At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead corporate PR strategy and shape B&Q's reputation across media and stakeholders.
- Company: Join a leading home improvement retailer with a commitment to making life better.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous holiday, and an award-winning pension scheme.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping how a major brand is perceived in the market.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in corporate PR, crisis management, and strategic communications.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 75000 € per year.
Overview
Permanent
From 75,000 + Pension + PMI + ShareSave + 6.6 weeks holiday + Hybrid Working
Southampton, Store Support Office
We believe anyone can improve their home to make life better. From our Southampton Store Support office (SSO) we equip our stores, our people, and our whole business with everything it takes to help our millions of customers create a home they’ll love. Join us as a Senior Corporate PR Manager and you’ll be a big part of this.
We’re looking for a Senior Corporate Communications Manager to define and drive how B&Q and TradePoint are seen, heard, and trusted in the world beyond our stores. This is a senior, strategic role at the heart of the business — shaping our corporate narrative, building our reputation, and making sure we show up with clarity and impact across media, industry and stakeholder channels. From major brand reputation campaigns to high-stakes issues management, you’ll lead the work that protects and enhances trust in B&Q and TradePoint. Working closely with the Board, senior leadership team, and Kingfisher Group, you’ll ensure our voice is consistent, confident, and aligned to the bigger picture.
What’s the job?
You’ll be the strategic lead behind B&Q and TradePoint’s corporate reputation — balancing long-term brand building with fast-paced, reactive communications. Your day-to-day will span everything from Board-level advisory and agency leadership to campaign strategy and crisis management.
Here’s what you’ll own:
- Set the corporate narrative and strategy
- Lead corporate comms strategy, ensuring clear, aligned messaging
- Shape narrative across Responsible Business, growth and transformation
- Deliver integrated PR plans aligned with marketing and brand
- Produce key reports and thought leadership grounded in data
- Ensure consistency across all external channels
- Lead brand reputation & PR campaigns
- Deliver impactful, insight-led corporate PR
- Oversee agency-led reputation campaigns aligned to goals
- Identify standout storytelling opportunities
- Blend earned media, content and social amplification
- Own agency & press office performance
- Lead PR agency model, direction and KPIs
- Oversee press office output (proactive and reactive)
- Drive creativity, efficiency and measurable results
- Act as senior advisor on reputation & issues
- Advise senior leaders on reputation, risk and comms strategy
- Lead crisis and issues management
- Oversee messaging on sensitive topics
- Support leaders through complex situations
- Champion leadership visibility & thought leadership
- Raise leadership profile through media and LinkedIn
- Develop aligned thought leadership strategies
- Create opportunities for industry and cultural engagement
- Work across the business & senior forums
- Align comms across teams and priorities
- Partner across functions to shape narrative and manage risk
- Embed comms into planning and change initiatives
- Connect across Kingfisher & banners
- Align with Group and other banners
- Ensure consistent messaging on shared priorities
- Identify collaboration and amplification opportunities
- Manage budget & drive impact
- Own PR and press office budget
- Allocate spend based on priorities and effectiveness
- Track performance and optimise impact
- Keep us relevant & evolving
- Spot trends and cultural opportunities
- Integrate PR with social, content and marketing
- Evolve formats and storytelling approaches
What we need
We’re looking for a confident senior communicator, strategic thinker, and trusted advisor who thrives in a high-profile, fast-moving environment. You’ll excel in this role if you’re passionate about shaping reputation and influencing how a brand shows up at the highest level.
We are looking for:
- Strategic Leadership: Proven experience developing and leading corporate PR or communications strategies
- Senior Stakeholder Influence: Confidence working with Board and executive-level stakeholders
- Reputation & Crisis Expertise: Strong experience managing issues, risk and high-profile communications
- Agency & Budget Management: Experience leading agencies and managing significant budgets
- Exceptional Storytelling: Ability to translate complex topics into clear, compelling narratives
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Experience working across large, complex organisations
- Calm & Credibility: Able to operate with authority and composure under pressure
- Modern PR Mindset: Understands how PR connects with social, content, and cultural relevance
What’s in it for me
As well as a competitive salary, our benefits package includes:
- Award-winning pension scheme
- Bonus
- ShareSave options
- 6.6 weeks holiday
- Payroll giving
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Shopping discounts
- Colleague wellbeing benefits…and much more.
Equality and Inclusion
We want to ensure that all employees, future employees, and applicants to all Kingfisher companies are treated equally regardless of age, gender, marital or civil partnership status, colour, ethnic or national origin, culture, religious belief, philosophical belief, political opinion, disability, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation.
If you require any additional support or adjustments to help you make an application, please contact us at: ssorecruitment@b-and-q.co.uk recruitment@b-and-q.co.uk
Senior Corporate PR Manager employer: B&Q Limited
At B&Q, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. Located in Southampton, our Store Support Office provides a supportive environment with hybrid working options, competitive benefits including an award-winning pension scheme, and ample opportunities for professional growth. Join us as a Senior Corporate PR Manager and be part of a team that values your contributions while helping millions create homes they love.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Corporate PR Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about openings that might not even be advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their values, recent campaigns, and any challenges they face. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! As a Senior Corporate PR Manager, you'll need to convey complex ideas clearly. Use examples from your past experiences to illustrate how you've successfully managed reputation and crisis communications.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining our team at B&Q and TradePoint.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Corporate PR Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in corporate PR and communications. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Senior Corporate PR Manager, so don’t hold back on showcasing your strategic leadership and storytelling abilities!
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your past roles, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your impact in previous positions. Use metrics where possible to illustrate how you’ve successfully managed reputation campaigns or led crisis communications. We love numbers that tell a story!
Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through in your application. We’re looking for someone who can connect with our brand’s voice, so don’t be afraid to express your passion for shaping reputation and influencing corporate narratives. Authenticity goes a long way!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure it gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details about the role and our company culture there, which can help you tailor your application even further!
How to prepare for a job interview at B&Q Limited
✨Know Your Corporate Narrative
Before the interview, make sure you understand B&Q and TradePoint's corporate narrative. Familiarise yourself with their recent campaigns and how they align with the company's values. This will help you articulate how your experience can enhance their reputation and storytelling.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Engagement
Given the seniority of the role, be ready to discuss your experience working with Board-level stakeholders. Think of specific examples where you've influenced decision-making or managed high-profile communications, as this will demonstrate your capability to operate at that level.
✨Showcase Crisis Management Skills
Be prepared to talk about your experience in crisis management. Have a couple of solid examples ready that highlight your ability to remain calm under pressure and how you successfully navigated complex situations. This will show that you can handle the fast-paced environment of corporate PR.
✨Highlight Cross-Functional Collaboration
This role requires working across various teams, so come equipped with examples of how you've collaborated in large organisations. Discuss how you’ve aligned messaging across departments and contributed to integrated PR plans, showcasing your ability to connect the dots within a complex structure.
