Media Manager

We are on the lookout for a Media Manager to join our Group Communications team here at Tesco. As a key member of the Press Office team, this role plays a vital part in protecting and enhancing the brand’s reputation through timely, effective media engagement. You will develop and deliver impactful proactive media strategies, while managing sensitive reactive issues with sound judgement and confidence.

Working in close partnership with colleagues across the wider Group Communications team, you will help safeguard Tesco’s position as the leading retail voice in the media, maintaining a strong and competitive share of voice across the landscape.

• Handle reactive media enquiries with accurate, timely, and well‑judged responses that protect and enhance the organisation’s reputation.
• Develop and deliver creative, results‑driven press materials and communications plans across proactive and reactive activity, aligned to the business and Group Communications calendar.
• Monitor the news agenda closely, responding rapidly to breaking stories, correcting inaccuracies, and ensuring the organisation’s position is clearly represented.
• Proactively shape media coverage by promoting key messages and identifying, pitching, and securing strategic positive stories.
• Work closely with Group Communications and wider business teams to manage media opportunities, issues, and reputational risk.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key journalists and media outlets, including a structured programme of engagement.
• Coordinate filming requests and oversee on‑site shoots when required.
• Provide out‑of‑hours support as part of the Press Office on‑call rota.
• Uphold the highest standards of integrity and due diligence in line with the Business Code of Conduct.

Key stakeholders

• Senior colleagues across Group Communications and the wider business.
• External media and journalists.
• PR and reputation management agencies.
• Relevant industry bodies and external stakeholders.

Accountability

• Management of external agency relationships.
• Ownership of campaign budgets where applicable.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft clear, compelling, and accurate messages and distil complex information into media‑ready content.
• Strong news judgement, with a solid understanding of the political, media, and stakeholder landscape, ideally including the retail sector.
• Highly organised and detail‑focused, able to work at pace, manage competing priorities, and stay composed in high‑pressure or crisis situations.
• Proven ability to identify emerging reputational risks and develop effective mitigation strategies.
• Confident relationship‑builder with journalists, supported by a collaborative, proactive, and can‑do approach.

Relevant experience

• Experience in a busy press office or fast‑paced news environment managing high volumes of reactive media enquiries.
• Strong track record of drafting, reviewing, and editing press materials to ensure accuracy, tone, and impact.
• Experience developing and delivering strategic proactive media activity, with a focus on measuring results.
• Demonstrated success building positive relationships with national, local, and trade media, as well as other external stakeholders.
• Proven ability to build and influence strong internal stakeholder networks.

You might know us as a supermarket, technology company or even for our award-winning mobile network. Truth is, we’re all of those things, and much more. Our colleagues work with one goal in mind, helping to make every day a little better for our customers, colleagues and communities all over the world. No two customers are the same, neither are our colleagues.

At Tesco, we champion a balance that lets you thrive both in and out of work. Spend 60% of your week collaborating with colleagues at our office locations or local sites and the rest remotely. Whether you're just kicking off your career, juggling passions, or navigating big life events, we're here to support you. We always welcome a conversation about flexible working, so talk to us throughout your application about how we can support.

We're proud to be an accredited Disability Confident Leader, where everyone’s welcome. That’s why we commit to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you need support with your application, click here for more information. And if you're interested in joining our team but don't tick every box, don't let that hold you back from applying.