Job Description

The Corporate Communications team, which includes Media Relations, leads on promoting and protecting Sainsbury\xe2\x80\x99s reputation. The team shares how the business is delivering on its strategy for customers, colleagues, investors and suppliers - from updating on major investments in price and colleague pay, to announcing the company\xe2\x80\x99s financial results. It is also responsible for protecting the reputation of Sainsbury\xe2\x80\x99s, Argos, Habitat, Nectar and Sainsbury\xe2\x80\x99s Bank.

The Media Relations team is responsible for all reputational matters across the Group. The Media Relations Manager will play an integral role in the Group\xe2\x80\x99s press office, supporting on issues-led media relations for the company. You\xe2\x80\x99ll be managing comms relating to a broad range of topics, giving you an excellent view of the inner workings of a 24/7 business and allowing you to build relationships with a broad range of stakeholders.

To be successful in this role you\xe2\x80\x99ll have experience dealing with issues impacting on corporate reputation, working on both a reactive and pre-emptive basis. Excellent communication skills, a real understanding of how the media works and experience of managing high profile issues is also essential.

More about the role

• Working closely with the Senior Media Relations Manager, another Media Relations Manager and Media Relations Executive, you will manage the day-to-day running of the busy Press Office
• Act as a key point of contact for journalists, internal stakeholders and colleagues, working to respond to often tight deadlines with speed and accuracy
• On assigned issues, you will operate with speed and judgement to ensure balanced coverage of Sainsbury\xe2\x80\x99s and its values in the media
• With the support of a Senior Media Relations Manager, liaise with internal departments to plan for future issues across specific areas of ownership
• Build relationships with internal \xe2\x80\x98clients\xe2\x80\x99 to create and maintain open lines of communication so PR colleagues and internal stakeholders are kept up-to-date on potential issues and Sainsbury\xe2\x80\x99s current positioning
• Take part in an out-of-hours duty service for journalists on a rota basis, contacting senior management as necessary to ensure accurate and positive coverage

More about you

• The post holder will have in-house and / or agency experience in a consumer-facing and/or FMCG press office environment, dealing with issues management and crisis communication situations
• Able to work independently and handle ambiguity and large amounts of information, while working under pressure and often to tight deadlines
• Mature, confident, enthusiastic and professional attitude, with excellent judgment and an ability to advise and influence senior decision makers
• Effective collaborator and networker \xe2\x80\x93 able to build relationships internally at all levels and externally with a strong network of media contacts

In return you\'ll get

As a Media Relations Manager, you\xe2\x80\x99ll receive a host of great benefits. As well as a competitive salary, you will receive a huge range of learning and development opportunities, 25 days holiday, a save-as-you-earn scheme, pension and staff discounts at Argos, Sainsbury\xe2\x80\x99s and Habitat.

Work-life balance is important to us, so we offer our colleagues as much flexibility as possible in line with the needs of their role. We trust them to decide how, where and when they work, combining remote and collaborative working with a flexible approach to hours, giving them plenty of time and space for life outside of work whilst delivering against our business goals.

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Sainsbury\'s