Head of Communications | East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

The Head of Communications will provide tactical leadership to the Trust's communications function, driving trust-wide campaigns that enhance our reputation, engage internal stakeholders, and support our mission to deliver exceptional integrated care.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Communications (EDC), you will lead a multidisciplinary team to deliver impactful, cohesive messaging across hospital and community services that serves to support the trust values and workplace culture. This role demands a forward-thinking leader who grasps the wider impact that the communications function has in shaping the environment as a 'great place to work'. You will have proven expertise in managing complex campaigns, fostering team development, and ensuring structured, efficient operations in a fast-paced NHS environment.

You will play a pivotal role in shaping the Trust's narrative, collaborating with clinical, operational, and executive teams to amplify our successes and navigate challenges.

This role requires a high level of on-site presence to build relationships and respond to operational needs, with an expectation of approximately 80% of working time based at Trust sites (primarily Hastings and Eastbourne with travel to community locations as required). Hybrid working may be available for the remaining 20%, subject to business needs and agreement.

This role is a job share, split equally between two postholders (one already in post).

The post holder will demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills in communications, applying them to lead service delivery, manage risks, and drive continuous improvement. Key responsibilities include:

Ensure high quality communications: Maintain appropriate standards across the whole suite of internal communications. This includes ensuring communications support is tactically adept, and extends to overseeing the quality of presentation and content that is produced in the team's name.

Campaigns Leadership: Lead the development and delivery of high-profile, trust-wide communications campaigns that promote integrated hospital and community services, enhance patient and staff engagement, and support organisational priorities such as quality improvement and public health initiatives.

Team Leadership and development: Provide inspirational leadership to a team of communications professionals, fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture. Demonstrate a strong track record of building and motivating diverse teams, with a focus on talent development, performance management, and succession planning to deliver consistent excellence.

Open and proactive communication with the EDC role, ensuring that escalation is structured, solution-focused and proportionate to the scale of the issues at hand.

Line management responsibility for the Communications team - Communications Officer and Communication Support Officers which includes managing performance, absence and undertaking appraisals.

A wide range of staff benefits are available to our staff including staff development, enrolment in the NHS pension scheme, auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service, access to onsite nurseries. staff restaurants and accommodation.

In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking is available from only £50 a year.

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