Head of Media Relations

Job Description

We are delighted to share an exciting opportunity for a Head of Media Relations to lead Tesco�s highperforming, fastpaced press office at the heart of our external communications.�

In this senior role, you�ll set the strategic direction for our media engagement, ensuring accurate, timely and trusted information is shared across national, trade and regional media. You�ll build and maintain strong relationships with journalists and opinionformers, while playing a critical role in effective issues management � anticipating risks, responding with confidence and protecting Tesco�s reputation during moments that matter most.

• 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.

• Highly experienced professional with at least 8 years� 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.

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You might know us as a supermarket, technology company or even for our award-winning mobile network. Truth is, we�re all of those things, and much more. Our colleagues work with one goal in mind, helping to make every day a little better for our customers, colleagues and communities all over the world. No two customers are the same, neither are our colleagues.

At Tesco, we champion a balance that lets you thrive both in and out of work. Spend 60% of your week collaborating with colleagues at our office locations or local sites and the rest remotely. Whether you're just kicking off your career, juggling passions, or navigating big life events, we're here to support you. We always welcome a conversation about flexible working, so talk to us throughout your application about how we can support.

We're proud to be an accredited Disability Confident Leader, where everyone�s welcome. That�s why we commit to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you need support with your application, click here for more information. And if you're interested in joining our team but don't tick every box, don't let that hold you back from applying