Media Manager

We are on the lookout for a Media Manager to join our Group Communications team here at Tesco. As a key member of the Press Office team, this role plays a vital part in protecting and enhancing the brand’s reputation through timely, effective media engagement. You will develop and deliver impactful proactive media strategies, while managing sensitive reactive issues with sound judgement and confidence.

Working in close partnership with colleagues across the wider Group Communications team, you will help safeguard Tesco’s position as the leading retail voice in the media, maintaining a strong and competitive share of voice across the landscape.

You will be responsible for:

Handle reactive media enquiries with accurate, timely, and well‑judged responses that protect and enhance the organisation’s reputation.
Develop and deliver creative, results‑driven press materials and communications plans across proactive and reactive activity, aligned to the business and Group Communications calendar.
Monitor the news agenda closely, responding rapidly to breaking stories, correcting inaccuracies, and ensuring the organisation’s position is clearly represented.
Proactively shape media coverage by promoting key messages and identifying, pitching, and securing strategic positive stories.
Work closely with Group Communications and wider business teams to manage media opportunities, issues, and reputational risk.
Build and maintain strong relationships with key journalists and media outlets, including a structured programme of engagement.
Coordinate filming requests and oversee on‑site shoots when required.
Provide out‑of‑hours support as part of the Press Office on‑call rota.
Uphold the highest standards of integrity and due diligence in line with the Business Code of Conduct.

Key stakeholders

Senior colleagues across Group Communications and the wider business.
External media and journalists.
PR and reputation management agencies.
Relevant industry bodies and external stakeholders.

Accountability

Management of external agency relationships.
Ownership of campaign budgets where applicable.

You will need:

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft clear, compelling, and accurate messages and distil complex information into media‑ready content.
Strong news judgement, with a solid understanding of the political, media, and stakeholder landscape, ideally including the retail sector.
Highly organised and detail‑focused, able to work at pace, manage competing priorities, and stay composed in high‑pressure or crisis situations.
Proven ability to identify emerging reputational risks and develop effective mitigation strategies.
Confident relationship‑builder with journalists, supported by a collaborative, proactive, and can‑do approach.

Relevant experience

Experience in a busy press office or fast‑paced news environment managing high volumes of reactive media enquiries.
Strong track record of drafting, reviewing, and editing press materials to ensure accuracy, tone, and impact.
Experience developing and delivering strategic proactive media activity, with a focus on measuring results.
Demonstrated success building positive relationships with national, local, and trade media, as well as other external stakeholders.
Proven ability to build and influence strong internal stakeholder networks.

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 20% of base salary
Holiday starting at 25 days plus a personal day (plus Bank holidays)
Private medical insurance
26 weeks maternity and adoption leave (12 months service required at the qualifying date) at full pay, followed by 13 weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay or Statutory Adoption Pay, we also offer 6 weeks fully paid paternity leave
Free 24/7 virtual GP service, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for you and your family, free access to a range of experts to support your mental wellbeing

The above information is a shortened summary, refer to our policies for full details

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