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Job summary

Main area
Communications
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
100-AC169-0626
Employer
Hywel Dda University Health Board
Employer type
NHS
Site
Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion or Pembrokeshire - Hybrid home and office working
Town
To Be Confirmed
Salary
£40,559 - £48,841 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
01/07/2026 23:59
Interview date
10/07/2026

Employer heading

Hywel Dda University Health Board logo

Senior Communications Officer - Public Health

Band 6

Our Hywel Dda values reflect who we are and how we behave. We continuously work together to be the best we can be as we strive to develop and deliver excellent services, putting people at the heart of everything we do. Throughout our recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you would demonstrate these values in the way that you work with us.

If you are registered Health Care professional considering relocating to the Hywel Dda area in West Wales please don’t hesitate to contact our recruitment campaigns team directly via [email protected]

To keep up to date with our latest recruitment activity follow us on Facebook (Swyddi Hywel Dda Jobs), LinkedIn or on Twitter @SwyddiHDdaJobs

Hywel Dda University Health Board reserve the right to close vacancies after 24 hours if a large number of suitable applications are received. We encourage early applications to ensure consideration for a post.


The salary scale for a Band 3 has been adjusted as part of the NHS Agenda for Change pay award for 2026/2027 and will be implemented in August 2026 backdated to 01 April 2026 where applicable.

Job overview

Are you passionate about helping to improve the health and well-being of our communities in mid and west Wales?

We are looking for a communication professional who wants to make a difference through your work and contribute to improved health and well-being for our communities.

The Senior Communications Officer - Public Health will support us in our ambition to shift from a service focused on treating illness, to one focused on preventing ill health, or worsening of ill-health.   

You will need to deliver proactive and integrated communication campaigns on a variety of health issues as part of the role. You will also help manage challenging situations, where good communications is critical. This could range from managing the communications around a local public health risk to supporting with a change in how health services are provided.

We want to hear from people who can evidence how their communication work has delivered positive outcomes and have experience of supporting behaviour change. 

If this sounds like you, please tell us in your application how you meet the essential criteria. We would love to hear about your relevant experience and ideas.

Main duties of the job

The role requires an experienced communications professional who can provide leadership within the communications team and advise senior managers within the organisation on their approach to open, transparent, and honest communication, in line with our Duty of Candour. 

You will use communications to influence behaviour change that benefits the health of our communities. You will need to provide our internal and external audiences with clear information and creative content, using integrated communication approaches and campaigns. This could include communication on improving health, accessing services, service change, or in a major incident, in line with our Warning and Informing duties.

You will need to be able to demonstrate experience of using varied mechanisms for dialogue with staff, patients, our communities, and stakeholders, and you will need to evaluate this to show outcomes and continuously learn and improve.

You will deliver a programme of content and communication which also recognises and celebrates staff and UHB achievements, which benefit the local population and wider health service. 

You will provide a reactive service to respond effectively to what can be complex and sensitive enquiries from staff, journalists and social media users.

Working for our organisation

Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties.

We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services.

We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.

Our services are provided in:

  • Four main hospitals: Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest
  • Five community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire
  • Two integrated care centres: Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings
  • 47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 97 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers
  • Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences.  In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

This post could be based across our Health Board area. Please reach out to discuss with the appointing manager our hybrid working options. 

Interviews will be held on 10.07.2026

Person specification

Qualifications and Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Educated to degree level in relevant field (public relations, communications, media or marketing) or equivalent qualification or experience of working at this level.
  • Knowledge of communication approaches and delivery obtained through either postgraduate level education or professional CPD in relevant field, or evidenced experience working at this level.
  • Specialist knowledge and experience of communication in fields of internal communications, media communications, or digital communications.
  • Qualification or demonstrative knowledge of the legislation governing media, and slander/ libel laws for publishers. Understanding of Editor’s Code of Conduct and the Chartered Institute of Public Relation’s professional code of conduct and a willingness to act within accordance of them
  • Demonstrable continued professional development.
Desirable criteria
  • Certified member of Chartered Institute of Public Relations or Chartered Institute of Marketing.
  • Working knowledge of media relationship systems and website content management system
  • Understanding of Welsh legislation and WG delegated powers, particularly within health, and of political environment within Wales.

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Previous experience of working in a communications team or evidence of leading communication campaigns across internal, external, and digital channels, including using social media, with a proven track record.
  • Practise or equivalent knowledge of using communications as an enabler of behavioural change.
  • Experience of creating basic graphic design to help communicate messages.
  • Experience in taking basic photos, video shooting and editing.
  • Experience of line management of staff.
Desirable criteria
  • Evidenced ability to work across professional and organisational boundaries in an atmosphere of change/ complex structures and partnership working.
  • Experience of working with staff and journalists in a responsive role for the NHS or another large public sector organisation.

Language Skills

Desirable criteria
  • Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing in Welsh

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareNo smoking policyCymraegDisability confident employerStep into healthCarer Confident (With Welsh translation)Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - GoldCore principlesStonewall 2023 Bronze

Applicant requirements

Welsh language skills are desirable

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Mererid Jenkins
Job title
Head of Communications
Email address
[email protected]
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