Media and Communications Officer

Are you a brilliant team player, with an eye for a good story and the ability to communicate complex topics in a simple and engaging way?

We have an exciting opportunity for an innovative, creative and enthusiastic media and communications officer to join our friendly and welcoming communications and engagement team as our lead press officer.

You will be used to liaising closely and working proactively with the media and key stakeholders, and will have an excellent standard of written work. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential too, as is the ability to work across the organisation at all levels.

We are looking for someone who can turn human interest stories into engaging press releases and digital content that grabs attention and showcases the great work of the Trust and our people.

We are a busy team so being able to manage competing deadlines and remain calm under pressure is essential.

Please note that our team follows a hybrid working model, so there is flexibility for a balance of home working, Exeter HQ office-based work and at times working out of ambulance stations across the South West.

• This role is based in Exeter at Trust HQ, but may include travel to other sites within the South Western Ambulance Service [SWASFT] area, and reports to the External Communications Manager.
• This role supports the delivery of the overall Trust communications strategy, with responsibility for making sure deadlines are met, and specific projects and tasks are completed to a high standard.
• The post holder will be involved in a range of activities to support both external and internal communications, with a particular focus on media relations.
• Communications at SWASFT can be fast-moving with ever-changing priorities, therefore the post holder is expected to have an agile approach to work, be self-motivated, highly productive, take pride in their own work and be able to work to tight deadlines. The post holder will be supervised and supported by a Communications Manager.

At South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) we have a culture where everyone is valued for being themselves. Our aim is to work together to promote the most inclusive environment possible, which attracts people from the widest range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work that we do together, for the benefit of all of our employees, our patients and the communities we serve. We offer flexible working opportunities, inclusive policies and a range of feedback mechanisms to support individuals and to enable a positive, welcoming environment where our people and their careers can thrive in.

We employ over 5,000 employees mainly clinical, operational and emergency response staff as well as supporting roles. We also employ Doctors and volunteers which include community first responders and fire co-responders.

We take all the steps needed to provide the most compassionate patient care possible whilst also providing an enjoyable and safe place to work. We actively promote a positive set of behaviours as being key to our performance both individually and collectively. Our recruitment, selection and screening processes are designed to uphold these standards and we invite all our candidates to actively share with us through these processes how they will bring these behaviours to life.

To view the Trust's Mission, Vision, Values and Goals click here

• For further information about this role please see attached the job description and person specification attached.