Job Description

The Communications Specialist: Brand and Design Management is a crucial role within the Communications and Engagement Team at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP).
We're looking for someone who is an experienced, talented and passionate designer with a commitment to creating accessible communications. Your experience and knowledge of graphic design will be key to creating content for use across all communication channels including social media, videos, photography, corporate documents and print materials. You will manage jobs from brief through to completion, working with colleagues to support the delivery of UHP's strategy and to tell the stories of our patients and colleagues.
You will act in an advisory capacity to colleagues across the organisation to ensure adherence to national and local brand guidelines and maintaining very high levels of accessibility.
You will also be able to identify areas and campaigns where creative design can proactively support and deliver engaging solutions and materials to meet the organisations requirements.
Main duties of the job
As the Communications Specialist for Design and Brand Management you are responsible for working with colleagues nationally and at a senior level within the Trust to create and manage the Trust's brand identity and guidelines. The post holder is the specialist Trust lead for graphic and other design. This involves creating corporate-level information, setting and overseeing the visual design standards to which patient information must conform and designing and producing key publications such as the Trust Strategy and Annual Report.
As a skilled and qualified communications professional, this role also includes a contribution to pro-active communications and helping react to enquiries from a range of stakeholders.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
About us
As an organisation we are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY.
If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100.
We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Details
Date posted
26 November 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 6
Salary
38,682 to 46,580 a year 38,682 - 46,580 Per Annum Pro Rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time, Flexible working
Reference number
216-AM-A7366408
Job locations
Derriford Hospital
Crownhill Road
Plymouth
PL6 8DH
Job description
Job responsibilities

• Manage the Trusts brand identity- Manage the Trusts brand guidelines ensuring they support national NHS brand guidelines, are publicised and adhered to throughout the organisation- Oversee the format, styles and templates for Patient Information working with Patients Services to ensure these meet brand and accessibility guidelines- Populate and manage the Trusts image library
• Manage visual design- Use specialist knowledge and experience of graphic design and associated software to produce high quality graphics (online and print) and visual materials such as pop-up banners, posters, main entrance images- Use specialist knowledge and experience of design to produce high quality publications such as the Annual Report
• Advisory- Provide highly specialist and highly complex advice, including crisis communications advice and guidance to all staff, in particular to Directors and senior management. In a complex, large and specialist Trust this happens on a daily basis and involves working in pressured, complex and sensitive situations. Often this involves making sense of complex information where expert opinions may differ.- Provide highly specialist communications advice in relation to Serious Untoward Incidents.- Quality assure Freedom of Information responses
• Supporting Duties- Support the team as required with:social media and media managementstorytelling using words, visuals and video to create great content for a range of audiencescrisis and event managementinterpersonal skills in one-to-one communications and presenting

Please read the accompanying job description for the detailed person specification. Job description
Job responsibilities

• Manage the Trusts brand identity- Manage the Trusts brand guidelines ensuring they support national NHS brand guidelines, are publicised and adhered to throughout the organisation- Oversee the format, styles and templates for Patient Information working with Patients Services to ensure these meet brand and accessibility guidelines- Populate and manage the Trusts image library
• Manage visual design- Use specialist knowledge and experience of graphic design and associated software to produce high quality graphics (online and print) and visual materials such as pop-up banners, posters, main entrance images- Use specialist knowledge and experience of design to produce high quality publications such as the Annual Report
• Advisory- Provide highly specialist and highly complex advice, including crisis communications advice and guidance to all staff, in particular to Directors and senior management. In a complex, large and specialist Trust this happens on a daily basis and involves working in pressured, complex and sensitive situations. Often this involves making sense of complex information where expert opinions may differ.- Provide highly specialist communications advice in relation to Serious Untoward Incidents.- Quality assure Freedom of Information responses
• Supporting Duties- Support the team as required with:social media and media managementstorytelling using words, visuals and video to create great content for a range of audiencescrisis and event managementinterpersonal skills in one-to-one communications and presenting

Please read the accompanying job description for the detailed person specification.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Educated to degree level in a relevant subject, giving rise to critical thinking capability in this area or equivalent experience to demonstrate required specialist knowledge and capability
• A recognised qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience in multi-media or graphic design
• Undertakes CPD

Knowledge and experience
Essential

• Significant demonstrable experience in PR/Communications, including in the public sector, giving rise to a good proven knowledge of communications, public relations and marketing techniques, theory and practice
• Significant demonstrable experience of great content creation delivered across a range of channels including video and social media
• Extensive demonstrable experience in graphic design and use of software packages, giving rise to a thorough proven knowledge of how to manage and use brand identity.
• An outstanding track record in the delivery of high-quality graphic design
• A track record in media and social management and can demonstrate innovative use of social media, including analytics across campaigns
• Proven knowledge and demonstrable experience of using specialist software e.g. Adobe design suite, social media management tools
• Effective communication skills, written, verbal and interpersonal with the ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels
• Proven evidence of ability to prioritise workload, often managing several projects concurrently.

Desirable

• Membership of CIPR, CIM or PRCA

Aptitude & abilities
Essential

• Effective communication skills, written, verbal and interpersonal with the ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels
• Effective influencing skills: with colleagues and key stakeholders, particularly the media

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Educated to degree level in a relevant subject, giving rise to critical thinking capability in this area or equivalent experience to demonstrate required specialist knowledge and capability
• A recognised qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience in multi-media or graphic design
• Undertakes CPD

Knowledge and experience
Essential

• Significant demonstrable experience in PR/Communications, including in the public sector, giving rise to a good proven knowledge of communications, public relations and marketing techniques, theory and practice
• Significant demonstrable experience of great content creation delivered across a range of channels including video and social media
• Extensive demonstrable experience in graphic design and use of software packages, giving rise to a thorough proven knowledge of how to manage and use brand identity.
• An outstanding track record in the delivery of high-quality graphic design
• A track record in media and social management and can demonstrate innovative use of social media, including analytics across campaigns
• Proven knowledge and demonstrable experience of using specialist software e.g. Adobe design suite, social media management tools
• Effective communication skills, written, verbal and interpersonal with the ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels
• Proven evidence of ability to prioritise workload, often managing several projects concurrently.

Desirable

• Membership of CIPR, CIM or PRCA

Aptitude & abilities
Essential

• Effective communication skills, written, verbal and interpersonal with the ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels
• Effective influencing skills: with colleagues and key stakeholders, particularly the media

Skills Required