Strategic Communications Lead (18 month fixed term contract. We have office locations in Cambridge, Leeds & London)

Genomics England partners with the NHS to provide whole genome sequencing diagnostics. We also equip researchers to find the causes of disease and develop new treatments – with patients and participants at the heart of it all.

Our mission is to continue refining, scaling, and evolving our ability to enable others to deliver genomic healthcare and conduct genomic research.

We are accelerating our impact and working with patients, doctors, scientists, government and industry to improve genomic testing, and help researchers access the health data and technology they need to make new medical discoveries and create more effective, targeted medicines for everybody.

Overall job purpose

The Strategic Communications Lead will plan and deliver multi-channel strategic communications activities with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders to support Genomics England's objectives. This role will lead on communications for two strategic priorities as well as support the development of communications strategies, plans and deliverables to meet the evolving requirements of Genomics England.

The two strategic priorities are:

• the Generation Study: a research study to test the efficacy of whole genome sequencing to identify, diagnose and treat severe childhood diseases earlier by sequencing the genomes of up to 100,000 newborn babies born in England. This as an important step towards more preventative healthcare, with genomics a key part of that through the lifetime.
• the Adult Population Genomics Pilot: in partnership with the NHS, we are leading public engagement, design, and proof-of-concept work to explore how genomics can be used pre-emptively, helping to personalise drug treatments and predict the risk of conditions like cancer and cardiovascular disease. 

Job Description

• Work with the Communications Director, Head of External Communications, Head of Internal Communications and Head of Digital Communications, Content and Brand, to support the development and delivery of Genomics England's overarching communications strategy, ensuring appropriate visibility for key strategic initiatives across internal and external channels.
• Working with Service Owners and programme leads for specific strategic initiatives:
  • Design and deliver multi-channel communications strategies and lead the commissioning of internal and external support to deliver these as required.
  • Develop and maintain key messaging for strategic initiatives ensuring alignment with wider organisational messaging, and draft materials to support attendance at events and speaking opportunities.
  • Understand the changing communications needs of Genomics England's strategic initiatives at different stages of their lifecycles to adapt and evolve communications strategies and plans.
  • Develop approaches to measuring the impact of communications and report on progress with plans to the relevant governance board for the relevant strategic initiatives as required.
• Work with colleagues across the Communications Chapter to develop and deliver a regular drumbeat of content and communications across our channels, such as participant stories, news items and newsletters, to build awareness and support engagement of priority audiences with GEL's strategic priorities.
• Use insights into different audiences to support delivery of strategic communications plans and activities based on audience needs and preferences.
• As required, provide expert advice to develop and deliver communications strategies and plans to meet the evolving requirements of Genomics England.
• Working with the Head of External Communications, provide input on strategic initiatives to support management of media relations and crisis communications for the organisation, with a view to maintain and build the reputation of Genomics England.
• Proactively build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships across a complex stakeholder environment to support successful delivery of communications activity.
• Act as a company brand champion, ensuring that communications reflect our brand and messaging, and provide guidance to colleagues on our brand guidelines.
• Know and understand the meaning behind our virtues and leadership behaviours and embody them in all aspects of your role.

Qualifications

We are not looking for specific

qualifications

for this role. We are looking for proven experience leading strategic, multi-channel communications with diverse audiences including the public, government, healthcare, research, and industry audiences.

Additional Information

Closing date for applications: Friday 6 June at 12pm midday.

Salary from: £64,000

Being an integral part of such a meaningful mission is extremely rewarding in itself, but in order to support our people, we’re continually improving our benefits package. We pride ourselves on investing in our people and supporting them to achieve their career goals, as well as offering a benefits package including: 

• Generous Leave: 30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, additional leave for long service, and the option to apply for up to 30 days of remote working abroad annually (approval required).
• Family-Friendly: Blended working arrangements, flexible working, enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave benefits.
• Pension & Financial: Defined contribution pension (Genomics England double-matches up to 10%, however you can contribute more if you wish), Life Assurance (3x salary), and a Give As You Earn scheme.
• Learning & Development: Individual learning budgets, support for training and certifications, and reimbursement for one annual professional subscription (approval required).
• Recognition & Rewards: Employee recognition programme and referral scheme.
• Health & Wellbeing: Subsidised gym membership, a free Headspace account, and access to an Employee Assistance Programme, eye tests, flu jabs.

Equal opportunities and our commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace 

Genomics England is actively committed to providing and supporting an inclusive environment that promotes equity, diversity and inclusion best practice both within our community and in any other area where we have influence. We are proud of our diverse community where everyone can come to work and feel welcomed and treated with respect regardless of any disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, or social background. 

Genomics England’s policies of non-discrimination and equity and will be applied fairly to all people, regardless of age, disability, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, being pregnant or recently becoming a parent, race, religion or beliefs, sex or sexual orientation, length of service, whether full or part-time or employed under a permanent or a fixed-term contract or any other relevant factor.

Genomics England does not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, victimisation or bullying at work. Such behaviour is contrary to  our virtues , undermines our mission and core values and diminishes the dignity, respect and integrity of all parties. Our People policies outline our commitment to inclusivity. 

We aim to remove barriers in our recruitment processes and to be flexible with our interview processes. Should you require any adjustments that may help you to fully participate in the recruitment process, we encourage you to discuss this with us. 

Blended working model

Genomics England operates a blended working model as we know our people appreciate the flexibility that hybrid working can bring. We expect most people to come into the office a minimum of 2 times each month. However, this will vary according to role and will be agreed with your team leader. There is no expectation that people will return to the office full time unless they want to, however, some of our roles require full time on site attendance e.g., lab teams, reception team. 

Our teams and squads have, and will continue to reflect on what works best for them to work together successfully and have the freedom to design working patterns to suit, beyond the minimum. Our office locations are: Canary Wharf, Cambridge and Leeds.

Onboarding background checks

As part of our recruitment process, all successful candidates are subject to a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. We therefore require applicants to disclose any previous offences at point of application, as some unspent convictions may mean we are unable to proceed with your application due to the nature of our work in healthcare.