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
We’re recruiting a proactive Communications and Marketing Manager to join our team and make a big impact on public health communications and marketing in Scotland. You’ll play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering strategic communications and marketing plans and activities that engage our stakeholders and work towards our mission to promote, protect and prolong health that make a difference.
This post involves leading and planning communications and marketing activities aligned to the priorities outlined in our newly launched 10-year strategy. As Communications and Marketing Manager you will:
- Provide leadership in the Press Office (in-hours and out-of-hours) and Corporate Communications functions, ensuring management cover Wednesday to Friday.
- Manage strategic communications and marketing plans and activities, overseeing all related activity, resource and budget.
- Seek and maximise opportunities to promote, position and protect PHS and its reputation.
- Create compelling content that speaks to our audiences across a range of channels.
- Use what we know about our audiences – along with data and evidence – to create communications and marketing outputs that inspire people to take positive action.
- Provide leadership, strategic expertise and people/ team management skills for our corporate communications and press office functions, which includes media relations, incident response, social media strategy and content and events and sponsorship.
- Provide line management to Senior Officer(s) and direct the work of other team members working on projects you are overseeing.
- Work in partnership with other PHS teams, Scottish Government, COSLA, local NHS boards, local government and third sector partners to deliver effective communications and marketing strategies that make a difference.
- Lead and participate in a 24/7 on call press office.
The Candidate
You’ll be an experienced communications and marketing professional with skills in media relations, crisis response, social media, and events and sponsorship at a strategic level. You’ll lead by example and be a proactive, confident line manager. You’ll be motivated and highly organised with strong stakeholder engagement skills. You should have meticulous attention to detail and be focused on finding practical solutions, often on a limited budget and in a very limited timeframe.
- Masters level qualification in a relevant subject area such as corporate communications, marketing, journalism, or public relations, or equivalent experience.
- A strong record of developing, delivering and evaluating communications and marketing strategies from start to finish.
- A sound knowledge and understanding of the media and the political framework within Scotland and the UK, including public policy landscape in Scotland.
- Excellent writing, editing, and presentation skills for a range of topics, audiences and channels.
- Experience of managing multiple complex projects at once while maintaining high quality and delivering on time and within budget.
- Line management experience and a proven track record of leading and motivating a highly effective team.
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
Hybrid working is offered but candidates may choose to work solely in the office. Offices are based at Gyle Square, Edinburgh or 177 Bothwell Street, Glasgow.
Working pattern will be 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’re happy to discuss requests for alternative working patterns. Part time applications would also be considered, although there is a requirement to ensure cover Wednesday – Fridays.
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. Click here to view the full range of the PHS Employee Benefits.
Further Information
For an informal discussion on the post, please contact Nicola Backler, Media Relations, Risk & Reputation Lead at nicola.backler@phs.scot
Closing date for completed applications is 24th March 2026.
Interviews will be held in Edinburgh on 22nd and 23rd April.
Further information on PHS is available from: www.publichealthscotland.scot
Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail only, so please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders).
Public Health Scotland is an equal opportunities employer and as such guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies.
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