Senior Strategic Communications Manager
London, UK
Job description
Hybrid – London Store Support Centre and Home
Fixed Term Contract – 12 months (maternity leave cover)
About the team
Our Corporate Affairs team leads all external and internal strategic communications across Sainsbury’s and its brands. We operate at the centre of the organisation, supporting financial results, major strategic announcements, leadership visibility and corporate reputation. Working closely with Investor Relations, Commercial, Government Relations, Consumer PR and senior leaders, we tell the story of our strategy, performance and progress to media, investors and wider stakeholders. The team works in a high‑pace environment, especially during financial reporting cycles, and plays a critical role in shaping how Sainsbury’s is seen externally.
More about the role
As Senior Strategic Communications Manager (C5), you will lead the planning and delivery of strategic and financial communications, reporting to the Head of Strategic Communications. You will own key communications workstreams that demonstrate Sainsbury’s progress against its Next Level Sainsbury’s strategy, driving clarity, consistency and impact across all external channels.
A central part of the role is leadership of financial results communications—including trading statements, interim results, full‑year results, AGM activity and Annual Report. You will shape narratives, draft high‑quality media materials, coordinate media engagement and work with Investor Relations, CoSec, Sustainability and other corporate functions to deliver accurate, timely and compelling communications.
You will also manage proactive corporate storytelling, identifying opportunities that highlight the value, quality, innovation and technology investment across the business. The role involves significant collaboration across Sainsbury’s, including working closely with senior stakeholders, preparing leadership for media activity, briefing spokespeople and contributing to profile‑raising activity.
You will lead improvements to Sainsbury’s corporate website, ensuring that content, structure and storytelling are aligned to corporate objectives and optimised for performance. You will also contribute to a high‑performing, outcome‑focused team culture, supporting and mentoring colleagues and helping to drive continuous improvement across the function.
More about you
You will have demonstrable experience leading corporate or financial communications for a large organisation or listed company, gained either in‑house or within an agency environment. You will be confident drafting high‑quality materials for financial, strategic and corporate audiences, and comfortable working at pace during demanding reporting cycles.
You will be confident engaging senior stakeholders, including executive leaders, providing clear advice and helping shape narrative direction. You will be adaptable, solutions‑focused, and able to build strong, trusted relationships across the business and external media landscape.
You will enjoy working collaboratively, mentoring colleagues, and contributing to a positive, performance‑led culture, with an interest in supporting continuous improvement and innovation in communication outputs.
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable experience delivering financial communications for a listed company or major corporate business (agency or in‑house)
- Proven ability to analyse business performance and translate complex information into clear, accurate external communications
- Evidence of leading multi‑channel communications activity during financial reporting cycles (e.g., results, AGM, trading updates)
- Proven capability in drafting high‑quality written materials, including press releases, Q&A, leadership briefings and corporate website content
- Ability to build and maintain trusted relationships with senior internal stakeholders and external media
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. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working. 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 save 10% on your shopping online and instore at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat, and we regularly increase the discount to 15% at points during the year. 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 up to an additional week's holiday, and we provide private healthcare. 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, salary 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. And if you ever need it there is also an Employee Assistance Programme.
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 www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).