Group Director of Communications & Engagement
| Posting date: | 26 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 25 February 2026 |
| Location: | Norwich, NR4 7UG |
| Company: | Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 7762886/234-25-GROUP-DCE |
Summary
A Vacancy at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Join us as our Group Director of Communications and Engagement
The Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group is seeking an exceptional Group Director of Communications and Engagement to lead a modern, inclusive communications and engagement function across our three acute hospital sites.
This is a high‑impact opportunity to shape the reputation, voice and influence of a newly formed University Hospitals Group. As a member of the Group Executive Team and a non‑voting attendee at the Board, you will play a central role in strategic leadership and decision‑making.
About the role
You will:
• Lead a Group‑wide communications and engagement strategy covering internal and external communications, stakeholders, brand and reputation.
• Provide senior media, public affairs and crisis communications leadership.
• Strengthen internal communications, workforce engagement and organisational pride.
• Oversee brand and identity development.
• Build and lead a high‑performing communications team.
• Ensure communications reflect our commitment to inclusion, accessibility and community impact.
About You
You will be an experienced senior communications leader with a strong track record at Board or Executive level in the NHS, public sector or a complex private-sector environment. You will bring:
• Significant experience in strategic communications, engagement, crisis handling and media relations.
• Extensive understanding of digital communications, social media and emerging communication technologies.
• Strong political awareness and the ability to convey complex and sensitive messages to diverse audiences.
• Experience leading complex teams, managing multiple programmes and working across organisational boundaries.
• A proactive, inclusive leadership style that inspires trust, confidence and collaboration.
• A deep commitment to the NHS, our values, and improving the experience of patients, staff and communities.
Why Join Us?
This is a transformative moment for the Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group. You will have the opportunity to:
• Shape the strategic communications and engagement direction of a newly forming Group structure.
• Build a modern, innovative and influential communications function from the ground up.
• Work alongside executive colleagues to improve services, strengthen staff engagement and enhance the Group’s visibility locally, regionally and nationally.
• Play a key role in establishing a university hospitals system that supports excellence in research, education and clinical care.
As the NWUHG, we’ll work together under a Group Board with a single Interim Group Chair, David Roberts; Group CEO, Prof Lesley Dwyer, and joint Executive and non-Executive Directors.
This structure will align our strategic ambitions and give us the streamlined decision-making combined with locally-focused delivery of care that will enable us to enhance experience and outcomes for patients across Norfolk and Waveney. It also gives us the opportunity to:
• Transform health services based on the needs of our patients and communities, particularly focusing on preventative and proactive healthcare for people with long-term conditions and delivering a consistent best practice model of urgent and emergency care with a focus on frailty
• Build on our combined knowledge, skills and experience to implement safe and sustainable care models, level-up access and outcomes and improve outcomes for people with cancer
• Work at scale to improve our service resilience, enhance staff development and training, create a University Hospital system that strengthens our potential for research, training and innovation, and realise the benefits of service transformation that can be achieved through estates and digital
• Tackle underlying financial challenges and take advantage of the negotiation, purchasing and investment power that comes with being part of a group
· Set and deliver our Group-wide communications and engagement strategies
· Support all our acute hospitals with proactive, efficient, effective and responsive communications services.
· Lead media relations, crisis communications and public affairs
· Drive inclusive internal communications and staff engagement
· Strengthen relationships with local, regional and national stakeholders
· Shape and evolve our Group and Trust brands and digital presence
· Promote Group values and actively seek opportunities to enhance its reputation
· Establish an evidence-based approach to communications, with clear performance measures and regular reporting.
· Establish a robust stakeholder engagement and management function to increase targeted involvement and build and sustain support for Group aims and objectives.
· With partners, develop an agreed strategy for engaging local communities, supporting co-production of policies and plans and ensuring patients can influence and shape service direction and delivery
· Manage the Group’s brand and design identity, promoting a unified system approach while respecting local site identities.
· Ensure all communications are high-quality, accessible, and inclusive, leveraging social media and emerging technologies.
