Head of Communications
Job Description
Job summary
The Communications Team was established with the support of an external consultant and has since evolved into a highly regarded business function. It has earned a strong reputation for high-quality delivery internally, as a trusted and effective business partner to all teams and a key contributor to new project development; and externally, as a leading example of communications excellence within the GP federation space.
ABC has received both regional and national recognition for its strategic approach and measurable impact. In its first year, the team successfully generated income by sharing communications and digital expertise with member practices and partners at both regional and national levels. Income generation continues to be a priority alongside the core communications activity that supports ABC's mission.
Main duties of the job
Strategic Planning
Maintain and evolve ABC's communications strategy in line with organisational goals. Ensure a clear understanding of the assets and resources required to build on the teams excellent reputation and deliver objectives with measurable outcomes and demonstrable success.
Senior Leadership and Team Development
Serve as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to the delivery of ABC's strategy and overseeing the line management of two Communications Coordinators, one focused on central projects and the other dedicated to delivering communications support services through the CURA solutions portfolio.
The postholder is responsible for the professional development of all team members, ensuring they have clearly defined objectives, can track their progress, and understand how their work aligns with wider organisational goals. In line with ABC's management culture, team members will have clearly defined responsibilities, supported appropriately to ensure their success.
Communications Development
Lead the evolution of ABC's communications approach, with a focus on audience engagement, channel optimisation, appropriate technology, and a balanced use of in-house and outsourced capabilities. The postholder will also be responsible for departmental governance, including impact reporting, business planning, business continuity, and policy development.
About us
Alliance for Better Care (ABC) is a GP Federation uniting 77 NHS GP member practices across 98 sites within 24 Primary Care Networks in Sussex and Surrey. We support our Primary Care colleagues - and their patients - to transform how healthcare is delivered in their communities.
We work closely with GP Practices, PCNs, Hospitals, Community Organisations, and the Third Sector. These vital partnerships enable us to deliver a truly integrated approach that offers the support and expertise needed to effectively serve our populations.
Benefits
- Generous annual leave allowance
- Access to NHS pension
- Bespoke training programme
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Enhanced maternity pay
Job responsibilities
Income Generation - CURA
The Head of Communications plays a pivotal role in income generation through the CURA solutions portfolio. In addition to leading the CURA brand and communications strategy, the postholder will develop and deliver high-quality communications services, ensuring excellent customer satisfaction. They will also take direct responsibility for selling the full range of CURA solutions and supporting the team to achieve annual financial targets.
This area of responsibility will be supported by the external Consultant who originally developed CURA. The Consultant will work alongside the postholder to ensure a smooth transition, maintain service continuity, and support the Communications Coordinator in delivering to both new and existing customers. The Consultant will also strengthen the CURA offer to maximise impact and income. While the Consultant will supervise this area of work, overall line management will rest with the postholder.
During this time, the Consultant will report directly to the ABC Chief Executive and work closely with the Associate Director of Transformation.
Budget Responsibility
Responsible for the management of all operational and staffing budgets within the Communications Team. This includes oversight of external suppliers, income forecasting, and outsourced technology and subscription services.
Brand Reputation Management
Maintain and grow ABC's stellar reputation as an organisation known for best practice, innovation, and impact, with a strong national profile.
Safeguard and enhance the organisations brand through proactive and responsive communications including PR, crisis communications, and reputation monitoring.
Act as brand guardian by maintaining, developing, and enforcing brand guidelines. Ensure consistency in both visual and verbal identity across all channels and touchpoints, supported via our central brand portal.
Showcase the organisations impact and success by leading award submissions, developing compelling case studies, and promoting ABC's work across the NHS regionally and nationally.
Conduct regular brand audits to assess messaging consistency, alignment with brand values, and identify opportunities for enhancement.
Internal Communications
Serve as a trusted and proactive internal partner across the business simplifying content, making it engaging, and ensuring it is accessible to staff.
Act as the eyes and ears of the organisation, working collaboratively with all departments to share important updates such as policy changes, system developments, service information, best practice, good news stories, and internal initiatives.
Manage key internal communication channels across digital and offline platforms, including the intranet (MS Teams and SharePoint), staff newsletter, internal sections of the website, office signage and notices, training events, system inductions, and webinars.
External Communications
Deliver a confident and reassuring external profile for ABC by sharing key information with stakeholders through our external channels.
Oversee the members newsletter, social media platforms, website, and external events. Ensure timely and relevant content is submitted to and shared via system and community partners.
Act as the first point of contact for crisis communications, media, and PR enquiries. Work closely with the Board and Executive Leadership Team to manage proactive and responsive PR activity. This includes coordinating with ICB partners on high-profile opportunities, providing media training, and briefing ABC spokespeople ahead of interviews and site visits.
Reports to: Associate Director, Transformation.
Base: Flexible working between the HQ (Horley Health Hub), on-site locations including Crawley, and home. As a flexible employer, we prioritise outcomes over location.
For more information, please see full job description.
Person Specification
Other
Essential
- Collaborative working
- Motivated and inspires others
- Ability to work flexibly, use initiative, prioritise workload and delegate Relationship management
- Self-starter able to set and deliver own objectives
- Champion of equality and valuing diversity
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Excellent written skills
- Confident presenter and trainer
- Digitally literate and and confident user of new technology
- Creative thinker with an appreciation for aesthetics
- Confident Technology user
Desirable
- Technology management / usage
- Website Content Management Systems including Wordpress / equivalent
- Microsoft Teams / Sharepoint
- Webinar platforms including Zoom / MS Teams
- Newsletter management software including Mailchimp / equivalent
- Website analytics platforms including Google Analytics / equivalent
- Social Media management tools including Hootsuite / equivalent
- Graphic Design programmes / tools including Adobe / Canva / equivalent
Qualifications
Essential
- Higher Level education qualification
Desirable
- Marketing / Communicationsor equivalent professional qualification
Experience
Essential
- Senior Leadership experience
- Leading a communications department with line management responsibilities internal and external
- Strategy development
Desirable
- Income generation
- Media training
- Community engagement
Knowledge
Essential
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