Senior Policy & Public Affairs Manager

Primark Stores Limited; Reading; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in the UK is looking for a Senior Policy & Public Affairs Manager to cultivate relationships and engage with stakeholders. This role requires 8–10 years of experience in public affairs with a focus on retail policy. You will represent the company externally, align strategies across teams, and respond to legislative changes. Attractive benefits include healthcare, a pension scheme, and potential bonuses.

Benefits

Healthcare

Pension Scheme

27 days of leave plus bank holidays

Tax Saver Tickets

Fitness Centre

Subsidised Cafeteria

Qualifications

• 8–10 years engaging Westminster and EU institutions.
• Deep expertise in sustainability and trade policy.
• Established network of industry partners.

Responsibilities

• Cultivate relationships within UK Corporate Affairs.
• Design stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Track legislative developments and coordinate expertise.

Skills

Public Affairs/Government Relations

Stakeholder Engagement

Retail Policy Expertise

Influencing Skills

Excellent Communication

Job description

Senior Policy & Public Affairs Manager

Because we strive to put people first. Culture, our way.

Corporate Affairs at Primark

What’s a career at Primark all about? The positive impact you’re making, the experiences you’re having and the people you’re with. You’re our inspiration. Embrace what sets you apart, own your career and develop in ways you never expected. Leave your mark. And do it your way.

What You'll Do as a Senior Policy & Public Affairs Manager

We want you to feel challenged and inspired. Here, you’ll develop your skills across a range of responsibilities:

• Cultivate trusted relationships within UK Corporate Affairs, providing insights and strategic counsel on policy issues impacting Primark’s success and reputation.
• Design and implement stakeholder engagement strategies mapping key contacts across government, trade associations, and public affairs networks to build understanding of Primark’s business model and objectives.
• Establish influence in Westminster and devolved nations securing representation in critical industry and trade groups to shape policy decisions.
• Track and respond to legislative developments building internal awareness of Primark’s positions, identifying risks and opportunities, and coordinating subject matter experts across policy areas.
• Collaborate with ABF Ethical Trade, Sustainability, and Public Affairs teams aligning policy approaches, leveraging networks, and supporting senior leaders with briefings and correspondence.

Represent Primark externally engaging with government officials and trade bodies to communicate policy priorities and ensure alignment with the corporate narrative.

What you'll Get

People are at the heart of what we do here, so it’s essential we provide you with the right environment to perform at your very best. Let’s talk lifestyle.

Health care pension and potential bonus. 27 days of leave, plus bank holidays and if you want, you can buy 5 more. Because Primark is all about tailoring to you, we offer Tax Saver Tickets, fitness centre, and a subsidised cafeteria.

What You'll Bring

Here at Primark, we want everyone to feel valued – so please bring your authentic self to work, of course with some other key experience and abilities for this role in particular:

• Experienced Public Affairs/Government Relations practitioner with 8–10 years engaging Westminster, EU institutions, and key stakeholders to deliver high-stakes policy outcomes.
• Deep expertise in retail policy areas including sustainability, consumer goods, and trade, with proven ability to anticipate and respond to legislative developments.
• Established network of trusted relationships across government, trade associations, and industry partners, enabling effective advocacy and representation.
• Proven track record in retail and FMCG markets, operating across multiple international territories with agility and impact in complex, fast-moving environments.
• Strong influencing and advisory skills, trusted by senior leaders to shape strategic decisions and align diverse internal teams in matrix organisations.
• Excellent communicator and credible ambassador, confident in representing the business externally in high-profile settings and tailoring messages to multiple audiences.

Does this sound like you? Great, because wecan’twait to see whatyou’llbring.You’llbe supported within a team of equally capable people, celebrating who you are and aiding you reach your potential. At Primark,we’reexcited about our future - andwe’reexcited to develop yours.

About Primark

At Primark, people matter. They’rethe beating heart of our business and the reasonwe’vegrown from our first store in Dublin in 1969 to a £9bn+ turnover business and over 80,000 colleagues and over 440 stores in 17 countries today. Our values run through everything we do. In essence,we'reCaring and always strive to put people first. We'realso Dynamic, bravely pushing the boundaries to stay ahead. And finally, we succeed Together.

If you need any reasonable adjustments or have an accessibility request, during your recruitment journey, such as extended time or breaks between online assessments, a sign language interpreter, mobility access, or assistive technology please contact your talent acquisition specialist.

All offers of employment are subject to background checks, including right to work, reference education and for some roles criminal, and financial checks. If you have any concerns, please reach out to our talent acquisition team to discuss.

Our fashion isn’t one-size-fits-all and neither is our culture. Primark promotes equal employment opportunity, we strive to create an inclusive workplace where people can be themselves, access opportunities and thrive together.

If you require extra support at any stage of the selection process, please get in touch with our team at [e-mail].

REQ ID: JR-3181