Chief Strategic Communications Officer

BPAS are an independent healthcare charity which, formore than 55 years, has been advocating and caring for women and couples whodecide to end a pregnancy.

We are theleading specialist of abortion advice and treatment in the UK.

Over the last 12 months we have gone throughsignificant organisational change and are putting in place a new leadershipstructure, supported by a Senior Operational Team.

BPAS vision is for a society in which women aretrusted to make their own reproductive choices with access to the informationand services needed to exercise those choices.

The Chief Strategic Communications Officer is an integral part of the ExecutiveLeadership Team, sharing the collective responsibility for the key issuesfacing BPAS.

You will be a values-driven leader whocan inspire staff, trustees, as well as wider stakeholders, fostering aninclusive culture driven by our collective purpose.

You will enhance and drive our reputation asa sector leader on advocacy and law reform in abortion care, building a strongadvocacy, research and communications function to evidence, protect, and defendabortion rights for women.

Main duties of the job

The role of the Chief Strategic CommunicationsOfficer is vital to BPAS's mission of advocating for and providingcompassionate care in reproductive health.

As a key member of the C-Suite, youwill have shared responsibility for the overall strategy and success of theorganisation, ensuring that our vision and mission are clearly communicated andeffectively championed across all levels.

You will lead BPASs strategiccommunications, marketing, advocacy, and research functions, ensuring that ourmessaging resonates with a diverse range of stakeholders from governmentofficials, Whitehall, NHSE, CQC and sector partners and policymakers to service users and the public.

We are seeking a highly experienced leader instrategic communications with a proven track record at the C-suite level. Youwill bring expertise in advocacy, media relations, crisis communication, andstakeholder engagement, ideally within the healthcare, charity, or human rightssectors.

Your ability to influence, inspire, and drive social change throughevidence-based communication will be crucial in maintaining and enhancingBPAS's reputation as a leader in reproductive rights.

Above all, we are looking for a leader who isaligned with our values, passionate about our mission, and committed toadvancing the rights and well-being of the women we serve

• Possesses a genuine passion for the organisation's charitable aims, mission, vision and values


• Able to lead with compassion and empathy whilst remaining clear on expectations and deliverables


• Able to maintain strict confidentiality


• Remains calm under pressure


• Possesses drive, enthusiasm and energy


• Builds professional and personal credibility to gain support


• Confidence in ability to deliver


• Ability to work under pressure


• Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and anti-racism, Highly effective communication skills must be able to articulate complex issues to a wide range of audiences, both written and verbally


• Excellent presentation skills with the ability to engage and influence diverse audiences.


• Strong interpersonal and negotiating skills, with the ability to engage, build and sustain relationships both within BPAS and within external organisations.


• Able to demonstrate sound financial management skills and understand business centred approach to healthcare provision.


• Able to take 'tough' decisions and calculated risks and see required action through.


• Demonstrates strong commitment to action to achieve equality and diversity in the workforce and for the community.


• Ability to share vision and engender ownership in others.


• Exhibits a drive, energy and enthusiasm and resilience to drive through and achieve end results and improvements.


Qualifications

Essential

• Politically astute with significant experience of effective influencing and the development of advocacy, from the identification of objectives, targets and opportunities, through the delivery of a range of approaches to achieve change


• Significant experience gained ideally within healthcare, charities or similar settings on leading the strategic communications, campaigning and advocacy function at a C Suite level


Desirable

Formal qualification in Public Affairs, Journalism or marketing and communications

General

Essential

• Able to travel to other sites, and work additional hours as necessary


• Able to participate in the on call rota outside of core working hours


• Commitment to a womans right to choose abortion


Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable evidence of delivering change through strategic communications and engagement, ideally within a human rights or healthcare setting


• A very experienced ambassador and communicator, able to connect and take multiple stakeholders with them, from Whitehall through to service users


• Demonstrable experience of setting clear objectives with teams, encouraging personal development and addressing performance management issues


• Proven experience of operating at a board level within a comparable organisation


• Significant experience in shaping strategic communications and successful execution of the strategy to drive measurable impact


• Experience of designing and delivering national marketing and campaigns strategies ideally within womens health or human rights


• Excellent experience in building a range of partnerships and collaborations formal and informal, leading in some, connecting different agendas and shaping the work of others behind the scenes.


• Experience in using evidence-based arguments to drive social change, utilising data and research outcomes
  
  British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) is the UK's largest independent women's reproductive healthcare charity. We work mainly on behalf of the NHS across the country providing abortion, contraception, STI testing & treatment.
  
  Alongside a supportive and friendly working environment, BPAS has generous benefits :


• Life assurance cover at 3 times salary


• 34 days annual leave per year


• A defined contribution pension scheme.


• You will have access to our employee benefits programme through BHSF which includes special health & wellbeing services & lifestyle offers for you & your family.


This includes various salary sacrifice schemes, counselling services & free private GP appointments.

BPAS is committed to safeguarding & promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults, children & young people through a safer recruitment framework.

This includes a thorough selection process & a number of pre-employment checks.