Job vacancy: Communications and Engagement Specialist - Maternity Cover, Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Milton Keynes

Job summary

Main area: Communication
Grade: Band 6
Contract: Fixed term: 12 months (Maternity cover until 9 October 2026)
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 430-CORP25-106A-A

Employer: Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Communications & PR (Dept)
Town: Milton Keynes
Salary: £37,338 - £44,962 Per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 16/07/2025 23:59

Communications and Engagement Specialist - Maternity Cover

Band 6

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Strategy, Planning and Evaluation

Inform a strategic framework that will guide internal communications and engagement activity, and bring Trust vision and values to life
Co-create annual KPIs for internal communications and engagement, and work towards achieving the

Consultancy

Build and maintain strong relationships with colleagues across the Trust to understand how internal communications can support their objectives. Attend meetings, committees and boards where relevant.
Provide guidance on internal communications that colleagues can deliver themselves, and that do not require end-to-end Communications and Engagement team delivery

Channel Ownership and Content Creation

Own and optimise the channels noted above. Work towards these channels,
and content on them, being fully accessible and inclusive.
Identify and produce or commission a strong pipeline of inspiring content /story
themes that will inform, inspire and engage colleagues e.g. raising awareness
and understanding amongst all professions, staff successes, innovations, best
practices, network initiatives, national awareness dates, Royal College
initiatives etc

Brand Management

Uphold brand standards and brand language on all internal communications content and materials, ensuring alignment with the Trust’s brand guidelines and agreed messaging.
Carry out or commission photography and videography for internal
communications channels, in line with brand guidelines, policies and
procedures.

Policy and service development

Own and maintain internal communications and engagement policies and
procedures, including colleague social media policy.
Propose changes to own area of work, informing policy and making
recommendations for improving delivery.

Responsibility for financial and physical resources

Ensure best value for money from internal communications and engagement
spend.

Freedom to act

Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload without supervision,
working to tight and often changing timescales.
Provide specialist communications and engagement advice to Trust
colleagues.

Supervision and Collaboration

Whilst this post currently has no direct reports, you will be required to brief and
supervise the Communications and Engagement Officer whose remit includes
supporting you with internal communications and engagement responsibilities.
You will also be required to integrate closely with, and brief, other members of
the Communications and Engagement team

We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.

MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.

We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.

By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.

Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.

Person specification

Qualifications and knowledge

Essential criteria

Qualified to degree level or hold equivalent relevant experience
Knowledge of the importance of confidentiality and information governance
Experience internal communications and employee engagement techniques and best practice
Experience of working with digital and social media platforms, and content management systems
Experience of employee engagement and communications channels, both offline and digital

Desirable criteria

Understanding and experience of managing brand guidelines and house style

Experience

Essential criteria

Administration experience
Extensive experience of using a wide range of IT packages including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel
Experience of using design software, including Adobe InDesign and Photoshop
Experience of advising and influencing senior managers
Experience of producing information materials, e.g. newsletters, leaflets, posters
Experience of liaising with external suppliers, e.g. design agencies
Ability to plan and organise complex activities – e.g. annual staff awards and staff engagement events
Experience of using online tools, e.g. content management systems and social media management tools

Skills

Essential criteria

Excellent IT skills
Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing
Willingness to use own initiative to organise meetings, events and photocalls
Well-developed organisational skills to coordinate events and campaigns
Excellent people skills
Excellent prioritising skills, with the ability to manage a changing workload and manage expectations of delivery accordingly
Deals with complex, changing information, and able to communicate in a persuasive, motivational way
Ability to make judgements when there is more than one solution to an issue
Ability to conceptualise and produce engaging and creative content across multiple platforms
Ability to analyse incoming information and compare a range of options to make recommendations as to the best communications approach
Social media management skills

Personal and people development

Essential criteria

Commitment to personal development
Commitment to developing new ways of working and contributing to the development of protocols
Ability to work quickly to a high standard
Flexibility and willingness to try new ways of working
Creative approach to problem-solving
Enthusiastic manner
Excellent personal presentation

Communication and Engagement

Essential criteria

Efficient at managing high volumes of email and other communications from both internal and external stakeholder
Able to write statements, press releases and letters to agreed organisational standards and templates, including those containing sensitive and complex information
Able to represent the organisation effectively on the telephone and face to face
Able to brief journalists and manage ongoing relationships with media to ensure fair and positive coverage of the organisation
Able to engage senior managers in the development of campaigns and events to ensure they deliver the organisation’s objectives

Desirable criteria

Able to influence. motivate and persuade stakeholders using effective communications
Able to negotiate and influence colleagues, including senior figures, on appropriate communications approach for projects and campaigns