Senior External Communications Manager

Premier Foods; St Albans; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Competitive salary

Bonus potential

Pension scheme

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Sharesave scheme

Learning and development

Job summary

Premier Foods is seeking a Senior External Communications Manager to join its Corporate Affairs team on a fixed-term maternity cover basis. You will shape how Premier Foods communicates with external audiences, manage financial results messaging and run a busy press office, coordinating with senior leaders and agencies.

You will craft proactive PR campaigns, oversee digital content, and provide strategic advice to the Executive Leadership Team while working in a hybrid setup with the Marketing

Qualifications

• Demonstrable professional experience in corporate or external communications.
• Proven track record of managing a busy press office and responding to media inquiries.
• Experience of working within a listed business and managing financial results communications.
• Experience delivering proactive corporate PR campaigns.
• Strong writing and editing skills across audiences and channels.
• Ability to advise and influence senior stakeholders.
• Ability to build relationships with internal teams, media contacts and agencies.
• Excellent organisational skills with competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead external corporate communications strategy and execution.
• Oversee financial results communications and investor relations materials.
• Manage press office and reactive media enquiries.
• Provide communications counsel to senior leaders and the ELT.
• Coordinate with marketing on trade, consumer PR and digital activity.
• Lead website and social media content oversight and governance.
• Support mergers and acquisitions communications when applicable.
• Monitor media trends and industry issues; liaise with agencies.

Skills

Corporate communications

Media relations

Crisis communications

Stakeholder engagement

Writing & editing

Job description

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Join Premier Foods — where people, brands and purpose come together.

Are you an experienced external communications professional who thrives in a fast-paced, high-profile environment?

We’re looking for a Senior External Communications Manager to join our Corporate Affairs team on a fixed-term basis, providing maternity cover. This is a varied and influential role with responsibility for strengthening and protecting Premier Foods’ corporate reputation among our key external stakeholders.

As a major UK food manufacturer and listed company, Premier Foods is home to some of the nation’s most loved and iconic food brands. The role offers an opportunity to communicate our business strategy, performance and growth story while working closely with senior leaders, media contacts, agencies and teams across the organisation.

Reporting to the Director of Corporate Affairs, you’ll oversee our external corporate communications, from financial results and proactive corporate PR to press office management, digital content and reputational issues.

What you'll be doing?

You’ll play a central role in shaping how Premier Foods communicates with external audiences. Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing the full-year, half-year and quarterly financial results communications process, including drafting media materials and working closely with Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations.
• Developing and delivering an engaging proactive corporate PR plan that brings our strategy, investment case and ESG activity to life.
• Managing a busy press office and acting as the first point of contact for reactive corporate media enquiries.
• Providing strategic communications counsel to senior leaders and members of the Executive Leadership Team.
• Supporting proactive and reactive media opportunities by preparing written content, briefing documents and messaging.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with key media contacts, supported by our corporate PR agency.
• Managing corporate website and social media content, ensuring our channels remain current, engaging and relevant.
• Supporting external stakeholder communications relating to mergers and acquisitions, where applicable.
• Working closely with Marketing to provide communications oversight and advice across trade, consumer PR and digital activity.
• Supporting reputational, issues and crisis communications.
• Overseeing media monitoring and helping the business remain informed about relevant industry trends and emerging issues.
• Collaborating with colleagues across communications and public affairs to ensure an aligned and coordinated approach.

What we need from you?

You’ll be an experienced and confident communications professional who combines strategic thinking with the ability to deliver at pace.

Ideally, you’ll bring:

• Demonstrable professional experience in corporate or external communications.
• A proven track record of managing a busy press office and responding effectively to media and external stakeholder enquiries.
• Experience of, or a strong interest in, working within a listed business and managing financial results communications.
• Experience of delivering successful proactive corporate PR campaigns.
• Strong writing and editing skills across a variety of audiences, channels and formats.
• The confidence and credibility to advise and influence senior stakeholders.
• An ability to build strong relationships with internal teams, media contacts and external agencies.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and multiple deadlines.
• Creative flair and the ability to turn corporate developments into compelling, engaging stories.

What we offer you in return?

• Competitive salary and bonus
• Up to 7.5% pension
• Private medical insurance and life assurance
• Hybrid working (50% home / 50% office or site)
• Sharesave scheme and the option to purchase additional holiday
• Extensive learning and development opportunities
• Access to a wide employee discount scheme

At Premier foods we believe in inclusion, authenticity and individuality. We aim to ensure all existing and future colleagues are given equitable opportunities and are respected, valued and encouraged to bring their true authentic selves to work no matter who they are, what they look like, who they love or what they believe in. Our culture is one where everyone is welcome.

We're proud to be a Disability Smart employer and are committed to supporting disability inclusion throughout our recruitment process. If you experience any access issues or require reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know so we can ensure you have the support you need.