· Build and develop a high performing, supportive and responsive communications and engagement function
This advert closes on Sunday 15 Feb 2026
Join us as our Group Director of Communications and Engagement
The Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group is seeking an exceptional Group Director of Communications and Engagement to lead a modern, inclusive communications and engagement function across our three acute hospital sites.
This is a high‑impact opportunity to shape the reputation, voice and influence of a newly formed University Hospitals Group. As a member of the Group Executive Team and a non‑voting attendee at the Board, you will play a central role in strategic leadership and decision‑making.
About the role
You will:
• Lead a Group‑wide communications and engagement strategy covering internal and external communications, stakeholders, brand and reputation.
• Provide senior media, public affairs and crisis communications leadership.
• Strengthen internal communications, workforce engagement and organisational pride.
• Oversee brand and identity development.
• Build and lead a high‑performing communications team.
• Ensure communications reflect our commitment to inclusion, accessibility and community impact.
About You
You will be an experienced senior communications leader with a strong track record at Board or Executive level in the NHS, public sector or a complex private-sector environment. You will bring:
• Significant experience in strategic communications, engagement, crisis handling and media relations.
• Extensive understanding of digital communications, social media and emerging communication technologies.
• Strong political awareness and the ability to convey complex and sensitive messages to diverse audiences.
• Experience leading complex teams, managing multiple programmes and working across organisational boundaries.
• A proactive, inclusive leadership style that inspires trust, confidence and collaboration.
• A deep commitment to the NHS, our values, and improving the experience of patients, staff and communities.
Why Join Us?
This is a transformative moment for the Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group. You will have the opportunity to:
• Shape the strategic communications and engagement direction of a newly forming Group structure.
• Build a modern, innovative and influential communications function from the ground up.
• Work alongside executive colleagues to improve services, strengthen staff engagement and enhance the Group’s visibility locally, regionally and nationally.
• Play a key role in establishing a university hospitals system that supports excellence in research, education and clinical care.
As the NWUHG, we’ll work together under a Group Board with a single Interim Group Chair, David Roberts; Group CEO, Prof Lesley Dwyer, and joint Executive and non-Executive Directors.
This structure will align our strategic ambitions and give us the streamlined decision-making combined with locally-focused delivery of care that will enable us to enhance experience and outcomes for patients across Norfolk and Waveney. It also gives us the opportunity to:
• Transform health services based on the needs of our patients and communities, particularly focusing on preventative and proactive healthcare for people with long-term conditions and delivering a consistent best practice model of urgent and emergency care with a focus on frailty
• Build on our combined knowledge, skills and experience to implement safe and sustainable care models, level-up access and outcomes and improve outcomes for people with cancer
• Work at scale to improve our service resilience, enhance staff development and training, create a University Hospital system that strengthens our potential for research, training and innovation, and realise the benefits of service transformation that can be achieved through estates and digital
• Tackle underlying financial challenges and take advantage of the negotiation, purchasing and investment power that comes with being part of a group
· Set and deliver our Group-wide communications and engagement strategies
· Support all our acute hospitals with proactive, efficient, effective and responsive communications services.
· Lead media relations, crisis communications and public affairs
· Drive inclusive internal communications and staff engagement
· Strengthen relationships with local, regional and national stakeholders
· Shape and evolve our Group and Trust brands and digital presence
· Promote Group values and actively seek opportunities to enhance its reputation
· Establish an evidence-based approach to communications, with clear performance measures and regular reporting.
· Establish a robust stakeholder engagement and management function to increase targeted involvement and build and sustain support for Group aims and objectives.
· With partners, develop an agreed strategy for engaging local communities, supporting co-production of policies and plans and ensuring patients can influence and shape service direction and delivery
· Manage the Group’s brand and design identity, promoting a unified system approach while respecting local site identities.
· Ensure all communications are high-quality, accessible, and inclusive, leveraging social media and emerging technologies.
· Build and develop a high performing, supportive and responsive communications and engagement function
This advert closes on Sunday 15 Feb 2026