Sr. Manager, Media Relations & Issues Management

Loblaw Companies Limited•Brampton, ON

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

In this position, you will be a member of a strong communication team, and a partner and counsel to leaders across the business. This position requires strong written, verbal and presentation skills, exceptional media relations experience, knowledge of social media and how to best tell stories through multiple channels to reach targeted audiences, and the ability to build trusted relationships — with both internal and external stakeholders —while operating in a fast-paced, complex environment.

Requirements

5-10 years of experience in public relations, media relations, or corporate communications, with a focus on issues management and proactive media outreach.
Strong existing relationships with key media outlets and journalists in business, retail and health and wellness.
Strategic thinker with the ability to identify opportunities and challenges in the media landscape.
Demonstrated success in securing positive media coverage.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, a belief in plain language, and an ability to write in various styles and formats.
Proven ability to support and counsel senior leaders, strong interpersonal skills.
Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with the ability to adapt to change and meet timelines (without sacrificing quality!).
A positive attitude, a desire to learn, a willingness to roll up your sleeves to get work done either independently or as part of a team.
Excellent problem-solving and crisis management skills.
Knowledge of media tracking and analysis tools.

Responsibilities

Cultivate and nurture existing media relationships to enhance the company's positive media presence.
Support communication team with media outreach plans to secure coverage for company initiatives, events, and announcements.
Draft press releases, media pitches, and other materials to support media relations efforts.
Pitch and secure national and local stories.
Monitor media and social media channels for potential issues or crises related to the company's reputation.
Develop and implement strategies for effective issues management, including crisis communication plans.
Act as the primary point of contact for media inquiries.
Work closely with internal teams to coordinate responses and messaging.
Build and maintain strong relationships with key media outlets and journalists to ensure accurate reporting during sensitive times.
Work closely with the Social Media team to respond to customer inquiries, comments, and feedback.
Collaborate with the customer care team to address and resolve customer concerns posted on social media platforms.
Develop and implement strategies for maintaining a positive online reputation.
Identify compelling and newsworthy stories related to the company's stores, colleagues and initiatives.
Create and pitch proactive news stories to media outlets to generate positive media coverage.
Work closely with the operations, marketing and content teams to gather information and assets for story development.
Track and analyze media coverage and social media sentiment related to the company.
Provide regular reports and insights to senior management on media and reputation trends.
Use data and analytics to make informed decisions about media and communication strategies.