Communication & Storytelling Lead - Midrand

Dis-Chem Pharmacies; Midrand; On-site; ZAR 850,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Provident fund

Staff account

Job summary

Dis-Chem Pharmacies seeks a Communications & Storytelling Lead at its Head Office to define and embed messaging frameworks across internal and external channels. You will lead employee and external communications, align messaging to business priorities, and protect the company’s reputation in a multi-site retail environment.

Responsibilities include developing communications plans, adapting brand messaging, coordinating channel execution, managing crisis communications, and partnering with

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.
• 5+ years’ experience in internal communications, external communications, or corporate communications roles.
• 2-3 years’ experience in a leadership or people management.
• Experience in a retail or large, multi-site organisation is advantageous.
• Demonstrated track record of improving communication consistency, engagement, and reach.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage communications plans and calendars aligned to business priorities and key moments.
• Adapt and apply brand-defined messaging frameworks to internal and external communication channels.
• Coordinate channel execution to ensure timely, consistent delivery across internal and external platforms.
• Deliver clear, engaging internal communications to stores, head office, and warehouse employees.
• Own coordination and execution of external communications (including PR, media engagement, and stakeholder messaging).
• Collaborate with Creative Studio and Integrated Marketing teams to develop, edit, and distribute content across key channels.
• Manage and maintain core communication channels, ensuring content quality, relevance, and consistency.
• Lead and coordinate crisis communications, including preparation of holding statements and stakeholder messaging.

Skills

Internal communications

External communications

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Brand alignment

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or related field

Job description

Dis-Chem Pharmacies has an opportunity available for a Communication & Storytelling Lead for their Head Office. The Communication & Storytelling Lead is responsible for defining and embedding communication frameworks that ensure clear, consistent, and on-brand messaging across internal and external channels. The role leads employee and external communication, aligning messaging to business priorities, strengthening engagement, and protecting Dis-Chem’s reputation within an integrated healthcare retail environment.

Minimum Requirements…

Essential:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.
• 5+ years’ experience in internal communications, external communications, or corporate communications roles.
• 2-3 years’ experience in a leadership or people management
• Experience in a retail or large, multi-site organisation isadvantageous
• Demonstrated track record of improving communication consistency, engagement, andreach

Responsibilities

Strategy and planning

• Develop and manage communications plans and calendars aligned to business priorities and keymoments
• Adapt and apply brand-defined messaging frameworks to internal and external communication channels
• Coordinate channel execution to ensure timely, consistent delivery across internal and externalplatforms

Internal and external communication

• Deliver clear, engaging internal communications to stores, head office, and warehouse employees to support execution and alignment.
• Own coordination and execution of external communications (including PR, media engagement, and stakeholder messaging) in alignment with brand-defined frameworks
• Work in conjunction with Creative Studio and Integrated Marketing teams to develop, edit, and distribute content across key channels including intranet, email, presentations, notices, and digital platforms
• Manage and maintain core communication channels, ensuring content quality, relevance, andconsistency
• Lead and coordinate crisis communications, including preparation of holding statements, response frameworks, and stakeholder messaging during high-risk or sensitive situations

Leadership and collaboration

• Partner with Marketing, Retail Operations, People and Culture, OD, and Commercial teams to align messaging and execution.
• Coordinate stakeholder inputs, agency support, and approvals to ensure accuracy andconsistency
• Provide guidance to teams on effective communication practices and channeluse

Governance and risk

• Ensure communications comply with brand guidelines, regulatory requirements, and reputationalstandards
• Manage approvals, escalation processes, and messaging for sensitive, high-risk, and crisiscommunications
• Monitor feedback, engagement, and emerging risks to improve clarity, effectiveness, and protectreputation

Competencies Essential:

• Experience in internal and external communications with multi-channel contentdevelopment
• Strong writing and editing capability, translating complex information into clear, frontline-ready communication.
• Experience in crisis communications and reputationmanagement
• Understanding of communication needs in retail or consumer-facingenvironments
• Strong stakeholder management and coordination skills across multipleteams
• High attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities anddeadlines

Key Performance Indicators

• Communication effectiveness: Engagement and reach across prioritychannels
• Brand consistency: Adherence to on-brand messaging and reducedrework
• Operational enablement: Timely, clear communications supporting store and businessexecution
• Governance & risk: Adherence to approvals and reduced reputational or complianceincidents
• Reputation & crisis management: Effective handling of high-risk situations with minimal reputational impact.

Dis-ChemPharmaciesisanequalopportunityemployer.Dis-Chem'sapprovedEmploymentEquityPlanandTargetswillbeconsideredaspartoftherecruitmentprocessalignedtoDis-Chem'sEmploymentEquity&TransformationStrategy.Dis-ChemactivelysupportstherecruitmentofPeoplewithDisabilities

SpecialConditionsofEmployment

SouthAfricancitizen

MIE,clearcriminalandcredit

Driver'slicenseand/orownreliabletransport

Remunerationandbenefits:

• Marketrelatedsalary
• Medicalaid
• Providentfund
• Staffaccount