At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead policy communications, translating complex topics into clear narratives for impactful engagement.
- Company: Join a leading organisation shaping EU policy communications with a collaborative spirit.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and the chance to influence key policy discussions.
- Other info: Work closely with influential stakeholders and media across Europe.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in policy communications while enhancing your career in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 7-10 years in policy communications; strong writing and narrative skills required.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 100000 £ per year.
The Director, Policy Communications acts as a central conduit between the Europe Operating Unit (EU OU) Communications and Policy agendas, ensuring policy‑related communications are coherent, coordinated, and aligned across markets. Working closely with the Head of EU Affairs and in partnership with Public Policy, Advocacy, Corporate, and market teams, this role helps translate complex policy developments into clear, compelling narratives that support the company’s long‑term license to operate.
Operating at the intersection of communications, stakeholder engagement, and public policy, the role contributes to shaping a consistent and credible corporate voice across the EU policy environment. The role supports local markets in supporting key narratives for campaigns on key regulatory topics. Through close collaboration with Brussels‑based and market teams, the role helps orchestrate the EU policy communications agenda and strengthen thought leadership platforms, engagement with media and key external stakeholders. This position supports the EU OU by working hand‑in‑hand with policy and advocacy teams to influence thought leadership dialogues and enhance the company’s reputation with media, regulators, trade associations and policymakers.
Key Responsibilities
- Policy Communications Strategy & Alignment: Develop and deliver communications plans for priority EU policy topics in close partnership with Public Policy, Sustainability, and Advocacy teams. Serve as a central coordination point between EU Affairs, Policy, and Communications to ensure a joined‑up approach across EU and market‑level activities. Ensure coherent, consistent messaging through shared frameworks, scenario planning, and guidance aligned with the wider EU Public Affairs strategy. Maintain alignment across markets, bottling partners, Corporate PACS, and relevant EU trade associations on policy communications approaches.
- Market Support & Stakeholder Engagement: Partner with local Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability (PACS) teams, Country General Managers, and bottling partners to support market‑level communications on key policy and regulatory files. Develop tailored communication approaches—including narratives, assets, and message frameworks—that clearly articulate the company’s perspective on priority policy issues in a local and EU context.
- EU Institutional & Brussels Engagement: Work in partnership with EU Public Affairs and Policy teams to help coordinate a credible, visible, and consistent corporate communications presence within the EU policy environment. Manage and evolve the company’s EU communication platforms, ensuring content remains current, relevant, and aligned with agreed policy and communications priorities. Build and maintain relationships with EU media and key influencers, supporting balanced and informed coverage.
- Trade Association Collaboration: Collaborate with key EU trade associations on shared communications priorities, joint initiatives, and coordinated messaging. Ensure alignment between industry communications and EU Public Affairs and policy priorities, reflecting the company’s perspectives accurately and consistently.
- Monitoring, Insight & Preparedness: Oversee agency resources to identify communications risks and opportunities and deploy best‑in‑class narratives to advance the company’s agenda. Provide timely insights and recommendations to OU leadership and markets to support proactive planning and issue preparedness. Support consistent escalation, coordination, and reporting processes for policy‑related communications across the EU network.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field.
- 7–10+ years’ experience in policy communications, public affairs, corporate communications, or a related discipline.
- Strong understanding and experience communicating across the European policy landscape.
- Demonstrated ability to translate complex policy topics into clear, accessible, and compelling narratives.
- Experience working cross‑functionally with Public Policy, Sustainability, Advocacy teams, trade associations, and market‑level communicators.
- Excellent writing, narrative development, and rapid‑response communication skills.
- Experience developing end‑to‑end thought leadership platforms.
- Prior experience in political or government communications at the EU or pan‑European level is an advantage.
Director, Policy Communications employer: The Coca-Cola Company
As a leading employer in the heart of London, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic work culture that champions collaboration and innovation. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through tailored development programmes and opportunities to engage with influential stakeholders across the EU policy landscape. Join us to be part of a team that values your contributions and empowers you to shape impactful narratives in a supportive environment.
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We think this is how you could land Director, Policy Communications
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We think you need these skills to ace Director, Policy Communications
Some tips for your application 🫡
Get Your Story Straight:In public relations, storytelling is everything! Make sure your CV highlights your experience in crafting compelling narratives and managing media relations. Share specific examples of campaigns you've worked on, and don’t forget to include any press coverage you've generated—it's impressive proof of your skills!
Show Off Your Communication Skills:Since PR is all about communication, we want to see your best writing samples. Include pieces like press releases, blog posts, or social media content that you've created. This gives us a taste of your voice and your ability to convey messages clearly and effectively, which is crucial for a role in this field.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be more than just a recap of your CV; it’s your chance to shine! Emphasise why PR excites you and how your background fits with the mission of The Coca-Cola Company. Show us that you’ve done your homework and speak to why you’re passionate about the work we do.
Connect the Dots:When you’re writing your application, think about how your past experiences link to the responsibilities of the role. Mention any internships, volunteer work, or projects that involved public speaking, event planning, or strategic communication. This will help us see how you can seamlessly bring your skills into a full-time position at The Coca-Cola Company.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Coca-Cola Company
✨Master the Art of Storytelling
In public relations, storytelling is key. We should prepare compelling narratives about past campaigns or projects we’ve worked on. Think about how we can illustrate our impact and creativity in those stories—be ready to discuss specific examples that showcase our skills in managing media relationships and crafting messages.
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Familiarity with PR tools like Cision or Meltwater is crucial. We need to be able to discuss how we’ve used these tools in past roles or projects. If we've worked on media lists, press releases, or analytics reports, let’s have those experiences ready to share along with metrics we’ve achieved to back up our claims.
✨Stay Current with Industry Trends
We’ve got to stay sharp on the latest trends and events impacting the public relations field. Having a few insights ready about recent campaigns or shifts in media landscapes can show that we’re engaged and knowledgeable. This will also help us make connections between our experiences and the current state of the industry.
✨Showcase Our Versatility
As full-time PR professionals, we need to demonstrate our adaptability. Be ready to talk about how we've handled challenging situations, managed crises, or adapted strategies on the fly. Employers will appreciate our ability to pivot and find solutions under pressure, so let’s have those scenarios at our fingertips to discuss.
