Job Overview

Job Title: Assistant Director, Communications and Engagement, NIHR                

Contract: 12 months fixed term maternity cover       

Salary: £69,632              

Location: London/hybrid           

Application Closing Date: Friday 18th July 2025               

Job Purpose

The NIHR is the health and social care research arm of the Department of Health and Social Care. We fund and support research that makes a meaningful difference to the health and wealth of the nation.

In this role, you will report to the Director for Public Voice and be an important part of the Maximising Impact and Public Partnerships (MIPP) team, which is now hosted by the BMJ Group. You will play a key role in ensuring that the NIHR and wider research community disseminate evidence effectively, support its adoption in policy and practice, and work collaboratively with patients and communities.   

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a communications and engagement strategy for the Maximising Impact and Public Partnerships contract (MIPP), maintaining strong alignment with the wider NIHR’s corporate communications and BMJ’s marketing function
• Create and oversee project-level communications and engagement plans, ensuring they contribute to a coherent and effective approach across the MIPP team and NIHR.
• Contribute to the development of NIHR-wide communications strategy as a member of the NIHR Communications Programme Board, chaired by the NIHR Director of Communications.
• Represent the MIPP team and NIHR in written communications and at meetings and events, acting as an ambassador for the programme
• Oversee the management and continuous improvement of the team’s digital footprint including 4 websites and 1 X (Twitter) channel 
• Develop an understanding of priority audiences and build strategic relationships with these groups 
• Ensure the MIPP team understands its stakeholders and communicates the right messages in the right way to the right audiences.
• Drive innovation in the approaches to engage key target audiences 
• Establish effective processes to continuously improve communications and engagement activities. 
• As one of the team’s senior leaders contribute to managing the MIPP team as a whole.
• Line manage several staff members

Skills, Experience & Qualifications    

• A first degree, or equivalent evidence of achievement and ability
• Significant experience in communications, stakeholder engagement or marketing role
• Proven ability to think strategically, solve problems and learn quickly
• Experience working in complex organisational settings with diverse stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to lead areas of work and align teams behind a shared vision
• Strong people management skills, with a track record of inspiring, developing, and supporting staff
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with experience of building effective relationships across a wide range of groups, including target audiences, consultees, partners, and collaborators 
• Strong influencing and negotiating skills and demonstrated ability to build consensus
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, with the ability to convey complex material clearly.
• Track record of strong planning, project and resource management abilities, with a high degree of personal organisation and effectiveness 
• Commitment to the values of the MIPP team, including a commitment to patient and public involvement and to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Solid understanding and experience of the health and social care/research sector in the UK

Why work for us

Help us create a healthier world. We are a global healthcare knowledge provider. We publish The BMJ, one of the world’s most impactful medical journals and over 70 influential speciality journals. We offer digital tools to help health professionals worldwide tackle critical healthcare challenges. Find out more about us here.

Flexible Work and Workplace Perks

• Flexible work available to all employees: Remote first; Core hours; 9-day fortnight

• Discounted onsite gym and fitness classes 

Generous benefits

• Generous double-matching employer pension contribution, up to 12%

• Discounted dental and travel insurance

• Seven x salary life assurance cover and a generous income protection package

• Discounted gym membership, cycle-to-work and season ticket loan

• Discounts for retail and leisure products through yourReward 

Work-life balance and wellbeing

• Twenty-five days holiday + bank holidays + a BMJ Day off.

• Additional holiday through long service; buy up to 5 additional days 

• Leave for moving house, volunteering or getting married

• Concierge service Seniorcare by Lottie

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion are not buzzwords to us, but fundamental company priorities

• We believe that a diverse workforce brings unique strengths and insights, enabling us to better serve our customers and drive positive change in our industry. 

• If you are from an under-represented or historically marginalised community, we are particularly interested in hearing from you. 

• Join our employee-led networks focusing on Gender, Race and Cultural Diversity, Sexual Orientation, Mental Health and Well-being, Parents and Carers and Age.

• Disability Confident Committed employer

Learning & Development

• Personal development plan 

• Mentoring scheme

• Career Coaching

• Opportunities to pursue professional development

• Strengths-based development