Head of Corporate Communications and Media Relations

Job Description

Contract: Permanent
Location: London Sedley Place or Nottingham Support Office
Closing date: 20th Feb 2026
Recruitment Partner:

Boots, the UK's leading health, wellness and beauty retailer, is seeking a dynamic and experienced Head of Corporate Communications & Media Relations to lead and shape the strategic direction of corporate communications. This pivotal role sits at the heart of the organisation, requiring a visionary leader capable of navigating complex challenges, anticipating future opportunities, driving stakeholder engagement and protecting and enhancing Boots reputation across all channels.
Comfortable with operating in an exceptionally fast‑paced and ever‑evolving retail landscape, the successful candidate will be a highly experienced corporate communications strategist. In addition to excellent corporate and financial communication skills, they will be well‑versed in planning and evaluation, able to own the end‑to‑end planning process and lead on measurement and evaluation, creating a series of metrics designed to demonstrate the exceptional value of the work the team delivers.

• Strategic Leadership:
  Develop, drive, and execute the corporate communications strategy to support Boots strategic priorities and brand reputation. You will need to anticipate market trends, seize opportunities and respond decisively to the news agenda
• Crisis Communications:
  Lead the development and execution of crisis communication strategies, acting as a trusted advisor across the business and ensuring timely, clear and effective messaging that safeguards Boots reputation
• Reputation Management:
  Proactively identify emerging risks and opportunities within the communications landscape, developing robust plans and initiatives to ensure Boots is well‑prepared to respond effectively and maximise positive outcomes
• Financial Communications:
  Lead the development and delivery of financial communications, including results announcements and market updates, to demonstrate performance and strategic momentum to media, investors and key stakeholders
• Relationship Management:
  Develop and nurture strong relationships with key external stakeholders, including media, influencers, industry bodies and opinion leaders
• Thought Leadership:
  Drive proactive thought leadership and storytelling initiatives to position Boots as the trusted health, wellness and beauty retailer
• Planning:
  Oversee the planning of the external communications plan, ensuring its seamless end‑to‑end delivery and tight collaboration with key teams across the business
• Measurement and Evaluation:
  Lead the development and implementation of robust communications measurement and evaluation frameworks, ensuring clear and challenging KPIs and performance metrics. Provide regular analysis and actionable insights to demonstrate impact and guide strategic decision‑making
• Continuous Improvement:
  Challenge the status quo, drive step‑change improvements, and ensure Boots is ahead of the curve with how it shares its stories
• Team Leadership & Development:
  Lead, inspire, and challenge a high‑performing communications team. Set ambitious targets, foster a culture of excellence and ensure exceptional delivery against stretching KPIs

• Proven track record in a senior corporate communications role within a large, high‑profile and fast‑paced organisation, preferably in retail, healthcare or consumer sectors
• Demonstrable experience in financial communications
• Deep expertise of managing high‑profile issues, with proven experience in effectively responding to and resolving challenging situations
• Excellent knowledge of the news agenda, combined with strong news judgement
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical skills and the ability to translate business objectives into actionable communications strategies
• Brilliant media operator with established network of corporate, retail, consumer affairs, news and trade journalists and key opinion leaders
• Outstanding written and verbal communication abilities, with a flair for crafting compelling narratives and clear messaging
• Strong planning and organisation skills, with experience…