Associate Director of Communications, Engagement and Marketing

We have an exciting opportunity for an authentic leader who shares our values and who can intuitively, creatively and empathetically guide our Trust’s 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 Trust’s 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 network of senior clinical and professional leads across the Trust.

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 Trust’s 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.

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 [email protected]

As an inclusive employer, the Royal Devon values diversity and is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.