Head of Corporate Communications

Role Overview

Join Marks and Spencer as the Head of Corporate Communications, a pivotal leadership position steering corporate narrative for Food, Fashion, and International sectors. You will safeguard and elevate the brand reputation while motivating colleagues, customers, and external audiences with powerful communication strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and implement a unified corporate communications strategy across diverse business units, ensuring alignment with company priorities and enhancing brand reputation.
• Develop and manage impactful storytelling campaigns to engage media, investors, employees, government bodies, and other stakeholders, highlighting the ongoing transformation within M&S.
• Advise senior leadership with strategic communication guidance, supporting confident messaging during both planned engagements and crisis situations.
• Oversee reputation management by directing responses to critical media inquiries and crisis communications, establishing stringent protocols and training to protect the M&S brand.
• Foster a high-performance culture within the communications team and Press Office, promoting innovation, collaboration, and professional growth.

Candidate Profile

• Extensive experience managing corporate communications in large, complex organizations with a strong record of advancing strategic communication objectives.
• Proven expertise in national and business media relations, skilled in crisis and issue management with composure in challenging environments.
• Exceptional skills in storytelling, writing, and editing capable of translating nuanced business goals into persuasive messages for varied audiences.
• Proficient in collaborating with and advising senior executives to refine communication approaches and coaching leadership teams.
• A collaborative leader who inspires high-performing teams, embraces innovation, and explores AI and emerging communication technologies.

Benefits

• 20% discount on all M&S products plus numerous third-party brands for employees and a household member after probation.
• Competitive holiday package with the option to purchase extra leave.
• Performance-related discretionary bonuses.
• Robust pension and life insurance schemes.
• Customized onboarding and ongoing training from day one.
• Exclusive savings and perks accessed through the M&S Choices portal.
• Market-leading family-friendly policies, including parental, adoption, and neonatal leave.
• Round-the-clock wellbeing support featuring virtual GP and mental health services.
• One paid volunteer day annually to support a personally meaningful cause.

Work Environment

M&S fosters an inclusive culture, emphasizing collaboration and innovation during a significant retail transformation. Employees collaborate onsite three days per week to enhance creativity and connectivity.

Diversity & Inclusion

The company is dedicated to creating diverse, representative teams where everyone can be authentic and perform at their best, with support for reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment.