Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Head of Strategic Engagement, Partnerships and Insight INTERNAL
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Job Overview
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL ONLY ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FROM STAFF CURRENTLY EMPLOYED BY BETSI CADWALADR UNIVERSITY HEALTH BOARD
The Head of Strategic Partnerships, Engagement and Insight will provide senior strategic leadership for the Health Board’s engagement, communications, external affairs, digital, and insight functions. The postholder will develop an integrated, insight-led approach that supports the Health Board’s strategic priorities, service improvement and change, health improvement, and organisational transparency.
They will ensure that intelligence from the public, patients, staff, partners, political stakeholders, the media, and digital channels is systematically gathered, analysed, and used to inform Board-level, clinical, and operational decision-making. They will establish the strategies, frameworks, systems, policies, and performance measures needed to deliver high-quality engagement and insight consistently across the organisation.
The role includes leading public and stakeholder engagement on significant and potentially contentious service changes, including formal consultation, and providing expert advice to the Board, executives, senior managers, and clinicians. The postholder will also shape the Health Board’s strategic narrative, strengthen relationships with communities and partners, and protect and enhance its reputation.
Main duties of the job
- Provide visible, expert leadership across strategic engagement, communications, external affairs, digital engagement, and insight.
- Develop and implement integrated strategies, frameworks, policies, and systems that support the Health Board’s clinical and organisational priorities.
- Lead the development of the Health Board’s strategic narrative, communications channels, digital presence, corporate identity, and brand.
- Build effective relationships with patients, communities, staff, elected representatives, local authorities, third-sector organisations, the media, and other partners.
- Lead horizon scanning, stakeholder mapping, and political, media, and public intelligence to identify emerging risks, concerns, and opportunities.
- Bring together evidence and insight from multiple channels and present it clearly to inform Board, clinical, and service-improvement decisions.
- Lead public engagement and consultation relating to significant service change, working closely with strategy and planning colleagues.
- Advise senior leaders on complex, sensitive, and politically contentious issues, including those involving strong opposition or conflicting views.
- Establish performance standards and provide assurance reports to the Board and its committees on impact, risks, and delivery.
- Directly manage the Digital Communications and External Affairs teams, promoting an integrated culture with clear priorities, responsibilities, and expectations.
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The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Working for our organisation
If you relish a challenge, have a passion to help others, or simply fancy a fresh start, then Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) North Wales, has all the right ingredients. The largest health organisation in Wales, providing a full range of primary, community, mental health, acute, and elective hospital services for a population of around 700,000, across North Wales. Join our team and get the support you need, in line with our Organisational Values and ‘Proud to Lead’ competence framework.
Enjoy being part of working with engaged leadership at all levels, and be assured we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and are proud to welcome applicants under the “Disability Confident Employer” scheme.
Please check your email account regularly. Successful applicants will receive all recruitment-related correspondence via the email account registered on the application form.
Applications may be submitted in Welsh. Applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
The postholder will establish a coherent corporate approach to strategic partnerships, engagement, communications, and insight, setting standards and ensuring activity is coordinated across the Health Board. They will provide authoritative advice to the Board, executives, clinicians, and senior managers, positively challenge established thinking, and help develop strategies, policies, and service proposals.
They will lead communications and engagement strategies that explain the Health Board’s priorities, strengthen public understanding, and build trust with staff, communities, partners, and stakeholders. This includes overseeing digital content, campaigns, websites, social channels, corporate publications, branding, and accessible bilingual communications.
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The role will lead stakeholder engagement, horizon scanning, and relationship management across political, statutory, community, and third-sector audiences. The postholder will oversee engagement on strategic priorities and service improvements, including formal consultation on significant service change. They must communicate highly complex or contentious information clearly and manage conflicting views, emotional responses, and challenging public or media environments.
They will develop systems to gather, analyse, and synthesise intelligence from public feedback, stakeholder relationships, political activity, media coverage, digital analytics, and service experience. Findings will be translated into clear reports and recommendations that influence strategic, clinical, and operational decisions.
The postholder will lead multidisciplinary teams, establish clear objectives and performance expectations, and oversee recruitment, development, wellbeing, and employee relations. They will manage complex workloads across multiple sites and ensure resources and skills are used effectively.
They will monitor performance indicators, evaluate impact, commission research and audit activity, and provide robust assurance to the Board and its committees. Responsibilities also include managing delegated budgets, identifying efficiencies and income opportunities, representing the Health Board externally, contributing to national standards, and deputising for the Deputy Executive Director when required.
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click “Apply now” to view in Trac.
Person specification
Specialist qualification / equivalent proven experience related to comms and engagement
Essential Criteria
- Professional qualification / proven experience
Desirable criteria
- Membership of professional body e.g. CIPR
- Experience at a senior level in a large org providing strategic advice to exec and stakeholders
Essential Criteria
- Extensive experience
Desirable criteria
- Experience in designing and using a range of evaluation methods and tools
- Written / verbal comms skills inc. complex and sensitive info
Essential Criteria
- Highly developed written and verbal communication skills
Desirable criteria
- Bilingual
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