About the role We are delighted to share an exciting opportunity for a Head of Media Relations to lead Tesco’s high‑performing, fast‑paced press office at the heart of our external communications. In this senior role, you’ll set the strategic direction for our media engagement, ensuring accurate, timely and trusted information is shared across national, trade and regional media. You’ll build and maintain strong relationships with journalists and opinion‑formers, while playing a critical role in effective issues management — anticipating risks, responding with confidence and protecting Tesco’s reputation during moments that matter most. You will be responsible for Supporting Tesco\'s media relations strategy to support key communications pillars and over-arching trust-building campaign in tandem with the Lead Consumer PR Manager. Developing and refining tone of voice and consistency of message across all comms with media. Working closely with the Media Relations Director to provide senior leadership and Executive teams with guidance and counsel on reputational issues and business activity. Reviewing communications output across multiple business areas including Marketing and Customer Relations to ensure consistency of messaging and avoid risk to reputation. Running a high performance, dynamic and helpful press office, often described as the busiest in the UK, outside government. Identifying opportunities for proactive media engagement and story development to secure coverage in print, online and broadcast media. Leveraging internal relationships and keeping a close eye on the news agenda to tell the best and most relevant stories at the right time. Managing the handling of high-profile and complex media enquiries and ensuring accurate, rapid and well-crafted responses as well as proactively challenging and rebutting inaccurate reporting and spiking stories before they make it into public domain. Work closely with the Head of Corporate Comms to ensure there is an up to date and effective Crisis Communications Plan and supporting with training Comms Team and Leadership in crisis preparedness/handling. Working collaboratively to ensure internal stakeholders (including Operations, Legal and Investor Relations) are engaged on media opportunities, issues and risks and ensuring excellent information flow internally, even when things move at pace. Building strong relationships with journalists and media outlets and leveraging those relationships to help steer media landscape on key issues. Reviewing comms issued by subsidiaries including Tesco Mobile, IMS, Booker, One Stop and Tesco businesses in Central Europe and providing guidance and counsel on reputational issues and business activity and land positive coverage. Recruiting, developing and leading a high-performing team, giving them opportunities to be their best. Overseeing the monitoring and analysis of output and continuously evaluating performance and process to ensure that the team is as effective and efficient as possible. You will need Highly experienced professional with at least 8 years’ experience leading communications for consumer facing/high profile organisations. Confident decision maker with sound judgement who is accustomed to functioning in high-pressure, deadline-led environments. Strategic thinker with excellent project and stakeholder management skills with a focus on consistency and quality in communications. Expertise in handling high-profile issues and crises in complex, fast-moving, regulated and politicised industries to prevent or mitigate the impact of negative stories on reputation. Adept at managing in house teams and agency partners to land meaningful and effective coverage across a spectrum of media including news outlets, broadcast and trade press. Accomplished people manager who loves developing and leading a high performing team. LI - EF1 LI - Hybrid What’s in it for you We’re all about the little helps. That’s why we make sure our Tesco colleague benefits package takes care of you – both in and out of work. Click Here to find out more! Annual bonus scheme of up to 45% of base salary Car Cash Allowance Holiday starting at 25 days plus a personal day (plus Bank holidays) Private medical insurance Retirement savings plan - save between 6% - 10% and Tesco will contribute 1.5 times this amount 26 weeks maternity and adoption leave (after 1 years’ service) at full pay, followed by 13 weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay or Statutory Adoption Pay, we also offer 6 weeks fully paid paternity leave About us Tesco has become a market leader by doing the little things that really matter for our customers and colleagues. It’s part of what makes Tesco such a great place to work, and we’re proud to have been accredited as one of Britain’s Top Employers again this year. We're the UK's number one retailer and we pride ourselves on offering a great shopping experience. We are passionate about our food, merchandise and services and will always try to get things right for our customers. But did you know we also offer great job opportunities? With stores, distribution centres and offices across the UK, and a vast variety of roles, we are always looking for people who have a hunger to work with customers and colleagues across our exciting business. We believe in treating each other with respect and giving everyone an equal opportunity to get on. It's our people that make the difference every day - helping us make a difference for our customers Should you be successful in your application, your offer will be subject to and conditional upon you providing your bank account details before your agreed start date. For more information about us please visit www.tescoplc.com VP25 Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme Disability Confident About Disability Confident A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident .