Hotel Chocolat has built a strong position as the UK’s favourite premium chocolate brand and continues to grow rapidly, with a range extending from luxury giftable chocolates to alcohol, coffee and our pioneering drinking chocolate system, the Velvetiser™. We’re multi-category, multi-channel, and multi territory, always with the customer, and our direct connection with them, at the heart. Our mission is to make people happy through chocolate. Customer, colleagues, cacao farmers and suppliers can all benefit from the success we create together.

To support our ongoing growth, we’re looking for Senior PR Manager to join our Public Relations team on a 12-month maternity cover fixed term contract. Here at Hotel Chocolat, we've adopted a hybrid working pattern; this role will be split between our site at Mint House in Royston, Hertfordshire and our shared office space in London for three days a week and remotely for the remaining two.

You will be accountable for Hotel Chocolat’s consumer and corporate press relationships; nurturing a strong industry network, increasing awareness and building brand affinity by developing and executing effective communication and media relations programs. This is an exciting and creative role – you will work with media partners and producers to create deeper broadcast story-telling opportunities through a range of documentaries, features and podcasts. We are a brand with so many amazing stories to tell and you will be at the heart of this, working alongside our Marketing Director and Founder.

SHOW US HOW ITS DONE

• Leading, developing and motivating the PR team running the press office for Hotel Chocolat.
• Managing media enquiries and interview requests.
• Developing an annual PR communications plan including goals, budget and tactics to deliver key business and brand objectives.
• Managing and executing influencer strategies on a paid and gifting level and constantly seeking new brand relevant contacts.
• Developing media relations - seeking high-level placements in print, broadcast and online media.
• Coordinating all public relations activities including crisis management as they arise.
• Maintaining existing media relationships and cultivating new contacts in consumer and industry media.
• Creating content for press releases, press events, articles, and presentations.
• Defining a measurement framework to monitor, analyse and communicate PR results monthly.
• Building relationships with thought leaders to grow brand and industry awareness.
• Maintaining a keen understanding of trends affecting the brand and making appropriate recommendations regarding communication plans surrounding them.
• Building relationships with media partners and producers to evaluate and secure broadcast story-telling.

WHO YOU ARE & WHAT YOU HAVE

• A proven track record of designing and executing successful national PR plans for a well-known consumer brand.
• Demonstratable experience working with local and national consumer and industry media outlets, journalists, and influencers.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Experience in acting as a company spokesperson; comfortable and skilled in both broadcast and print media interviews.
• Event planning experience.
• Demonstrable commercial acumen and budget management.
• BA/MA degree in Marketing, Advertising, Comms, or a related discipline would be advantageous.

WORKING AT HOTEL CHOCOLAT

You’ll play a vital role within a constantly evolving company, in a friendly and energetic workplace. Staff perks include an unlimited 50% discount on all our products, as well as 70% off the rate card price for you and your guests when you stay at the Hotel Chocolat – our hideaway on the paradise island of Saint Lucia, set among the cocoa trees of our historic Rabot Estate.

At Hotel Chocolat, we treat each other with respect, equality and grace. Our mantra? Be brave. Be kind.

This People Pledge is underpinned by our values of Originality, Authenticity and Ethics.

We encourage new ideas and fresh thinking and for each of you to bring your ORIGINALITY to work.

We want you to be your AUTHENTIC self – and feel comfortable to share your differences, and what makes you unique. 

Our commitment to being an ETHICAL business means we have a deep sense of fairness when it comes to the way we treat one another.

This applies during our recruitment process too. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer who positively celebrates a diverse and inclusive culture. We welcome people from all walks of life to join us, bringing their individuality to help us reach our ambitious growth plans. We believe this is critically important to help us create a place to work where everyone feels like they belong, can be themselves and where all of our differences are celebrated.