About Sonic Healthcare
Sonic Healthcare is an internationally renowned healthcare provider with a demonstrable track record of medical services across the world. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, Sonic is an ASX Top 50 company that has grown to become one of the world’s leading healthcare providers, specialising in pathology, radiology and primary care medical centres. We have operations in Australia, the USA, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand.
About Sonic Healthcare UK
Sonic Healthcare UK encompasses the two main entities in the UK, The Doctors Laboratory (TDL) and Health Services Laboratories (HSL). HSL is a partnership between The Doctors Laboratory (TDL), Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH). HSL was formed to provide pathology services to the NHS Trusts and has expanded further to provide services to other NHS Trusts. Over 3,500 staff work at Sonic Healthcare UK, primarily under the TDL or HSL banner. Our purpose is to deliver medically‑led diagnostics, innovation, value and long‑term investment to healthcare. With our core laboratory based at The Halo Building in London WC1H 9AX, we also have an expanding site in Manchester as well as smaller hospital‑based laboratories across the country. We maintain rigorously high standards of quality, whilst also delivering efficiencies to healthcare through careful workforce planning, pioneering technology and significant investment in infrastructure and IT.
Job Details
Job Title: Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications
Department: Commercial Department
Location: 1 Mabledon Place, WC1H 9AX
Contract / Hours: Permanent / 40 per week
Salary range: Depending on experience
About the Role
As Sonic enters its next phase there is a significant opportunity to strengthen how the organisation communicates with staff, engages with partners, and presents its values and capability across the healthcare system. This role holds significant strategic influence, working closely with the CEO and Executive Team to shape how the organisation communicates, engages with partners and is understood across the healthcare system. The Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications will play a central role in supporting this evolution and ensuring communication is aligned, strategic and forward‑looking.
The purpose of this role is to establish and lead a professional Corporate Affairs and Communications function that reflects the organisation’s scale and public responsibility. This includes developing a cohesive communication framework, building a shared narrative across HSL, TDL and Sonic Healthcare UK, and ensuring staff, NHS partners and clients receive clear, timely and consistent information. The role will bring together internal communication, stakeholder engagement, media relations and issues management into a single integrated function that supports Sonic’s culture, strategy and operational priorities.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development and implementation of the organisation’s communication strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
- Provide strategic guidance to senior leadership on communication planning and messaging.
- Manage stakeholder engagement and public relations, including media relations and issues management.
- Drive cross‑functional collaboration to create a unified narrative across all business groups.
- Monitor and analyse media coverage and stakeholder sentiment to inform decision‑making.
Qualifications and Experience
- Minimum 8–10 years of progressive experience in corporate affairs, communications, media relations or a related field.
- Track record of leading high‑level stakeholder engagement and media strategy for a large, complex organisation.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence senior executives and external partners.
- Experience in the healthcare sector, preferably within diagnostics or related industry, is desirable.
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism or a related discipline; advanced qualification is a plus.
Benefits
- Training and development opportunities – supporting professional development.
- Annual salary review – no banding restrictions.
- Discounted gym membership – corporate gym scheme with Better Gyms.
- Cash healthcare plan – cash back on a variety of healthcare costs including dentist and opticians.
- Sick Pay Entitlement – 5 paid days in the first year, 20 days thereafter.
- Permanent Health Insurance and Death in Service Cover.
- Life Assurance – providing salary continuation for long‑term illness (six months qualifying period).
- Employee Assistance Programme – supporting staff wellbeing.
- Season Ticket Loan Scheme – interest free loan for cost of annual travel ticket.
- Perkbox – access to additional staff perks and benefits such as high‑street discounts.
- Company Pension Scheme – company and staff contributions increase with service.
- Competitive annual leave allowance – 23 days rising to 28 days after 5 years service.
- Flexible working hours – flexible shift patterns and working schedules.
Additional Information
We respect and value the diversity of our staff and welcome applications from diverse communities. PLEASE NOTE: WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CLOSE THIS VACANCY AT ANY TIME EVEN IF A CLOSING DATE IS SHOWN HERE OR IN ANY OTHER MEDIA.
#J-18808-Ljbffr