Consumer Communications Manager - Lifestyle

In a nutshell

The Communications Manager is an integral part of the Consumer Communications team, responsible for supporting and managing a broad range of products and initiatives across Argos and Habitat, while delivering impactful PR campaigns and projects that support wider business objectives.

The role is suited to someone with strong consumer PR experience and a keen interest in the media landscape, including social media and evolving areas such as LLMs. The ideal candidate will have a proven record of overseeing and executing campaigns for big brands in a fast-paced environment, which deliver clear results and support broader business objectives.

What you need to do

• Work closely and collaboratively with the other Consumer Communications Manager to support the Head of Consumer Communications on shaping and delivering the PR strategy across Argos and Habitat

• Lead and deliver integrated traditional and digital PR activity, developing campaigns and content that maximise visibility, engagement and earned coverage, while incorporating SEO, GEO and AI search (LLM) considerations.

• Consult and collaborate with internal stakeholders to identify strategic opportunities and develop PR plans that deliver impactful results.

• Network and collaborate effectively with the broader Marketing teams, Commercial and Corporate Affairs in London and Coventry, seeking information on category plans and feeding back to our teams and agencies.

• Support Head of Consumer Communications with internal stakeholder management.

• Manage third-party suppliers such as PR agencies, design and production houses, third-party brands and influencer agencies to deliver campaigns and plans.

• Oversee and delivery the cross-category proactive press office outreach programme, both in-house and in collaboration with the relevant PR agency.

• Ensure all workstreams are effectively measured and communicated against KPIs.

• Consult the business on reputational issues to mitigate risk and ensure effective reputation management where required, with support of the Sainsbury’s Media Relations and Strategic Communications team in Corporate Affairs.

• Draft and review press releases, statements, copy, quotes, Q&As, briefs, presentations and reports where required.

• Support with media training where required.

• Build productive relationships with selected vertical and horizontal press contacts.

• Ensure opportunities for regional amplification are maximised where appropriate.

• Manage specific campaign/project budgets to ensure cost-effectiveness and best use of resource.

• Ensure joined-up communication with internal channels to amplify activity where relevant (including Social, Brand Comms, Influencer team, Email, Digital, Corporate Affairs, Internal Comms, Store Comms and Customer Services).

• Plan, execute and manage media and influencer events, ensuring they are delivered to a high standard and maximise content creation opportunities and drive earned PR and social media coverage.

• Brief and manage Habitat’s seasonal photoshoots, working collaboratively with in-house and external production teams.

• Support communications flow and team working across the Argos and Habitat Marketing teams to maximise other PR opportunities.

• Be a brand guardian, ensuring relevant guidelines and handwriting across all PR assets and materials.

• Manage proactive and reactive daily media enquiries, including imagery and sample requests alongside the relevant PR agency.

• Coverage tracking and monitoring the news agenda regularly for creative and industry insights, as well as seeking reactive opportunities to leverage.

• Management of campaign and seasonal imagery banks for external use.

What you need to know

• Solid experience – ideally 5–7 years working in consumer PR with large consumer brands, either in-house or in an agency (retail, interiors, consumer goods, beauty).

• Knowledge and understanding of the growing Digital PR landscape

• Good project manager – highly organised and able to manage effectively upwards and downwards.

• Strong attention to detail.

• Good people person who proactively builds and nurtures relationships and is a natural networker.

• Solid contacts across journalists, media and agents within the lifestyle, interiors, beauty, and consumer media space.

• Strong persuasion and influencing skills.

• Solution seeker and self-starter who overcomes obstacles to secure what is needed.

• Positive and results-focused.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Keen interest in lifestyle and consumer trends, as well as the competitor marketplace.

• Ability to drive deadlines with authority.

• Strong knowledge of the changing media landscape.

• Event production experience.

• Lifestyle, interiors and studio shoot production and management experience.

• Campaign budget management experience.

• Interest in, and knowledge of, influencers and running successful integrated social media campaigns.

Essential Criteria

• Proven experience delivering integrated consumer PR campaigns for a major consumer-facing brand, including traditional, digital and social media activity, with evidence of achieving measurable coverage, engagement or commercial outcomes.
• Experience developing and managing PR strategies and plans with senior stakeholders, influencing decisions and translating business objectives into effective communications campaigns.
• Strong media relations expertise, including building and maintaining relationships with journalists, media contacts, influencers and external agencies, alongside experience managing proactive and reactive press office activity.
• Demonstrable project and budget management experience, including planning and delivering multiple campaigns, events or photoshoots simultaneously whilst meeting deadlines, KPIs and budget requirements.
• Experience producing high-quality PR and communications content, including press releases, media statements, briefing materials and campaign reports, with the ability to measure and evaluate campaign performance against agreed objectives.