Head of Communications and External Affairs

The opportunity

Health Innovation South West is one of 15 Health Innovation Networks set up by NHS England in 2013.
They exist to help transform the way the health and care systems in the South West identify, adopt and spread innovation to transform lives, improve population health, and drive economic growth.
As Head of Communications and External Affairs you will ensure we are seen by key stakeholders as a go-to place to support the development and deployment of innovation, particularly for coastal and rural regions. 

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual who will lead a team which spans our regional and national engagement through communications, events, and external affairs.  

Key requirements:

• Lead our external engagement strategy: engaging with key regional and national stakeholders, through impact focused influencing campaigns that champion the spread of innovation.
• Enable staff to represent Health Innovation South West: ensuring our values and business aims are effectively communicated and represented and that we are recognised as a strategic influencer and driver for change.
• Develop highly effective marketing: communicating the value of our distinctive paid for services. 
• Champion events and networking: through exceptional management of our purpose designed innovation space and facilities. 
• Develop strong regional and national relationships: with communications, public relations, and policy teams to cultivate and support opportunities for thought leadership and impact stories.
• Ensure the highest quality communications: disseminating of insight and impact to drive influencing of external audiences including regional partners, investors, funders, and policy makers.  
• Ensure effective digital communications functions: website, CRM online, hybrid events, business IT contracts and commissions. 
• Oversee the evolution of our brand, design, tone of voice: ensuring it is distinctive and aligned with the national network of Health Innovation organisations and championing our work with regional partners. 
• Ensure the capture and use of key performance measurements: reporting on and improving communications performance, including digital insights, customer satisfaction and income generation from facilities. 

Key skills and experience:

• Senior leadership: leading and managing communications to support teams to market services and generate income.
• Complex communications skills: experience in digesting complex information, producing succinct briefings and PowerPoint slides, executive summaries and short-turnaround update documents.
• Budget management: enabling effective income generation, preferably through facilities and/or events. 
• Overseeing relevant functional roles: including digital communications, events facilities and external affairs. 
• Evolving powerful communications: including event projects working within a dynamic, complex, and changing sector. 
• Line management: Track record of managing, motivating, and directing teams.

A full job pack can be found here.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon 6 May 2024. 

Successfully shortlisted applicants will be invited to an online interview w/c 13th May 2024, via Teams. Successful second round candidates will be offered the opportunity to join and informal online “Meet the Team” session.  Following this, a second final interview will be held for a small number of candidates at our offices in Exeter.