Director of Public Accountability Communications & Engagement

NHS England's Public Accountability, Communications and Engagement function sits within the Strategy Directorate. It is one of the busiest communications teams in the country, operating within a fast-moving environment and managing a wide range of high-profile issues affecting the NHS each day, with those issues commanding significant public attention and scrutiny. Activities delivered by the team include: answering Freedom of Information (FoI) requests and parliamentary questions; managing communications for major incidents such as COVID-19 and industrial action; delivering public facing campaigns including recruiting future NHS staff and supporting appropriate access to health services; marketing NHS products such as the NHS App and other digital services and supporting take up and usage of NHS education and training services; planning and co-ordinating events and visits; internal communications and engagement, working with our HR team; managing strategic relationships with a wide, with the most senior stakeholders in government, the wider NHS and elsewhere. The Director will have line management responsibility for the following national teams: Corporate Affairs; Public Accountability and External affairs; Campaigns and Social Media; Strategic Communications; NHS Operational Communications. They will also line manage the Director of Regional and Directorate Engagement who will, in turn, line manage communications colleagues providing embedded support to regional and directorate teams. In order to maintain the relationship required to be successful in this position, the postholder will need to be frequently present in NHS England's headquarters in London (Waterloo). See also the attached job description for additional information. Secondments Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application. If you like what you have read and think you have the skills and

range of external stakeholders including Royal Colleges and health and care sector representative organisations; handling incoming media queries and proactively pitching and communicating stories that deepen public understanding of the NHS and its activities through all media channels. The team works on a business partner model, combining national communications teams and embedded regional and Directorate communications teams into a single function. The role(s) will be accountable to the Chief Strategy Officer who has Executive Group responsibility for communications, policy, strategy, health inequalities and greener NHS but will work closely with other NHS England senior leaders including the Chief Executive and Chair. Please see job description for additional information. Key relationships They will interact frequently with, and provide strategic counsel to, senior NHS England leaders, including the chief executive, chair and other board members, as well as represent the organisation