Job Title: Senior External Communications Manager (3–6 Month Contract)
Location: Remote-first with occasional travel to London
Contract: Fixed Term (4–6 Months), with strong potential to go permanent
Salary: Up to £85,000
About the Company
Our client is a leading, omnichannel retailer. As a market leader in our sector, they're dedicated to helping everyone enjoy amazing technology through innovation, service, and a purpose-driven strategy. Their business is at the forefront of giving technology longer life and improving lives through repair, reuse, and recycling.
Role Overview
We’re looking for a dynamic and highly experienced Senior External Communications Manager to join their award-winning Communications team on a contract basis (strong chance to go perm). This role is instrumental in driving external communications that raise our clients corporate profile, protect their reputation, and amplify their impact as a purposeful and responsible leader in the retail sector.
The successful candidate will develop and implement strategic media engagement plans, manage high-profile media interactions, and lead on reputation and issues management — all while working closely with senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
Key Responsibilities
* Shape and execute the company’s external communications strategy, positioning the brand as a thought leader in tech retail and ESG innovation.
* Manage proactive and reactive media relations, securing positive coverage and managing sensitive or high-risk media issues effectively.
* Cultivate strong relationships with national, consumer, trade, and business journalists.
* Work closely with internal teams to communicate key initiatives across omnichannel strategy, supply chain innovation, ESG/sustainability, and employer branding.
* Craft compelling content including press releases, strategy notes, media Q&As, and exec briefing packs.
* Own media monitoring and performance reporting, producing analytical updates for the Executive Committee and Board.
* Partner with social media leads to ensure external storytelling aligns with business objectives and supports stakeholder engagement.
* Lead on crisis communication planning and delivery, providing counsel and calm leadership when needed.
* Manage award submissions, conference participation, and speaker opportunities to extend reach and credibility.
Key Skills & Experience Required
* Proven experience in developing and executing media strategies in a large organisation — in-house retail or FMCG experience is highly desirable.
* Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distil complex business messages into clear, engaging content.
* Strong network of UK media contacts, with a track record of securing high-impact coverage and managing complex issues.
* Experience working at senior level, with confidence in advising executive stakeholders and managing reputation at board level.
* Excellent understanding of UK media and stakeholder landscape, including political and regulatory considerations.
* Skilled at integrating digital, social, and traditional media to deliver cohesive messaging.
* Calm under pressure, particularly in fast-paced or crisis situations.
* A team player who is collaborative, solutions-focused and ego-free.
* Experience or strong interest in sustainability, ESG, and the circular economy.
* Strategic thinker with high attention to detail and a proactive, delivery-driven mindset.
Why Join Them?
This is an exciting opportunity to shape the external voice of one of the UK’s most respected retail organisations. We’re an organisation with purpose, scale, and momentum. If you’re a passionate media relations expert ready to lead impactful external comms in a values-driven environment, we want to hear from you.