Communications and Engagement Director - FTC 12 month in London

Purpose of your role
Reporting to the Director, Corporate Affairs & Engagement, the Corporate Communications & Engagement Director is responsible for driving the external communications strategy to build our external reputation. This is a role that combines high-level strategic oversight with hands-on delivery – equal parts strategist and operator – requiring the ability to balance long-term narrative shaping and thought leadership positioning with near-term execution. You will shape and deliver a proactive communications strategy aligned to organisational priorities, building and executing a programme that advances our corporate brand across earned, paid and owned media. As lead storyteller and strategist, you’ll develop thought leadership platforms to build trust, credibility and influence across priority stakeholders, raising awareness of the Group beyond its brands and bringing our purpose to life in an impactful way.

Who You Are
You are a multi-faceted senior communications professional with a proven track record of driving external reputation to position organisations and leaders as thought leaders. You are highly collaborative, naturally partnering with Internal Communications, Public Affairs and Issues Management colleagues to build integrated plans that strengthen reputation across all fronts. You are decisive and insights-led – able to rapidly assess complex situations, formulate a clear course of action and execute with confidence, even under pressure. You are resolutely solutions-focused. You are a coach and capability-builder, raising the standard of external communications across the team and business. You are calm under pressure, act with integrity and discretion, and appreciate how integral reputation is to growth. You are a proactive, organised and delivery-focused individual who thrives in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment, with a strong bias for action. You bring structure, pace and clarity, working in a planful way.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop and deliver an integrated earned, paid, shared and owned external strategy that strengthens L'Oréal's reputation and advances the corporate brand with priority audiences.
• Lead media relations strategy with UK media – creating strategy based on a thorough understanding of the evolving media landscape.
• Drive proactive, impactful, quality coverage.
• Develop and maintain contacts with relevant media, support team members in expanding their networks.
• Define and evolve L'Oréal UK&I's thought leadership positioning aligned to reputational priorities and Group messaging; translate this into an integrated programme across commentary, authored content, partnerships, sponsorships, events and speaking opportunities.
• Drive the identification and crafting of compelling stories for external audiences from within the UK business and maximise global moments and announcements for local impact.
• Cultivate collaborative relationships with brand communications colleagues across the business to identify, develop and elevate stories that build the corporate brand – acting as a connector between brand activity and corporate narrative to maximise storytelling impact and reputation as the number one beauty leader.
• Establish the internal structures and ways of working to leverage brand relationships, launches and events.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with third-party organisations, including retailers, NGOs and partners, working collaboratively on shared initiatives that advance joint objectives.
• Own executive visibility plans for priority spokespeople, including identifying and securing relevant speaking opportunities that build their profile and advance L'Oréal's thought leadership agenda.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, developing narratives, messaging, briefing packs, Q&As and preparation for media and speaking engagements.
• Partner with the Public Affairs lead to identify, develop and deliver a multi-stakeholder communications approach – including media engagement, content creation, events and partnerships – that raises awareness of the industry and priority policy topics.
• Develop the UK&I market strategy for global paid media campaigns, partnering with our media agency to ensure local relevance in execution and cut through.
• Develop and oversee the approach to influencer advocacy for the corporate brand.
• Oversee the team in reviewing assets for regulatory compliance and local content production as required.
• Lead the response to media-related issues, taking direct charge of media handling in all issues and crisis scenarios.
• Act as the primary UK&I lead for reactive media handling, including triage and escalation, media facing messaging and spokesperson strategy.
• Partner with the Head of Reputation and Issues Management as needed in an issue or crisis, ensuring a joined-up, coordinated approach across the communications function.
• Oversee robust horizon scanning and media monitoring, ensuring team members deliver day-to-day tracking and insights to inform preparedness and response, ensuring support for the Head of Reputational Issues Management in listening requirements.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition to support the employer value proposition strategy and shape, then oversee, an employee advocacy strategy that supports employer brand initiatives.
• Work closely with the Head of Internal Communications & Engagement to ensure internal and external narratives are aligned, and that content and materials are designed for multi-audience, multi-channel leverage.
• Own and oversee the UK LinkedIn strategy to build reputation, strengthen narrative consistency and enhance engagement with UK audiences.
• Own UK&I participation in the annual IPSOS reputational study and lead the insight-to-action process, translating findings into clear priorities and recommendations, updating the external strategy in response.
• Oversee the team's contribution to Group KPI reporting.
• Demonstrate creative leadership by staying ahead of editorial trends, content formats and audience insights; proactively share ideas to further enhance reputation and evolve the function.

Leadership & Team
Manage two external communications colleagues, while providing senior input into the broader Corporate Affairs & Engagement agenda. Deputise for the Director of Corporate Affairs & Engagement when required.

You have…
Extensive corporate communications experience within a consumer-facing sector. Director-level in-house experience for a high-profile company or brand, working in a matrixed, multinational corporate environment. A proven track record of driving external reputation to position organisations and senior leaders as credible thought leaders. Experience developing reputation-building communications strategies and plans that strengthen trust and credibility. Strong prioritisation skills, able to balance multiple projects at any one time and move effortlessly between strategy, implementation and tactical opportunities.

What We Offer
Enjoy perks like money-saving offers, free mortgage advice, share options and an enhanced pension plan. Love our brands? You’ll get up to 60% off iconic names like YSL, CeraVe, Armani, Kiehl's and Garnier! Because health matters, we offer private medical and dental insurance, discounted gym memberships, and onsite mental health support. We also provide enhanced family leave for all and up to 4 weeks of paid fertility leave, so you can prioritise what matters most. Learning is in our DNA at L'Oréal. We’ll help you master your role, build skills, and access top-notch leadership programs and monthly expert talks. And there’s lots more too!

Who We Are
L’Oréal is present in 150 markets on five continents. For more than a century, L’Oréal has devoted itself solely to “Create beauty that moves the world”; it is now the industry world leader with €29 billion consolidated sales. Together, we solve complex challenges at scale, while making sure we stay committed to making the world a more inclusive and a better place for everyone & our planet. Experience the excitement of agility to shape the future of beauty, where diversity and purpose come together to create meaningful impact. As the global leader in beauty, our impact is driven by four specialised divisions and a dynamic corporate core: our Consumer Products Division democratises beauty through sustainable, world-leading brands like L’Oréal Paris and Garnier; L’Oréal Luxe provides the ultimate in aspirational beauty with iconic names such as Lancôme and Yves Saint Laurent; the Professional Products Division remains the founding partner to the global hair industry with advanced technologies like Kérastase; and our Dermatological Beauty Division leads the quest for healthy skin with dermatologist-recommended brands like La Roche-Posay and CeraVe. Supporting this entire ecosystem, our Corporate Division serves as the innovative backbone for our talented workforce, ensuring that even as a world leader, we remain a company focused on “people, people, people” to move the business forward.

How We Recruit
At L’Oréal, we take pride in creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment where everyone is welcome, and their contributions are valued. When we recruit, hire, train, promote or engage in any other employment practice, we are committed to being an inclusive employer regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, socioeconomic status, medical condition or disability, or any other protected status. When we look for talent, we welcome difference – different backgrounds, experiences, personalities and perspectives. The beauty we find in our differences gives us the freedom to go beyond. That’s the beauty of L’Oréal. We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants with a disability or long-term condition who best meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. You can let us know if you would like your application to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme within your application.