Vacancy Information
We have a fantastic opportunity for a PR Lead to join our Customer team here at Greggs.
You'll lead the way in creating the stories that keep Greggs one of the UK's most talked-about and loved brands. Combining strategic communications, consumer PR and reputation management, you'll uncover what makes Greggs special and turn it into compelling stories that capture attention, build trust and support commercial success.
Working closely with teams across the business, you'll shape and deliver an integrated communications strategy that drives fame, strengthens our reputation and ensures Greggs has a distinctive voice across consumer, corporate and trade audiences. From generating headline-grabbing campaigns to providing expert issues and crisis counsel, you'll play a key role in protecting and enhancing our brand.
Management Bonus Scheme which is worth up to 17.5% of your salary
Pension scheme with matching employer contributions up to 7%
Company car or car allowance
Colleague discount, up to 50% off our own-produced products
Profit share - We want everyone to share in the success of the business, so we distribute 10% of our profits to all our colleagues who have at least 6-month service, or more, each year
25 days (5 weeks) annual leave, pro-rated, increasing with service (in addition to bank holidays), plus 1 additional floating day
The opportunity to purchase additional annual leave twice a year
Colleague share plans, giving you the opportunity to save and invest in Greggs, with the chance to buy Greggs shares at a discounted rate
Private Medical Insurance which is free for you and subsidised for your dependants
Income Protection should you become unable to work due to long-term sickness
Death in service benefit which provides a lump-sum payment equal to 4 times your year's salary
Virtual GP, Physiotherapy and Lifestyle Consultations - we provide access to a fantastic total wellbeing app for you and your family
Employee Assistance Programme - we provide all colleagues with access to an EAP helpline providing mental health support as well as financial and legal support
Savings and discounts, including digital gift card discounts, online cashback, in-store and online coupons and lifestyle offers
Career progression and learning and development opportunities
A company who cares about our communities; the environment and being a better business! Click here to read about The Greggs Pledge
Colleague Networks - internal groups where colleagues and their allies can share their own experiences, offer feedback on the way we do things at Greggs, and provide support to one another
About the role
- This is a full-time role, however flexibility in this will be considered
- We know that having a work-life balance is important, so we offer our colleagues as much flexibility as possible in line with the needs of their role
- The base location for this role is Greggs House, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE12 8BU
What you'll do
Create the stories everyone is talking about
- Own Greggs' editorial agenda, uncovering the stories across our products, ranges, shops and wider business that capture attention and keep us part of the national conversation
- Build a rolling pipeline of newsworthy stories aligned to key trading moments and business priorities
- Turn everyday Greggs moments into stories that customers care about and want to share
Turn great campaigns into national conversations
- Develop earned-media strategies that maximise the impact of new product launches and wider marketing campaigns
- Create attention-grabbing PR ideas that build awareness, spark conversation and support commercial performance
- Deliver a mix of high-impact campaigns and smart, reactive activity that keeps Greggs front of mind throughout the year
Spot opportunities and move at pace
- Identify opportunities within the daily news agenda and turn them into creative PR moments that earn national attention
- Use strong editorial judgement, cultural awareness and creativity to connect Greggs with topics people are already talking about
- Lead the development and delivery of reactive PR activity, moving quickly from idea to execution
Strengthen and protect the Greggs brand
- Find and tell the stories that build trust, relevance and affinity with customers
- Work across the business to uncover stories that showcase what makes Greggs unique, from innovation and growth to communities, sustainability and our colleagues
- Provide senior communications counsel and help protect Greggs' reputation through effective issues and media management
Lead our press office and media relationships
- Lead the Greggs press office, acting as a senior contact for media enquiries and high-profile issues
- Build and maintain strong relationships with journalists, media organisations and external partners
- Proactively place stories that strengthen both Greggs' reputation and brand fame
Inspire creativity across the business
- Be a driving force for creative thinking across PR and the wider marketing team
- Develop ideas that have the potential to lead campaigns, social content and wider brand activity
- Champion a culture of creativity, pace and ambition, demonstrating that great ideas can come from insight, cultural relevance and smart execution
About you
You will fit right into this role if you:
- Have a proven track record delivering high-profile consumer PR activity that has generated national attention, strengthened brand reputation and driven commercial impact
- Have exceptional news judgement and can spot the story in a product, shop, business initiative or cultural moment, turning it into coverage that gets people talking
- Have experience creating and landing earned media activity, from fast-moving reactive opportunities through to large-scale campaign moments
- Can confidently lead a press office, managing both proactive and reactive media activity whilst building strong relationships with journalists and media contacts
- Have direct experience working with national media across areas such as news, features, food, showbiz or sport
- Thrive in a fast-paced environment and can make sound decisions quickly, balancing creativity with strong judgement and an understanding of reputational risk
- Know how to amplify product launches and wider marketing campaigns through PR, helping ideas travel further and deliver greater impact
- Are a highly collaborative communicator who builds strong relationships and works effectively across PR, Social, Creative and wider business teams
- Have experience influencing senior stakeholders and providing trusted communications advice
- Have experience leading, coaching and developing high-performing teams
It would be great if you also have...
- Experience providing communications support during reputational or business-critical issues
- Existing relationships with consumer and trade media across food, retail or FMCG sectors
- Experience working in retail, food-to-go or FMCG environments
- Experience operating within a fast-paced, high-frequency trading business
About Greggs
Here at Greggs, we love what we do, and we have fun! What makes us so special is out culture - how we behave and support each other. Everyone's welcome at Greggs. Whatever their background, preferences or beliefs we want all of our colleagues to feel welcome and able to be themselves at work. You can read more about us here: Greggs Careers | About Greggs.