Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs

Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs

The closing date is 24 March 2026

Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs at Imperial College Health Partners is a dynamic pivotal role within a fast-paced Corporate Affairs team. The role spans both strategic development and operational delivery and the post holder will be confident in both. The post holder will lead on communication and corporate affairs strategy and planning and will have responsibility for driving this to meet business needs. The role will report to the Associate Director of Corporate Affairs with line management responsibility for the new Communications Officer - new fixed-term post within the team.

Main duties of the job

Responsibilities

• Working with the Associate Director of Corporate Affairs, lead the communications and corporate affairs strategy and associated delivery plan to ensure coordinated and proactive engagement with ICHP members, strategic partners, and key stakeholders at both a corporate and project level, in line with business objectives.
• Lead on design and delivery of methods to enhance corporate affairs, and in particular how to build positive and effective relationships with members in order to further strengthen their commitment to ICHP and our work within NWL.
• Work with the wider ICHP team to manage the development of a communications and corporate affairs forward view planner and editorial calendar to help align, plan and develop ICHP communications content strategically.
• Prioritise, plan and deliver high quality communications and corporate affairs activity to support the delivery of ICHP's organisational priorities, both corporately and at a project level.
• Advise the wider ICHP team on methods to enhance communication for members, delivery partners and other stakeholders, commercial, as well as local and national government and the media.
• Oversee the day-to-day planning and delivery of a high quality internal and external communications and corporate affairs programme.

About us

Imperial College Health Partners is a partnership organisation bringing together NHS providers of healthcare services across our local Integrated Care System and leading universities across North West London (NWL). We are also the designated health innovation network (HIN) for NWL, one of 15 across England, and the region's innovation partner.

The NWL Research & Innovation Board - made up of senior representatives from across all ICS organisations, academic institutions, and R&I bodies - has established that, to have more impact through innovation, the work we undertake together needs to focus on a smaller number of priorities. Working collaboratively on these priorities, aligned with the wider NW London strategy, is where collective effort can lead to bigger gains. This defined and deliberate portfolio of innovation projects are known as the NWL Missions. These have been identified as:

Cardio-renal metabolic conditions

Supporting children and young people's mental health

ICHP facilitates the coordination and collaboration of this Mission-led model. We're in a unique position in the sector, having been created by and for the NHS to support exactly this kind of complex change across the health and care sector, with a purpose to innovate through collaboration for a healthier population.

Job responsibilities

Able to operate in an environment of significant complexity and ambiguity, demonstrating excellent judgement (including seeking counsel from others when needed)

Able to work both autonomously and in close collaboration with internal colleagues across our Corporate Affairs, Strategy and Insight, and Innovation and Implementation Directorates

Experience of project management and ability to apply the right level where appropriate.

Strong focus on value-add challenge of both the detail as well as the bigger picture, particularly in the context of communications support within ICHP missions.

Ensures communications and corporate affairs activity is coordinated with other parts of ICHP to provide a seamless, integrated experience.

Person Specification Qualifications and skills and experience

• Experience, expertise and understanding of communications and engagement in a health setting.
• Knowledge of the up-to-date communication methodologies and experience of putting these into practice.
• Strong communication skills: able to relate highly complex, sensitive or contentious information in order to persuade and gain agreement.
• Experience of managing work contracted out to other suppliers; for example, creative agencies, web developers, communications advisers.
• Able to prepare paper reports setting out information, its analysis and interpretation in a lucid and persuasive manner, in the context of evidence
• Excellent communication skills for delivering key messages to a range of stakeholders both internal and external.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust