Head of Media Relations - Press

We are on the look out for a Head of Media Relations to join our Press team with Group Communications. The right person will be running a high performance, dynamic and helpful press office ensuring the information about Tesco in the media is accurate, building trust with journalists and mitigating reputational risk through effective issue management.

You will be responsible for:

Supporting Tesco's media relations strategy to support key communications pillars and over-arching trust-building campaign in tandem with the Lead Consumer PR Manager.
Developing and refining tone of voice and consistency of message across all comms with media.
Working closely with the Media Relations Director to provide senior leadership and Executive teams with guidance and counsel on reputational issues and business activity.
Reviewing communications output across multiple business areas including Marketing and Customer Relations to ensure consistency of messaging and avoid risk to reputation.
Running a high performance, dynamic and helpful press office, often described as the busiest in the UK, outside government.
Identifying opportunities for proactive media engagement and story development to secure coverage in print, online and broadcast media. Leveraging internal relationships and keeping a close eye on the news agenda to tell the best and most relevant stories at the right time.
Managing the handling of high-profile and complex media enquiries and ensuring accurate, rapid and well-crafted responses as well as proactively challenging and rebutting inaccurate reporting and spiking stories before they make it into public domain.
Work closely with the Head of Corporate Comms to ensure there is an up to date and effective Crisis Communications Plan and supporting with training Comms Team and Leadership in crisis preparedness/handling.
Working collaboratively to ensure internal stakeholders (including Operations, Legal and Investor Relations) are engaged on media opportunities, issues and risks and ensuring excellent information flow internally, even when things move at pace.
Building strong relationships with journalists and media outlets and leveraging those relationships to help steer media landscape on key issues.
Reviewing comms issued by subsidiaries including Tesco Mobile, IMS, Booker, One Stop and Tesco businesses in Central Europe and providing guidance and counsel on reputational issues and business activity and land positive coverage.
Recruiting, developing and leading a high-performing team, giving them opportunities to be their best.
Overseeing the monitoring and analysis of output and continuously evaluating performance and process to ensure that the team is as effective and efficient as possible.

You will need:

Highly experienced professional with experience leading communications for consumer facing/high profile organisations.
Confident decision maker with sound judgement who is accustomed to functioning in high-pressure, deadline-led environments.
Strategic thinker with excellent project and stakeholder management skills with a focus on consistency and quality in communications.
Expertise in handling high-profile issues and crises in complex, fast-moving, regulated and politicised industries to prevent or mitigate the impact of negative stories on reputation.
Adept at managing in house teams and agency partners to land meaningful and effective coverage across a spectrum of media including news outlets, broadcast and trade press.
Accomplished people manager who loves developing and leading a high performing team.
Exceptional writing skills and attention to detail.
Well formed knowledge and understanding of the UK media landscape.
Project management and budget control.
Stakeholder management and engagement skills.

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What's in it for you:

We’re all about the little helps. That’s why we make sure our Tesco colleague benefits package takes care of you – both in and out of work. Click Here to find out more!

Annual bonus scheme of up to 45% of base salary
Car Cash Allowance
Holiday starting at 25 days plus a personal day (plus Bank holidays)
Private medical insurance
Retirement savings plan - save between 6% - 10% and Tesco will contribute 1.5 times this amount
26 weeks maternity and adoption leave (after 1 years’ service) at full pay, followed by 13 weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay or Statutory Adoption Pay, we also offer 6 weeks fully paid paternity leave

About us:

Our vision at Tesco is to become every customer's favourite way to shop, whether they are at home or out on the move. Our core purpose is 'Serving our customers, communities and planet a little better every day'. Serving means more than a transactional relationship with our customers. It means acting as a responsible and sustainable business for all stakeholders, for the communities we are part of and for the planet.

We are proud to have an inclusive culture at Tesco where everyone truly feels able to be themselves. At Tesco, we not only celebrate diversity, but recognise the value and opportunity it brings. We're committed to creating a workplace where differences are valued, and make sure that all colleagues are given the same opportunities. We're a big business with diverse working patterns and many business areas which means that we can find something that works for you. Everyone is welcome at Tesco.

We have recently announced that we will be moving towards a more blended working week – combining office and remote working. Our offices will continue to be where we connect, collaborate and innovate. Please talk to us to about how this can work for you.

NOTE: Should you be successful in your application, your offer will be subject to and conditional upon you providing your bank account details on your agreed start date.

We're proud to have been accredited Disability Confident Leader and we're committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. For further information on the accessibility support we can offer, please visit https://www.tesco-careers.com/accessibility