Communications Manager

At a glance:

• Salary range - Expected salary - £52,600.00 - £65,000

• Contract type - This position is a 12 month fixed term contract

• We know flexible working is important to you, and it is important to us too. The Partnership has adopted a blended working approach meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home based upon your personal needs whilst balancing the needs of the business. The Communications team aim for around 2 days a week in the office to connect and on a more ad-hoc basis to attend key meetings but again, are flexible on this. 

About the role:
 

The External Communications team is responsible for all aspects of the external communications strategy for the Partnership and its two brands.  Our clear ambition for communications: to be the conscience of the business and champion of the brands. 
 

This business purpose is brought to life through the role of communications and campaigning.  With communications disciplines that work effectively with other business departments to ensure integration of communications across the company, working together for maximum impact. 
 

This is brought to life across multiple fronts, with a communications programme that leverages progressive business initiatives, builds celebratory feel good moments, campaigns with passion from a position of strength, scale and responsibility, maintains a drumbeat of positive storytelling, and works hard to mitigate potential risks.  Activity must continue to reach multiple audiences, amplifying and deepening customer marketing activity and messaging delivered above the line. 
 

As the Communications Manager you will lead multiple successful and proactive campaigns alongside being the first line response to many incoming issues and opportunities in the team. Therefore you are required to work in a fast, busy and agile environment. 
 

Working closely with key internal stakeholders and the media is crucial in managing launches, features, opportunities and delivering successful PR and influencer campaigns, whilst maintaining fantastic media and influencer relationships.
 

What will you be doing?

•  Working with the Senior manager to plan and lead PR activity across the Waitrose brand and categories including fresh food; ambient; Beers, Wines, Spirits and Health as well as customer facing activity and services.  
   

• Collaborating across the business to ensure that we are telling a story of quality, value and ethics across Waitrose - the supermarket for Food Lovers.  Work with the Senior Manager to influence how Waitrose is perceived, identifying key knowledge of activity and driving success 
   

• Managing the process of each campaign from brief through to evaluation, through close collaboration with the team and by managing agencies, leading on events, media approach and strategic pitch plan and managing PR social media and influencers. This will include creating comms solutions, defining what will be achieved and evaluating the success of campaigns. Have an oversight and thorough understanding on relevant output from the wider team and use initiative to support and advise where needed.
   

• Pro-actively lead project delivery within the team, supporting junior colleagues to deliver on time, on budget and with great results. Coaching as needed. 
   

• Managing, creating and supporting the successful delivery of market-leading PR events for the media and influencers, for example the seasonal press show. Leading on the press show, overseeing creative, product, messaging, stakeholder management and driving the team to deliver their responsibilities. 

• Acting as a media champion, having an informed opinion and up to date knowledge of the industry, food and health, championing media opportunities, trends and outlets as a trusted internal advisor. Use awareness of the external landscape to make informed decisions about communications risks and opportunities. Horizon scanning for potential risks and reputational issues, working with relevant teams to mitigate such risk.
   

• Delivering an excellent, thorough and timely service to journalists in response to their enquiries and become a go to person for the media when responding to their queries.
   

• Deputising for the Senior Communications Manager, leading the team on projects, as and when required. Part of an out of hours, on call team to deal with journalist enquiries. Manage reactive media enquiries and issues when on rota across traditional and social media. 

Essential skills you’ll need: 

• Extensive in-house or agency PR experience in food and drink 

• Experience leading and driving an influencer strategy and approach

• An established pool of food, drink and lifestyle media and influencer relationships

• Experience leading PR and influencer campaigns and running events

• Experience pro-actively leading teams on projects to successfully deliver - thinking ‘we’ not ‘me’

• Experience writing and negotiating influencer contracts and evaluation metrics 

• Experienced copywriter and confident in writing press releases

• Excellent attention to detail and ability to work at pace on multiple projects in a high pressured environment

Desirable skills you’ll have:

• A trusted advisor, able to convey advice, views and guidance quickly and with clarity in high profile situations.

• Ability to work across multiple projects with multiple audiences and deadlines at the same time, under pressure and at pace.

• Detailed knowledge of products and trends across food and drink

• A desire to be ‘in the know’ - tracking the industry, competitors, celebrities, trends and sharing these in real time so that we can leverage where appropriate creativity! 

Benefits of the Partnership and the role: 

• - Hybrid Working. 

• ️ - Full - time working holiday entitlement 25 days holiday, plus public and bank holidays

• ⚖ - Excellent work life balance, including focus on well being and flexible working and our marketing leading equal parenthood leave Policy

• - Defined Contribution pension scheme where your contributions will be matched by the Partnership (up to 8% of pay) and, after three years’ service, you’ll receive an additional Partnership contribution of 4% of pay, regardless of whether you pay in or not

• - You’ll get Partnership discount in store and online once you complete Probation. That’s 25% off in John Lewis & Partners (12% off electrical products) and 20% in Waitrose & Partners. You’ll also be able to nominate someone you live with to share your discount

• -  Simple cycle to work support scheme

• - We’re really proud of our exclusive hotels based in some of Britain’s most beautiful areas and once you’ve been with us for three months, you’re welcome to explore them

• -  Learn more about our extensive range of exciting benefits that you could enjoy when you join us, visit - https://www.jlpjobs.com/about/benefits/ 
   

Next Steps: 

• The application form consists of a CV upload followed by application questions. Please ensure you refresh the page each time you complete a task to ensure you complete everything that you need to in time. (If internal, check your Workday notifications and see further guidance on the PDW under "Internal application process").

• Once you've submitted an application the next steps of the process, if successful, are likely to include a 1 stage virtual interview early January.

• You'll be asked about any adjustments you might need to support the recruitment process. Let us know, and we'll be sure to discuss it with you. 

• Thanks for your patience in the meantime and for showing an interest in joining JLP. 

• We occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications. Therefore, we recommend you apply early ​

You can view a copy of the full job outline here (internal only)