JOB DESCRIPTION

The Communications Manager is responsible for the development and execution of a comprehensive communications strategy for Food Lion Brand, garnering earned media to build and enhance an overall positive reputation for Food Lion, both with our customers and government officials across the towns & cities we serve. The role builds relationships with key media and drives an increase in positive media coverage and brand awareness among core audiences through effective and targeted media channels and through oversight of our external PR agency. The individual who represents the company at key events will act as a company spokesperson with the media; and serves as a client-connected communicator to the Retail and Strategy teams, developing communications across multiple internal and external channels. The individual will track and analyze campaign data to assess future campaign effectiveness and resource allocation. The role also serves as the lead for crisis and issues management for the brand.

• In collaboration with internal business partners, develops and executes integrated strategic communications and PR plan aligned with annual strategic business initiatives of brand and company goals to effectively build, manage and maintain the brand’s reputation among both internal and external audiences to drive business outcomes.
• Protect the brand reputation through proactive and reactive crisis and issues management.
• Support Retail and Strategy teams through comprehensive internal and external communications strategies.
• Integrates PR strategy and messages with local context to drive brand awareness and loyalty within the towns and cities we serve and build the emotional connection with our customers.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, or journalism.
• Minimum of 7-10 years experience in public relations, journalism or a related field.
• Possess excellent communication and presentation skills and the ability to convey complex information in a clear manner.
• Proven media relations skills and relationships with top-tier media, experience as a corporate spokesperson.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to develop positive working relationships and interface with all levels of management.
• Accreditation in Public Relations (APR), or desire to seek APR accreditation.
• Ability to project a confident image to executives, peers, and business associates.
• Ability to be intuitive, take initiative, and be a self-starter.
• Ability to manage a number of programs/projects simultaneously.
• Ability to be hands-on as well as a strategic thinker/partner.
• Ability to be effective individually and as a strong team player.
• Sensitive to confidential information and have a high degree of integrity.
• Results-oriented, with strong decision-making and problem problem-solving.
• Build relationships with local, regional and footprint-wide (national) press, trade press, bloggers, and influencers at print, broadcast, and web-based outlets to drive the placement of positive features, stories, and appearances representing the brand.
• Select appropriate communication channels to reflect key stakeholder audience needs and preferences to deliver important brand information including business announcements, key growth drivers, brand-wide hunger-relief initiatives, grand openings, issues and crisis management messaging and other messaging around sensitive issues.
• Proactively creates and distributes company news via Paid, Earned, Owned, and Social channels including news releases, advisories, media alerts, intranet articles, individual pitches, editorial placements, web updates, owned blogs, and print articles, etc. helping populate Food Lion online newsroom and intranet with content and driving positive earned media visibility for the brand.
• Uses innovative media formats (videos, podcasts, social media) to increase media presence.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to anticipate communication needs, understand expectations and deliver effective communications programs.
• Strong and proven skills in writing, copy editing, proofreading, and research, with excellent attention to detail and the ability to select writing style based on desired stakeholder reaction and channel appropriateness and strong verbal communications skills. 
• Solid understanding of channel benefits and options, including emerging media and the ability to deliberately select the most beneficial channel mix depending on the audience and desired outcomes.
• Ability to take initiative and manage assignments from conceptualization to completion.
• Demonstrated ability to present complex business ideas, strategies, and results succinctly and persuasively.
• Results-oriented and strong problem-solving, decision-making, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects with conflicting time frames.
• Creative and strategic thinker; an inquisitive mind.
• Sensitive to confidential information and have a high degree of integrity.
• Effective influencer.
• Energetic self-starter, ability to work independently and as a team.
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced environment, react to information quickly, work under pressure, and meet deadlines.

Travel as needed 10-20% 

Food Lion provides equal employment opportunities to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions) national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity or gender expression or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you have a disability and require assistance in the application process, please contact our Recruiting Department at recruiting@foodlion.com

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Food Lion is an American regional grocery store chain headquartered in Salisbury, North Carolina, that operates over 1100 supermarkets in 10 states of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States (Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia). The chain employs over 63,000 people. Food Lion, LLC is currently owned by Ahold Delhaize.

At Food Lion, Associates are the most important assets to our organization. We want associates to have meaningful careers full of variety and challenges. Each associate contributes to the overall success of Food Lion, and in return, we strive to provide all associates with a fulfilling work experience and reward performance and commitment. We are committed to the professional development of our associates through on-the-job learning opportunities and training.