UK & Ireland Senior Manager – Corporate Communications

Unilever; Kingston on Soar; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A global consumer goods company is seeking a Senior Manager for Corporate Communications based in Kingston. This senior role focuses on overseeing external communications and managing reputation, requiring significant experience in media relations and strategic communication. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills and the ability to work effectively under pressure in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Inclusive workplace

Diversity initiatives

Qualifications

• Considerable experience in external communications, media relations, and reputation management.
• Internal communications experience desirable.
• Ability to work independently and in cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead corporate communications content and campaigns strategy.
• Identify and develop stories that build reputation.
• Manage relationships with key media for Unilever UKI.

Skills

External communications

Media relations

Reputation management

Analytical skills

Influencing skills

Education

Relevant degree

Job description

UK & Ireland Senior Manager – Corporate Communications page is loaded

UK & Ireland Senior Manager – Corporate Communications

Apply locations Kingston Head Office time type Full time posted on Posted Yesterday time left to apply End Date: August 15, 2025 (12 days left to apply) job requisition id R-80642

Please Note: The deadline for applying is 23.59 the day before the job posting end date.

Job Title: UK & Ireland Senior Manager – Corporate Communications

Location: Kingston Head Office

Work-Level: 2C

JOB PURPOSE

This is a broad and senior corporate communications role, which covers Unilever UKI’s external corporate communications activities across all channels. It also has strategic oversight for some internal communications for the UKI business and sites across the UK. You will be part of a lean Communications and Corporate Affairs team which has a big remit, including both UKI business and wider UK geography responsibilities

A key focus for this role is to shape our reputation with media, trade media and some stakeholders, along with identifying and managing key issues and reputational risks for the UKI business. This role is designed to build and promote our corporate reputation and bring to life our business strategy and our four sustainability priorities with engaging communications across our owned corporate channels and through earned media. This role will support senior stakeholders across the UKI business, focusing on UKI priorities and risks. It will also support our brand teams with managing any reputational risks and is a lynchpin for our wider corporate affairs network.

As well as landing our key priorities externally, this role will also lead our internal communications and channel strategy in the UK and Ireland, supported by an Assistant Manager, to ensure our business priorities are understood in the UKI business, and national comms are shared appropriately across all of Unilever’s sites in the UK and Ireland.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead our corporate communications content and campaigns strategy across external and internal audiences to support the delivery of Unilever UKI’s strategic business priorities and the sustainability pillars which are most relevant in the UK.
• Identify and develop proactive stories and content which build reputation for Unilever in the UK and Ireland, either through our corporate priorities or our brands.
• Lead on our reactive response to issues or crises, whether these are media queries or social media issues about Unilever in the UK, or our brands.
• Business Partner UKI Business Unit leadership teams to understand where there are communications opportunities and risks. Although this role supports across the UKI business, it also has a specific focus on the UKI Personal Care and B&W teams.
• Manage the relationship with our Trade Communications agency at macro level, supporting our brands to build strong proactive trade media plans which build our corporate reputation and communicate strategic priorities to our customers and business journalists.
• Build relationships with key media for Unilever UKI, including The Grocer, Consumer Affairs national media and key regional media for our sites
• Deputise for the Head of UKI C&CA at on the national Incident Management Team and support on Business Continuity planning for UKI Communications.
• Lead on our national internal communications for the UK and Ireland in the new organisation, as well as understanding the specific needs of the UKI ‘Go to Market’ teams in Kingston and Citywest.
• Own the UKI team’s communications plan and coordinate across senior managers.
• Support the Corporate Communications Manager with managing the press office.
• Support the Internal Communications Assistant Manager with internal requests and priorities, donations and charities, and support them with the management of Unilever UK’s communications channels (and line manage this role).
• You will have one direct report (WL1 IC Assistant Manager), and other team members will have a dotted line to you for Communications projects (WL1 External Assistant Manager, and WL2A Manager).
• This role reports into the Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs, UKI

ALL ABOUT YOU

• Considerable experience in external communications, media relations and reputation management.
• Internal communications experience desirable
• Passion, confidence and initiative. A self-starter who can work independently and part of cross-functional teams in a large and complex organisation.
• Strong judgement, good analytical skills and able to present clear arguments.
• Effective influencing skills, especially with senior stakeholders.
• Calm under pressure, especially when juggling multiple deliverables.
• Experience of line management
• Comfortable with complex issues and tight deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communications.
• Sound business acumen and knowledge of business challenges/opportunities linked to environmental and/or social issues.

KEY INTERFACES:

• Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs UKI
• UKI C&CA team
• Unilever Media Relations Team
• Unilever Sustainability Team
• UKI Business Leadership Team
• UKI Business Unit leadership Teams and brand managers
• Business Group Communication teams

NOTES

Please apply via this portal as e-mail applications may not be processed and include your Future Fit Plan if possible.

By applying for this vacancy, you are confirming that you have made your Line Manager aware of your application and that you are at a point in your career with Unilever where it is appropriate for you to be applying for other positions.

Should you require additional information or reasonable adjustments to allow you to present your best self during this process, please contact your Talent Partner Chris Carr on [e-mail]

What we offer

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (unilever.com) .

Location

In June 2020 we announced our plan to consolidate a number of Unilever’s offices across the South East of England into a new Unilever campus in Kingston-upon-Thames in or around early 2025. However, on the 08 August 2024 we announced to our existing staff our proposal to retain our central Head Office in London, 100 Victoria Embankment (“100VE”) until our lease expires in 2027. As a result of this new proposal, we will be consulting with our existing staff, and new joiners who join during this period of consultation at 100VE, on the proposal made in August 2024. During consultation we will clarify the future location of each team and function. This means your role will either be based in 100VE until 2027 or in Kingston-Upon-Thames from early 2025. As we are yet to commence consultation on the proposal you agree, until such a time when consultation has concluded, your normal place of work as set out in the enclosed Statement of Terms & Conditions will be 100VE. You agree that on the conclusion of the consultation your place of work will be 100VE or 100VE until early 2025 and then Kingston-upon-Thames ("the locations") and you will be notified of which of the locations will be your place of work after that consultation ends.

Relocation to the UK

Please be aware if you are applying for this role from outside the UK, if successful, your application will be treated as a self-initiated Change Location Outside of Country (CLOC) transfer. This means any relocation costs must be self-funded with the potential to reclaim some specific pre-approved expenses up to £5,000. Please speak to your Talent Partner if you have any questions.

About Us

We are one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies with amazing brands, dynamic people and a sustainable vision. We meet everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that help people feel good, look good and get more out of life. If you are ambitious, keen to learn and want lo lead, you have come to the right place. Explore our website and apply to be part of a company with more than 400 brands used by over two billion people everyday.