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External Affairs Manager Unilever

External Affairs Manager
Location – Leatherhead, Surrey

Paying £35000 - 43800 depending on experience, up to 40% bonus, pension , BUPA, flexible working policy, fully equipped onsite gym.

The UK & Ireland External Affairs Manager reports to the External Affairs Director and will line manage the External Affairs Coordinator. The role is based in our Leatherhead offices, within easy commute of London..

The business context is:

  • The development of a new, fully aligned global communications function to support Unilever’s business ambition of doubling the size of the company while reducing the environmental imprint
  • The development of a single, global communications strategy and plan
  • Increased interface and ‘joined-up thinking’ across Unilever brand, sustainability, marketing, communications and other relevant functions
  • Communications as part of Unilever’s annual planning cycle
  • To implement the strategy of ‘inspiring advocacy through dialogue and action’ across all stakeholder groups to develop Unilever’s reputation as ‘a strong, growing, responsible company that engages me personally’
  • A focus on four key themes to make Unilever famous: Business Performance; Brands & Innovation;
  • Sustainable Living and Great Place, Great People
  • Measure the effectiveness of communications in building reputation of the Unilever brand
  • Strategic business partner in the UK & Ireland

The team and the role:
As part of the newly created UK & Ireland External Affairs Team this role will contribute to:

  • Developing and delivering a UK & Ireland External Affairs capability and strategy that is fully integrated within a global communications function based on a single global strategy
  • Supporting the delivery of Unilever’s UK & Ireland issues management and advocacy agenda
  • The development of KPIs for UK & Ireland output and delivery against them
  • Ensure that all activities and messages are phased and aligned within an agreed plan and timescale
  • Building a globally/locally aligned team with a sense of common purpose

The main purpose of the role is:

  • To work with the External Affairs Director to build capacity in the new External Affairs team and develop and implement the UK & Ireland External Affairs strategy
  • To lead on the running of the UK & Ireland issues management forum.
  • To develop advocacy and lobbying programmes that support the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan and UK & Ireland business
  • To lead on site stakeholder engagement and management

Key Accountabilities:

  • Responsible for developing and implementing a new issues management process aligned to the global issues management governance system
  • Stakeholder mapping and engagement coordination
  • Responsibility for stakeholder engagement around Unilever’s sites in the UK & Ireland of which we have 22 sites
  • Develop and implement advocacy and lobbying strategies on key issues relating to either Health & Well-being, Sustainability, Home and Personal Care
  • Develop the UK & Ireland approach to activate U-brand, Unilever Sustainable Living Plan and Global Advocacy campaigns and key global moments.
  • Prepare briefings for the Chairman and UK & Ireland leadership team on key issues
  • Deputise for the Director of External Affairs and represent Unilever UK & Ireland externally.
  • Line manager to the External Affairs Coordinator.

Direct Reports: External Affairs Coordinator

Key Interfaces:

  • External Affairs Director
  • UK & Ireland Communications colleagues
  • Chairman and UK & Ireland leadership
  • Unilever Sustainable Living Plan and Partnership manager
  • Unilever brand manager
  • Global External Affairs Coordinator
  • Global Advocacy Managers
  • Global Issues Managers

Skills/ Experience/ Qualifications:
Essential:

  • Experience of preparing briefings and presentations for internal and external use.
  • Experience of either Health, nutrition, sustainability, marketing and advertising, chemicals issues and policy areas
  • Substantial experience in External Affairs/Public Affairs or Communications Agency/NGO/Whitehall/Westminster experience.
  • Knowledge of UK political affairs and campaigning

Desirable:

  • Previous Unilever and/or FMCG experience
  • Experience of working in a complex, networked organisational environment.
  • Line management experience

Unilever Statement:

  • We are Unilever. We work to create a better future everyday.
  • We help people look good, feel good and get more out of life with brands and service that are good for them and good for others.
  • We will inspire people to take small everyday actions that can add up to a big difference for the world.
  • We will develop new ways of doing business that will allow us to double the size of the company while reducing our environmental impacts.
  • We are on Facebook (www.facebook.com/unileveruktalent) and Twitter (ULUKTalent), so please come follow us for more insight into working at Unilever

To Apply:
Please click on the following link and select the job title External Affairs Manager
https://recruitment.unileverservices.com//MAIN/careerportal/default.cfm?...

Your application will be reviewed against our requirements and we will be in touch shortly after the closing date to provide you with an update on the status of your application.

Candidates who have applied can access their status update through the candidate tracking link or, for any additional queries, by contacting the Recruitment hotline number on 0800 0284390.