Ben & Jerry’s Assistant Communications Manager

Please Note: The deadline for applying is 23.59 the day before the job posting end date.

Job Title: Ben & Jerry’s Assistant Communications Manager

Location: Datchet

Salary range: £30,000-£48,000

JOB PURPOSE

About Ben & Jerry’s:

Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc., founded in 1978 in Burlington, Vermont by childhood friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Unilever since 2000.

Ben & Jerry’s operates a 3-Part Mission:

• Social mission: We initiate innovative ways to improve the quality of life locally, nationally, and internationally specifically on Climate Justice and Social Justice, Racial Justice, and Economic Justice  
• Product mission: We make and distribute the finest quality natural ice cream and euphoric concoctions  
• Economic mission: We operate our Company for sustainable, Profitable financial growth 

As the Assistant Communications Manager you will be expected to help bring Ben & Jerry’s three-part mission to life through communications. This includes developing and executing both local (UK) and regional (European) earned media plans that contribute to the strategic communication objectives for the European business.

You will be required to coordinate and support earned media plans for the company’s key European markets. You will forge strong working relationships with Ben & Jerry’s Digital, Integrated Marketing and Activism teams as well as local markets to create well integrated, fun and authentic communications. The role supports the Global Head of Communications with recommending best practice, guidance, leadership, ideas and support to local markets and their corresponding agencies.

RESPONSIBILITIES

COMMUNICATIONS

• Partner with and support the Integrated Marketing team to develop communication strategies for our product mission – this can include key messaging, communications hierarchy, and proactive and reactive plans that drive fan love for our products.

• Work with and support the EU Activism and Integrated Marketing teams to bring activism campaigns to life on a case-by-case basis. 
• Prepare internal best practice toolkits, and lead training sessions to share recommendations.
• Support national company events as necessary in the field working with internal team and agencies to bring Ben & Jerry’s experiential to fans. 
• Build relationships with internal and external audiences including but not limited to media, key partners and necessary internal and external contacts.

PR/EARNED MEDIA

• Develop earned media plans that create engagement and amplification across top tier earned media for key brand, product, social mission and retail activity across Europe.
• Manage creative PR campaigns with external agency support from briefing, negotiation, timeline management for UK’s key projects.
• Oversee and support the regional execution of PR programmes.
• Consider all opportunities to drive value from an activity in an integrated multi-channel way, linking owned, earned and paid media.
• Support with delivering global, regional and local partnerships.
• Support the dynamic and evolving integrated marketing activities and social media events model by combining traditional PR with content marketing, social media and search activities, transforming static news into conversations both with media as well as supporting those speaking directly to Ben & Jerry’s target audience online. 
• Develop story ideas for new initiatives, and new product lines, as well as general consumer interest stories that support the B&J’s brand. 

• Work cross functionally and globally to create repeatable models that are scalable. 

• Create ways of working for public relations/communications to better support integrated marketing and improve synergies around campaigns, content, events and activities.
• Spot reactive opportunities for Ben & Jerry’s to participate in cultural conversations and flashpoints.

INFLUENCER

• Work with external agency and regionals teams on bringing paid influencer campaigns to life in line with B&J’s influencer strategy. Create and continuously update an evolving set of influencer guidelines.
• Develop and maintain relationships with UK influencers relevant to B&J brand (food, music, activism, etc). 
• Lead and manage the EU media/influencer/content creator visits to Vermont along with target market opportunities. 
•  Partner with the EU digital marketing manager to make sure influencer launch strategies are aligned to digital needs   

ALL ABOUT YOU

• Creative thinker!
• Someone who loves improving processes
• Tuned in to cultural conversations with a sharp eye for trending topics and the news agenda
• Tuned into trend setters, niche communities and influencers
• Background studies, at least in part, in PR or communications or the equivalent combination of 5 years’ education and experience in house or agency

• Demonstrated success of managing a project from conception to delivery

• Solid understanding of social media platforms and interest in measurement

• Experience selling in creative ideas to multiple stakeholders
• Ability to build great relationships with lifestyle media and influencers
• Passion for social action a plus

• High level organizational and time management skills, with a thorough the planning and preparation processes.
• Established proficiency when working with internal and external partners to create collaborative stakeholder alignment to work across complex global matrix organization.
• Must be flexible in high stress situations and be able to effectively trouble shoot.
• Must be able to work independently, to accomplish multiple tasks with limited direct supervision

What we offer

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all. 

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (unilever.com).