Senior Media Relations Manager (12 month FTC)

Senior Media Relations Manager (12 month FTC) Salary: Competitive Plus Benefits
Location: Holborn Store Support Centre, London, EC1N 2HT
Contract type: Fixed-Term Assignment
Business area: Corporate Affairs
Closing date: 10 March 2025
Requisition ID: 291404

We'd all like amazing work to do, and real work-life balance. That's waiting for you at Sainsbury's. This is where you'll enjoy a broad range of projects, no matter what your level, because our Corporate Affairs team is non-hierarchical and truly plugged in to the rest of the business. Whether it's internal, external or government relations, you'll have the chance to collaborate with everyone from food waste to health, or general merchandising to Nectar, in order to support some amazing campaigns. You'll help build trust around Sainsbury's with customers, senior stakeholders, media and more.

Please note this role is a Fixed Term Contract for 12 months to cover maternity leave.

Why join us
Joining Sainsbury's as a Senior Media Relations Manager means being part of a highly respected and influential team that plays a critical role in protecting and promoting the company's reputation. You will lead the day-to-day management of Sainsbury's press office and team, manage organisational and colleague change external comms programmes and prepare for reputational risks. In a fast-paced environment that encourages innovation and collaboration, you'll have the chance to work with a wide range of stakeholders and develop strong relationships both internally and externally.

What you'll do
As a Senior Media Relations Manager at Sainsbury's you will lead the day-to-day management of the press office across all Sainsbury's brands and channels, while also playing a key role in reputational risk planning. You will create and maintain relationships with key journalists, provide guidance and support to your team, collaborate with other teams and make decisions related to team resource, workload prioritisation and management of external agencies where required.

Who you are
You are a highly experienced and strategic media relations professional with a proven track record in managing reputationally sensitive projects, risk planning and high-profile press offices. With your strong news sense and understanding of the media landscape, you confidently handle media enquiries and act as a trusted spokesperson. Your exceptional communication skills enable you to develop and deliver effective communication strategies, including statements, Q & As, briefing documents and press releases. As a collaborative leader, you provide guidance and support to your team to foster a high-performing and innovative work environment.

We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer, so you'll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there's always the chance to try something new - whether that's as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you.

When you join our team, we'll also offer you an amazing range of benefits. Here are some of them:

Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to get 10% off at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks. This increases to 15% off at Sainsbury's every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day. We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover. You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance-related bonus of up to 20% of salary, depending on how we perform.

Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy additional holiday. We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, interest free car loan of up to £10k, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, pay advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers. There is also an Employee Assistance Programme, and you will also be eligible for private healthcare.

Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks' pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks' pay for paternity leave.

Please see for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).