This is an exciting opportunity to join the ABHI, the industry association for the medical technology sector in the UK. The role of the Director of Communications is to deliver a coordinated, structured communications programme that covers member communications, public affairs and press relations.
ABHI’s mission is to champion the benefits and use of safe and effective medical technologies to deliver high quality patient outcomes. With over 240 members, ABHI leads the advocacy of the industry in order to advance access to medical technology. Our membership includes some of the leading multinational businesses in the sector in the UK right the way through to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The Director of Communications will sit on the Leadership team and own the following accountabilities:
Public Relations
Devise, in conjunction with the Association’s membership, the overall media strategy that positions ABHI as the thought leader/leading association of the medtech industry across health and trade press. Manage and build the Association’s relationship with journalists and media outlets. Lead ABHI’s response to relevant media stories.
Member Communications
Design and deliver a comprehensive programme of engaging, compelling and accessible member communications across a variety of platforms. Provide oversight of website and social media content, ensuring that it is up to date, accessible, engaging and optimised. Proactive in working with individuals from other departments to generate diverse, compelling digital content that engages and informs our audiences.
Member engagement
Ensure that the Association’s communication programme is relevant and constructed with clear input from members through robust and representative member interactions.
Public affairs activity
Public Affairs activity includes coordinated stakeholder management of key contacts in Westminster, Whitehall and the European Parliament as well as other stakeholder groups including patient organisations and Royal Colleges.
Policy development
Work closely with Policy Group directors to understand and help shape policy development across ABHI’s strategic pillars. Coordinate engagement and communication of policy tasks across agreed stakeholder engagement matrices.
The Essentials
The role holder will have extensive experience in assimilating complex and detailed information from multiple sources to produce high quality press, external stakeholder and membership communications material. Experience of developing and executing PR campaigns and working with UK press and media as well as PR/public affairs agencies is essential.
The ideal candidate will need to have knowledge and understanding of modern communications channels, including social media and experience of crisis communication management.
The Person
The right person must have gravitas to interact at senior levels with business and Government stakeholders and a strong record of building and managing stakeholder networks and relationships. A good understanding of the broader strategic PEST factors influencing the delivery of healthcare in the UK is essential and knowledge of the UK and European medical device industry would be a distinct advantage.
The role is based at ABHI’s smart offices on Waterloo Road, London SE1.
Salary and benefits are commensurate with experience.