Senior Dietitian

The post holder will help to maintain the reputation of the BHF by ensuring the accuracy of all food and nutrition information within BHF information and resources. This is achieved by taking a proactive approach to working with project teams across the organisation on the development and delivery of both mission and fundraising campaigns, projects and resources.

Acting as an expert spokesperson is also required, following training, to support the BHF’s response to reactive and proactive media enquiries day-to-day (including print media, radio, social media, and TV) and to support press launches of major BHF health promotion, policy and fundraising campaigns.

Part of the role is also to support the Heart Helpline team with responses to nutrition enquiries to the service and provide group and individual training as required.

• Work with project teams on the development and delivery of nutritional aspects of activities and resources to improve the heart and circulatory health of people in the UK.
• Provide written and verbal feedback and use the formal BHF sign off process to ensure accuracy and consistency of BHF diet and nutrition messaging.
• Work with teams within marketing, fundraising and brand to ensure that assets, resources and creative approaches to fundraising and marketing are accurate and consistent with Government guidelines and BHF positions on diet and nutrition.
• Collaborate and liaise with Clinical team colleagues (Senior cardiac nurses and Dietitians) and senior medical team members when necessary.
• Collaborate on BHF recipe development and review and provide dietary analysis for recipes.
• When required, take the lead on key projects for the Clinical and/or nutrition team.

Media and external affairs

• Play an active role in developing press statements and quotes with the media team.
• Following media training, and with full support and supervision, carry out media interviews over the telephone as well as on radio and TV.
• Be a source of accurate diet and nutrition knowledge for above the line campaigns.
• Provide diet and nutrition support to the Social Media team to help with responses to comments and questions on BHF social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter and approve social media content on diet and nutrition for BHF channels.
• Support and maintain BHF’s reputation by ensuring good working relationships and networking with HCPs and key stakeholders when representing the BHF at external events (e.g. meetings, conferences, presentations).

Heart Helpline

• Take a professional and sensitive approach when responding to public enquiries on nutrition and providing information and support via the helpline or other BHF channels.
• Undergo safeguarding training as per BHF policy and have a full awareness of safeguarding responsibilities.

Contribution to other projects and programmes

• As agreed with the line manager, take responsibility for specialist knowledge across a portfolio of projects and programmes within the BHF.
• Co-ordination and support of dietetic students’ public health placements.

Cross-team and cross-directorate working

• Work collaboratively with project teams to deliver project and individual objectives
• Develop and sustain effective working relationships with colleagues from all directorates.

Personal development

• Maintain a thorough knowledge of dietary aspects of cardiovascular disease, it’s risk factors and treatments and the evidence base for the relationship with nutrition.
• Up to date knowledge of relevant food and public health policy issues.
• Encourage and be open to honest feedback on performance.

Other

• Carry out any other tasks deemed necessary by line manager/Head of clinical support.
• Comply with health and safety regulations and requirements.
• This is a dually located role. The clinical team expect to work from BHF’s head office for some time each week, with the remainder worked from home.
• Travel and weekend/evening working may be required occasionally.

• HCPC registered dietitian
• Extensive NHS dietetic experience and knowledge of the organisation’s workings
• Currently working at AfC band six or higher (or equivalent) or has done so in the last year
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong critical analysis skills
• Excellent IT skills
• Ability to provide a high-level of service to internal and external customers

Desirable

• Specialist knowledge of performance nutrition
• Training in and/or experience of the application of health and nutrition claims legislation
• Motivational interviewing experience

• Extensive current or recent clinical experience as a dietitian in secondary and/or primary care.
• Recent experience of working in cardiac rehabilitation or public health would be an advantage.

• In-depth knowledge of the nutritional aspects of common cardiac and circulatory conditions and of lifestyle issues relating to cardiovascular diseases
• Excellent communication skills including the ability to produce written copy for a range of audiences and provide and receive feedback
• Excellent writing skills with an ability to review literature and translate findings into lay terms
• Demonstrate strong awareness of research/evidence-based practice and keep up to date
• Demonstrate strong leadership qualities as well as the ability to work as an area specialist within a team
• Excellent IT skills especially Microsoft Office 365 including Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Excel and Forms. Able to use dietary analysis software and experience of this in the workplace
• Quick to adapt to new concepts and ways of working
• Ability to prioritise and manage own workload and work on own initiative
• Demonstrate evidence of commitment to professional development and maintaining registration
• Working with a high degree of professionalism
• Knows what equality, diversity and inclusion means and is committed to ensuring this runs through every area of work.