more high profile stakeholders. These plans need to align with the wider Health Foundation corporate strategy. developing and delivering a strategic approach to engaging and maintaining stakeholder relationships to support Q, Q Labs and the wider Health Foundation. This includes supporting senior members of the Q team as well as the wider Health Foundation to engage with targeted stakeholders with specific objectives. Senior Communications and Stakeholder Manager - Q 4

5 being responsible for Q s contribution to a CRM system within the Health Foundation and adapt this as appropriate to meet future needs. representing the Health Foundation and Q at various events and meetings, for example the Patient Safety Leads Group, Patient Safety Strategic Communications Group (led by Sign-up To Safety) and the AHSN Communications Steering Group. being responsible for the communications components of UK-wide Q community events. safeguarding the reputation of Q on an ongoing basis through effective reputation and issues management. leading the continued development and management of the longer-term brand identity and strategy for Q and Q Labs. commissioning and managing work by freelancers and communications suppliers as appropriate including writing detailed and accurate briefs and ensuring contracted deliverables are achieved. providing communications advice regarding Q to the Deputy Director of Improvement, Assistant Director of Communications and Director of Communications. managing media and public affairs to support the initiative proactively and reactively and working together with the wider external affairs team. directly representing Q, for example speaking at events, facilitating workshops and discussions and meeting key stakeholders with the aim of furthering Q s objectives. overall responsibility for delivery of the networking and connecting elements of Q and the establishment of a vibrant community, working with the Digital Communications and Engagement Manager and the Community Manager. overall responsibility for ensuring an effective and coherent online and offline engagement and communications infrastructure is developed and managed in support of the Q community, working with the Digital Communications and Engagement Manager and Community Manager as well as the Health Foundation s digital team. overarching responsibility for the Q microsite and its continued development. The Q microsite is the primary source of information about the initiative, therefore it is important this is kept relevant, engaging and is marketed towards our stakeholders. oversight and responsibility for e-communications. This includes ensuring there is a strategic approach for e-communications and alignment with the corporate Health Foundation approach. Senior Communications and Stakeholder Manager - Q 5

6 managing and having overall responsibility for the communications and engagement budget for Q, ensuring accurate and timely reporting takes place and value for money is achieved across all expenditure. Senior Communications and Stakeholder Manager - Q 6

7 Person specification Knowledge and experience 1. Educated to degree level, or with equivalent professional experience. A relevant professional qualification, such the CIM or CIPR diploma, would also be an advantage (desirable). 2. Experience of leading and managing teams in complex and evolving environments - s/he must be a supportive people manager with a well-developed ability to motivate teams and individuals to deliver agreed objectives. 3. A first class track record of developing and implementing integrated communications strategies, preferably for a high profile community or network based initiative, including developing, implementing and advising on communications plans to communicate technical and complex information effectively. 4. Significant communications experience, preferably in the health and social care sector, at both a strategic and operational level with a strong and demonstrable track record of successful delivery of projects under time pressure to achieve agreed objectives. 5. Demonstrable experience of directly influencing external senior stakeholders to achieve agreed objectives. 6. Experience of conducting/commissioning market research and using knowledge acquired to shape products and services. 7. Experience of designing, organising and delivering large scale events. 8. A strong understanding and experience of brand management and corporate communications. 9. A good understanding of best practice in digital communication, including websites, intranets, e-marketing, and social media. 10. Evidence of successful budget management. Skills and abilities 1. Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop strong relationships, work at all levels of an organisation, get the best out of others and influence beyond line management boundaries. 2. Ability to manage people, resources and multi-disciplinary teams, enabling continuous learning for all colleagues and celebrating success, including by setting a clear purpose, direction and targets for individuals and teams, and creating an empowering culture for them. 3. Ability to think and work across multiple organisational and stakeholder perspectives to make effective progress on communication objectives in a complex and emergent context. Senior Communications and Stakeholder Manager - Q 7

8 4. Creative, yet practical and highly organised, with the ability to turn good ideas into action and deliver against agreed objectives. 5. Ability to foresee and trouble shoot problems - identifying key issues and potential solutions from data and information presented, extracting learning and identifying relevance to different audiences and stakeholders. 6. Ability to analyse and synthesise complex and technical information, including market research, and communicate it effectively to target audiences or shaping both products and effective communication strategies. 7. Knowledge of best practice in the effective management of on and offline communities (desirable). 8. Both an excellent verbal communicator and a highly accomplished writer and editor, with a good understanding of Microsoft Office packages. 9. An interest in and understanding of health and social care and the challenges facing these sectors. 10. A commitment to diversity and equal opportunities in employment and service delivery. April 2018 Senior Communications and Stakeholder Manager - Q 8