NHS Scotland
Senior Communications and Marketing Officer
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About The Organisation
Public Health Scotland launched 1st April 2020 as a national health board, employing around 1200 people, and with an annual budget of around £101 million. Public Health Scotland wants to see a Scotland where everybody thrives, a Scotland where life expectancy improves and the difference in life expectancy between our poorest and wealthiest areas gets smaller.
The Post
This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping how Public Health Scotland communicates with the public, partners and the media. We’re looking for an experienced Senior Communications and Marketing Officer who can turn complex public health issues into clear, engaging communications that inform, reassure and support people across Scotland.
Key Responsibilities Include
- Developing, delivering and evaluating strategic communications plans to support public health initiatives, projects and campaigns
- Managing media relations, including media enquiries, lines, briefings and spokespeople preparation
- Supporting communications during high-profile incidents and outbreaks, including reactive lines and coordinated responses
- Taking part in the 24/7 on-call press office rota
- Crafting clear, engaging content for a range of channels, including social media, telling compelling stories aligned to our 10-year corporate strategy
- Providing expert advice on audiences, messages, channels and products across campaigns, projects and events
- Liaising with partners including Scottish Government, NHS 24, COSLA, health boards and the third sector to co-ordinate communications activities
- Spotting opportunities to promote, position and protect our reputation and strengthen visibility of our work
- Using insight, data and evidence to inform creative approaches that motivate and support positive behaviour change
The Candidate
This position requires a strategic thinker with exceptional writing skills, experience of working in a busy press office and developing crisis communications plans, and a sound understanding of the media and political landscape in Scotland and the rest of the UK. You will also have experience of developing engaging social media content and planning activity across channels to support priorities, campaigns and wider communications objectives.
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You will have strong stakeholder engagement, influencing and people skills and enjoy working as part of a team. You must be able to work well under pressure, juggle competing priorities and deliver to tight deadlines.
If you choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) or other tools to assist in writing your application, it's essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting information section. While AI can help streamline the writing process, these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you’re applying for. By submitting your application, you confirm that all answers are your own work, reflect your personal knowledge, skills and experience, and have not been solely produced by AI or similar technologies.
Location and Working Pattern
The post is based in either Gyle Square, Edinburgh or Bothwell Street, Glasgow. We are currently hybrid working; therefore, you will be expected to spend time in both PHS offices as well as the option to work at home.
The work pattern for this post is Monday to Friday, 36 hours per week. Participation in a 24/7 on call rota service is part of this role.
PHS is a flexible employer, and we are happy to discuss requests for alternative working patterns.
During times of public health emergency, or other urgent business need, you may be required on a temporary basis to work your normal contracted working hours over 7 days including weekends, in order to meet the needs of the service.
It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with PHS.
Benefits
Our benefits package includes pension scheme, comprehensive range of work life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits.
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Inclusion
Public Health Scotland (PHS) is a national NHS board committed to being a diverse, inclusive and welcoming employer. We support a range of flexible working options to help colleagues balance work and personal responsibilities. As an Established Carer Positive employer, we are committed to supporting staff with caring responsibilities and fostering a flexible, understanding workplace culture.
We offer a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support colleagues to grow and thrive. Staff are also welcome to join our active equality networks.
As an equal opportunities and Disability Confident Employer, we aim to guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum shortlisting criteria, and we are committed to providing an accessible and inclusive recruitment experience.
PHS is working towards becoming a trauma informed organisation and recognises that trauma may affect people in different ways, including during the recruitment process.
If you need reasonable adjustments or support, please contact the Recruitment Team on NSS.WFRS@nhs.scot
Further Information
For an informal discussion on the post, please contact Katy Jeffrey, Communications and Marketing Manager (Corporate Communications) at katy.jeffrey@phs.scot
Closing date for completed applications is Monday 31 August 2026.
Interviews are expected to take place on Thursday 1 October 2026.
Further Information On PHS Is Available From
Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail only, so please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders).
We are an equal opportunities employer and as committed participant in the disability confident scheme, guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies however, where exceptionally high application volumes make this impracticable, a fair and proportionate shortlisting approach will be applied in line with Disability Confident guidance
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