Head of Media and Strategic Communications

Working arrangements: Hybrid working, with a minimum of 6 days per month in the office

Contract: Permanent

Are you a senior media and communications professional who is passionate about the NHS and helping doctors advocate for their profession and patients?

An exciting opportunity to lead the RCP’s media and strategic communications work to raise the profile of our 40,000-strong membership is now open for applications.

Leading a team of media and digital communication professionals, you will develop a media strategy that increases our influence by enhancing our reputation and keeping our voice in the news. You will work closely with our policy and campaigns team, making sure the world knows what RCP fellows and members think about the key issues in health and care.

You will also lead our digital communications work, supporting the launch of a new website and enhancing how we use social media to influence, communicate with members and engage stakeholders.

You will have solid experience of leading a team and developing strong working relationships with key media contacts. You will be comfortable working at a fast pace and in a high profile environment, have excellent judgement skills and be able to offer sound advice to senior colleagues across the breadth of our work. You will be a talented writer with experience of proactive campaigning and providing communications expertise to a wide range of work programmes. A social media advocate, you will have experience of using it to successfully listen, engage and campaign.

This is a key leadership role in the Communications, Policy and Research Directorate, collaborating closely with corporate communication, digital, editorial, events, marketing, policy, public affairs and publishing colleagues to sustain and develop our strong integrated communications service.

About you in brief…

• Degree level or equivalent experience
• Demonstrable track record of reputation management and media relations
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills developed by working with diverse internal and external stakeholders
• An understanding of government, parliamentary and media influencing in the UK
• Experience of managing and enhancing web and social media communications

For more information about the role, please view the Job Description.

About the Royal College of Physicians

We are a patient-centred, clinically led organisation with a core mission to improve patient care and reduce illness. As the leading body for physicians, with 40,000 members in the UK and internationally, we aim to lead debate and influence the way in which healthcare is designed and delivered, promoting good health and leading the prevention of ill health. By working in partnership with other health organisations we provide a strong professional network, a powerful united voice and educational opportunities for physicians worldwide.

Benefits include 29 days of annual leave, 7% employer pension contribution, season ticket loan (access to this loan is after probation) and more.

For more information about the role and the benefits of working at the RCP, please view the job description. If you would like to have an informal discussion about the role, please contact claire.burroughs@rcp.ac.uk.

Closing date: 11:59am 3 February

Interview date: w/c 20 February

Apply online: with CV and supporting statement

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by Friday 10 February.

The RCP positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, transgender status, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.

The RCP is all about our people – our members, our staff, our volunteers and leaders. We educate, influence and collaborate to improve health and healthcare for everyone and know we can only do this by being inclusive, encouraging and celebrating diverse perspectives. Welcoming and having people who represent the 21st-century medical workforce and the diverse population of patients we serve is so important to us.