At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead internal communications and engage colleagues with clear messaging.
- Company: Join Wickes, a company committed to inclusivity and employee wellbeing.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive bonuses, private medical care, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Fantastic learning opportunities and a network for early career support.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping communication strategies and supporting change.
- Qualifications: Experience in internal communications and strong stakeholder management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 64000 - 70000 £ per year.
We're looking for a Senior Communications Manager to join our Corporate & Internal Communications team, leading the internal communications team and activity across Wickes and making sure colleagues stay informed, engaged and aligned to business priorities. You’ll work closely with the Director of Corporate & Internal Communications, leading communication planning and delivery across key business initiatives, supporting corporate communication activity and providing strategic communication counsel to senior stakeholders. You’ll also help ensure communications are clear and coordinated across change programmes, and work with our employer brand and events teams to deliver engaging colleague and brand experiences.
What You'll Be Doing
- Leading Internal Communications: Lead the planning and delivery of internal communications across Wickes, keeping messaging clear, consistent and aligned to business priorities and colleague needs.
- Supporting Corporate Communications: Work with the Director of Corporate & Internal Communications on external and corporate communication activity, including leadership messaging, announcements and reputational communications.
- Building Stakeholder Relationships: Build and maintain strong relationships with senior leaders, ensuring alignment of messaging and effective communication planning across the business.
- Driving Change Communications: Develop and deliver communications plans for business change programmes, ensuring colleagues are informed, engaged and supported through change.
- Partnering on Employer Brand & Events: Work closely with the employer brand and events teams to provide communications counsel, content development and messaging support for key colleague and brand initiatives.
- Creating Content: Produce high‑quality, engaging content across written, digital and visual formats, tailored to different audiences.
- Managing the Comms Calendar: Maintain an integrated communications calendar so activity is coordinated, timely and aligned across the organisation.
- Lead the team: Provide day‑to‑day leadership and coaching to an Internal Communications team, supporting them to prioritise workload and ensure high‑quality delivery.
What We're Looking For
Significant experience in internal communications, with some exposure to corporate communications and executive messaging. Excellent stakeholder management skills and confidence in influencing senior leaders, along with strong planning and organisational skills in a fast‑paced environment.
You’ll Also Be
- A strong writer, editor and storyteller.
- Commercially aware, with a good understanding of business priorities.
- Comfortable working both strategically and hands‑on.
- Experienced in supporting or managing team members within a communications function.
- Ideally, someone with experience in retail, multi‑site or customer‑facing organisations, and exposure to employer brand or employee engagement campaigns.
What Can We Offer You?
You’ll be supported with fantastic learning and development and have the opportunity to grow and develop your career with us. We also have an early careers network to support you if you’re in your first few years of your career. We’ll also equip you with a benefits package that includes:
- Competitive bonus
- Save‑as‑you‑earn scheme
- Private Medical and Life Assurance
- Enhanced contributory pension scheme
- Colleague discount
- Discount platform including savings and cash back at numerous retailers, savings on gym membership, cycle‑to‑work scheme
Our widely recognised wellbeing strategy is something we’re proud of at Wickes. As part of this, we offer a range of health and wellbeing benefits and support, including an Employee Assistance Programme, financial education & loans, and access to parental, menopause and fertility support. By giving you the support you need to do well at work, and the flexibility to make life work for you. We are giving you a career that doesn’t put your life on hold. Where you can be yourself, do your best work, and make a positive difference every day. We aim to create an inclusive workplace with colleagues’ wellbeing at the heart of everything we do. We’re a Disability Confident Employer and committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from disabled people and are committed to providing an accessible recruitment process and workplace for everyone. If you require any support or reasonable adjustments, please let us know here.
Senior Communications Manager in Watford employer: Wickes
Wickes is an excellent employer for those looking to thrive in the Kitchen and Bath Design sector, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises customer satisfaction and creativity. With competitive salaries, commission structures, and comprehensive training programmes, employees are empowered to grow their skills and advance their careers while enjoying a supportive team environment. Located in a dynamic retail setting, Wickes provides unique opportunities to engage with customers and make a meaningful impact on their home improvement journeys.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Communications Manager in Watford
✨Get Involved in PR Events
Dive into local PR meetups and workshops. Events like these are perfect for getting your face out there, chatting with industry pros, and spotting potential job openings at companies like Wickes. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to learn about trends and make lasting connections.
✨Showcase Your PR Skills
Start building your personal brand as a PR ace. Use platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn to share your thoughts on current events or PR campaigns you admire. Tagging companies you want to work for, like Wickes, can catch their eye—especially if your insights resonate!
✨Leverage Your Network
Reach out to friends, family, or connections in the PR field. Even a casual chat can lead to opportunities. If you've got mutual contacts, ask for introductions when applying. Personal recommendations can give your application a nice little boost!
✨Tailor Your Approach
When applying for a full-time PR role, make sure to research Wickes inside and out. Understanding their campaigns, values, and style allows us to directly align our application and impress during interviews. Don't hesitate to apply through our website—going direct can make a real difference!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Communications Manager in Watford
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 Wickes. 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 Wickes.
How to prepare for a job interview at Wickes
✨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.
✨Know Your PR Tools Inside Out
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.
