Senior Manager - Corporate Affairs

Senior Manager - Corporate Affairs

Location:

Arlington, US

Grow With Us:
Starting pay of $160,000 (with potential to earn $180,000 in the future)

3500 S Clark Street, 22202 Arlington

Full-Time

Management Experience

Requisition

Employment Area:
Communications & CSR

Corporate Communications & Public Relations:

• Development and implementation of a national 360° communication strategy including political communication and issue management.
• Responsibility for internal and external communication, including content creation, as well as active and reactive media work taking into account the international and national communication strategy.
• Oversee the creation of an overarching editorial and content plan for internal and external communication to ensure a consistent narrative around the corporate brand.
• Synchronize all internal communication activities in cooperation with other departments (e.g., marketing and employer branding) in the sense of a one-brand strategy.
• Ensure binding content and consistent internal messages through cross-departmental and cross-thematic coordination.
• Build and manage strategic engagement with relevant internal stakeholders and opinion leaders.
• Advising and empowering management and specialist departments on strategic communication challenges.
• Responsibility for ensuring a regular analysis of the company's reputation and anchoring reputation as a relevant key performance indicator within the company.

Stakeholder Engagement & Political Affairs:

• Responsibility for the development and implementation of strategic and sustainable stakeholder engagement for the effective representation of company interests, particularly in the political arena.
• Representation of interests in the national political environment and in regulatory processes.
• Representing the company or supporting management in relevant associations, organizations, and initiatives.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):

• Developing, implementing, and regularly adapting the CSR strategy, measures, and projects in coordination with Corporate Affairs International.
• Ensuring CSR reporting capability in the country in accordance with the guidelines specified by Lidl International and ensuring compliance with national regulatory CSR reporting obligations.
• Responsibility for organizing CSR initiatives to raise awareness of social and environmental issues in line with the Lidl guidelines.
• Responsibility for coordinating the national company's donation activities in accordance with international guidelines and processes.
• Advising and empowering management and specialist departments on CSR based on trend analyses and assessments of the market, politics, and society.

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Corporate Affairs, Business, or a related discipline.
• 5-7 years of progressive experience in corporate communications, public relations, or stakeholder engagement, ideally within the discount grocer or broader retail sector.
• In-depth knowledge of proactive and reactive media relations, crisis communication, and corporate reputation management.
• Established professional network among journalists, political stakeholders, and industry opinion leaders in the US market.
• Deep understanding of stakeholder engagement, particularly political stakeholder engagement and CSR initiatives.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and strategic presentation skills, with the proven ability to advise executive management and craft compelling corporate narratives.
• Occasional willingness to travel to support national events, store openings, or stakeholder meetings.

• Ability to travel up to ~15% of the time, which may include weekends and evenings, as needed.
• Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled office environment.
• Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time at a desk or computer terminal.
• May use keyboards, telephone, and standard office equipment in the course of a normal workday.
• Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in the completion of job duties.
• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds at times.

• Personal Competencies: Proactively drives the structural and procedural advancement of the department. Confidently adapts to change, upholds rigorous quality standards, and maintains a healthy balance between team workload and overall operational capacity.
• Business Competencies: Derives specific departmental actions directly from macro corporate strategy. Utilizes data-driven KPIs to make informed choices, solves complex problems from multiple perspectives, and maintains strict cost-benefit controlling.
• Social Competencies: Communicates with absolute clarity to persuade diverse audiences. Nurtures trusting cross-departmental relationships and applies diplomacy to resolve conflicts and negotiate balanced solutions.
• Leadership Competencies: Fosters a trust-based, learning-oriented department where mistakes are treated as growth opportunities. Actively mentors and develops team leads while delegating tasks…