Media Relations Executive
Salary: Competitive Plus Benefits
Location: London Store Support Centre and Home, London, EC1M 6HA
Contract type: Permanent
Business area: Corporate Affairs
Closing date: 23 January 2026
Requisition ID: 400041261
We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work-life balance. That’s waiting for you at Sainsbury’s. This is where you’ll enjoy a broad range of projects, no matter what your level, because our Corporate Affairs team is non-hierarchical and truly plugged in to the rest of the business. Whether it’s internal, external or government relations, you’ll have the chance to collaborate with everyone from food waste to health, or general merchandising to Nectar, in order to support some amazing campaigns. You’ll help build trust around Sainsbury’s with customers, senior stakeholders, media and more. And if non-linear progression is what you’re after, you’ll find opportunities are all around.
Hybrid – London Store Support Centre (2 days per week on average) and Home
Please apply for the role with your current CV and Cover Letter.
About the team
The Corporate Affairs division at Sainsbury’s is at the heart of our communications strategy, shaping the narrative that defines our brand and purpose. As part of this dynamic team, you will be joining a group of professionals dedicated to delivering impactful communications across all our brands. The Media Relations team plays a critical role in protecting and promoting our reputation, working closely with colleagues across Government Relations, Consumer PR, Internal Communications, and Strategic Communications to ensure a unified and compelling message.
More about the role
As a Media Relations Executive, you will play a key role in supporting issues-led media relations for the company, working on both a reactive and pre-emptive basis on matters that impact corporate reputation. Reporting to a Senior Media Relations Manager, you will manage incoming media requests, handle localised media issues relating to individual stores, liaise with internal teams to anticipate and prepare for potential media issues, and support the delivery of company-wide communications to key stakeholders. You will also support communications around property activity, including store openings and closures, and contribute to generating positive media coverage. Building and maintaining relationships with key journalists and internal stakeholders across diverse teams will be central to your day-to-day activities.
More about you
You will have a good understanding of how the media works and demonstrable experience in managing media issues and working confidently with journalists across a range of media outlets, including key national publications. Your ability to craft clear and compelling media statements, Q&As, and press releases will set you apart. A strong understanding of the media landscape, current affairs and consumer-facing businesses is essential.
We are looking for someone who is proactive, curious, and enthusiastic. You should be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, prioritising tasks, managing ambiguity, and engaging and collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams. You should feel confident sharing your views openly and keeping communication clear and constructive.
Essential criteria
• Proven experience in a press office or news media environment, including hands-on issues management.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and demonstrable ability to write clear and accurate statements, Q&As, briefing documents and press releases quickly and confidently.
• Good understanding of media operations, current affairs, consumer-facing businesses, and ideally the retail industry.
• Demonstrable experience with social media monitoring tools and reporting on digital conversations alongside traditional media.
• Proven ability to build and maintain trusted relationships with journalists and internal stakeholders.
We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer, so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new - whether that’s as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working. When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits. Here are some of them: Please note, due to the volume of applications we receive, our roles may close early.
Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to get 10% off at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks. This increases to 15% off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day. We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover. You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance-related bonus of up to 5% of salary, depending on how we perform.
Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy additional holiday. We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, pay advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers. And if you ever need it there is also an employee assistance programme.
Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.
Please see www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).
