PR Manager - Foods - Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Unilever's mission is to add Vitality to Life. We meet everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that help people feel good, look good and get more out of life.

Unilever is among the Top 70 of the Fortune Global 500 Companies. We are also one of the world's leading suppliers of fast moving consumer goods in foods, household and personal care products. Our purpose is to meet the everyday needs of people everywhere - to anticipate the aspirations of our consumers and customers and to respond creatively and competitively with branded products and services, which raise the quality of life

This position leads strategic and process excellence in PR for Unilever Foods brands, including leading the development and implementation of innovative and outstanding PR programs to maximize impact and exposure to strengthen brand equity & volume growth.

II Major responsibilities of this position
1. Set highest standards for excellence in PR within the organization and with the external agencies. Serve as a Unilever Foods brand PR spokesperson. Develop and maintain an understanding of the media community, including new and emerging media vehicles.
2. Lead development of brand PR strategies and plans; work with Brand teams to deliver outstanding and innovative brand PR programs that maximize brand exposure, strengthen brand equity and align with the Brand Strategies and Jobs To Be Done. Build strong relationships with Brand Building (U.S .marketing activation) teams and work with Brand Development (global brand stewards) to integrate PR holistically throughout the entire marketing stream.
3. Manage, develop and oversee agency relationships to facilitate excellence in PR and customer service. Develop and maintain an understanding of PR agency capabilities and develop a network of agency contacts to facilitate agency selection and assignment. Recommend the appropriate investment levels and manage the budget.
4. Contribute to the Brand and Marketing Excellence Leadership agenda: (1) Develop PR Communication Strategy - Process and Plan, (2) Support Brand Development training efforts and (3) Ensure departmental activities are aligned with Unilever Foods & Brand Team strategy, and are balanced appropriately with the Marketing Communications and Brand Development Process plans.
5. Work closely with the other areas of Marketing Communication Resources (corporate media relations; corporate social responsibility; shopper marketing; integrated marketing; internal comms among others), Corporate Affairs and the brand teams to ensure program integration and multi-brand/corporate opportunities are maximized.
6. Develop and share best practice. Increase the profile and improve the Brand Team understanding and appreciation of PR and its ability to contribute to brand equity and its role in communication.

III Challenges
The nature and the variety of the challenges and problems regularly faced in the position requires the Brand PR Manager to:

1. Lead the development of brand PR strategies without getting mired in the executional detail.
2. Evaluate and demonstrate the effectiveness of the PR investment.
3. Operate and navigate within and across internal groups, including Brand Building, Brand Development
4. Raise the profile and understanding of PR capabilities with the Brand Teams.
5. Maintaining programs and agency relationships with limited spending or during spending cuts.

IV. Scope
Supports PR programs in phases of program development and implementation for brands in the categories of spreads, dressings, tea, beverages, meal ingredients, sauces, frozen dinners, ice cream. Has oversight for approximately 15 brands and two-four PR agencies. Understands and applies marketplace trends


Unilever offers a competitive compensation package which includes: Medical & Dental Plans, Life Insurance, including spouse and children, Health Care Flexible Spending, Dependent Care, Retirement & Savings Plans, Tuition Reimbursement, Paid Vacation and Holidays

Unilever is an equal opportunity employer. It prohibits discrimination based on age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, veteran status and any other legally protected class in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws


Requirements:
Education
University Degree or Specialized Communication/PR Education or
Equivalent combination of formal education/training and experience.

Work Experience:

* 7-15 years in Public Relations or integrated marketing communications that includes extensive PR experience.
* Must demonstrate primary responsibility for strategic direction/creation/development/execution of Public Relations programs.
* Experience on foods brands required.
* Experience at a PR agency preferred. Experience working at or on CPG brands preferred.


Required Competencies and Skills:

* Public Relations related experience in -
* PR Program Creation/Development and Implementation: Strong Capability
* Media Strategy: Strong Capability
* Brand Communication: Strong Capability
* Evaluation/Measurement: Strong Capability