Senior Issues and Communications Manager (12 month secondment)

Senior Issues and Communications Manager (12 month secondment)

Work Level: 2C

Location: Kingston

Please note, this role is a 12 month secondment.

The Corporate Affairs and Issues team is responsible for the effective management of short and long-term issues impacting Unilever’s reputation and business operations. It is an exciting team and the ‘nerve centre’ for managing issue flares, including NGO campaigns, scientific reports, policy/political developments, media queries, consumer issues and social media campaigns affecting Unilever. We work with experts across the business to ensure we respond effectively to issues in line with our values, commitments and positions.

The person in this role will be primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of Unilever’s global corporate issues. The role holder will advise other leaders and teams on how to respond to issue flares, and help proactively oversee long-standing issues and emerging trends. Some flexibility will be required to ensure we are able to manage issue flares effectively across the team.


Job Summary:
- Lead the day-to-day management of Unilever’s global corporate issues. This includes advising on external positions, messaging and content e.g. geopolitical, human rights, sourcing, tax, etc.
- Act as the teams’ primary contact for corporate issues playing out on social media.
- Support our market network and Business Groups on key reputational issues and advise on risk mitigation and handling.
- Act as a trusted adviser on issues management for key sustainability issues, such as plastic.
- Ensure the Corporate Responsibility Committee (CRC) are updated regularly, and in accordance with our governance process, on the most significant issue flares we are managing.
- Maintain and enhance Unilever’s issue management process, supporting tools, and governance e.g. Unilever Issues Briefing Centre and Flagging tool etc.
- Respond to issue-related media queries on a daily basis, drawing on the content knowledge of team members and subject matter experts from across the business.
- Prepare media responses, social media responses, content for digital channels and careline responses as needed on active issues.
- Champion effective issues management across the business ensuring all issues are managed in line with established procedures, systems, and governance.
- Develop internal training materials and simulations to promote best practice issues management.

Key Skills/Requirements:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English (concise, accurate, channel specific, audience appropriate)
- Strong judgement
- Confidence, drive and initiative
- Ability to work to tight deadlines, calm under pressure and resilient
- Comprehensive understanding of the media (particularly UK and US); a passion for news
- Ability to engage confidently with journalists
- Understanding of how civil society, media, politics, science, business and citizens operate and interact
- Ability and desire to understand complex topics and translate them into compelling stories
- Extensive experience building strong alliances and trust with internal stakeholders
- Real team player. Keeps a balance between personal accountability and delivery through team work
- Consistent and strong application of Unilever behaviours – care deeply, focus on what counts, stay three steps ahead, and deliver with excellence
- Bias for action, shows accountability and responsibility and has a ‘can do’ attitude

Essential:
- Issues management and communications expertise including on social channels
- Media relations handling, PR and issue management experience – corporate and/or for brands
- Highly organised with good judgement
- Able to deliver in a fast-paced environment

Desirable:
- Corporate affairs, advocacy, and NGO exposure