Brand & Sustainability Communications Manager

Location: London, UK

Subject to Consultation

About the role

We are looking for a strategic and experienced communications professional to join our team and play an essential role in shaping our brand narrative and strategy. This role will be responsible for owning and evolving DS Smith’s long-term brand strategy, defining and governing brand standards (across all touchpoints), and ensuring consistency and compliance across all customer journey interactions. As a Brand Communications Manager, you will develop the strategic positioning of our communications to enhance our brand presence and drive engagement within key influencer groups in our target accounts. The development of compelling, sustainability-focused communications that resonate with customer pain points and support reputational growth for DS Smith, is a key area of ownership.

The role requires a multi-channel mindset, and therefore a collaborative approach to engaging across many of DS Smith's functions to create content that aligns with business objectives and connects meaningfully with our target audiences. The Brand Communications Manager will be a creative thinker with excellent communication skills, have a passion for creating top-of-mind brand communications, and a deep understanding of the impact of innovation and sustainability on our customers. If you are ready to make a significant impact in a fast-paced, purpose-driven industry/ team, we encourage you to apply.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Define, own, and maintain DS Smith’s brand guidelines, ensuring they are fit for purpose across all channels and customer touchpoints - be the 'point person' for all Brand enquiries
• Establish a clear governance framework that enables internal stakeholders to create materials while remaining compliant with brand standards
• Collaborate with the IP Corporate Affairs team to ensure alignment with corporate branding and joint initiatives
• Develop and lead a strategic brand communications framework that ensures consistency of messaging across all channels and customer interactions, with the aim of establishing a cohesive, aligned, long-term brand position
• Ensure brand communications - and content - are integrated across product, service, and sustainability narratives to reinforce DS Smith’s value proposition, and which convey the brand's values, mission, and vision to both internal and external audiences
• Develop and lead a strategic sustainability communications framework that creates consistency of messaging across all channels and customer interactions on the topic of sustainability
• Manage and support market-led brand and sustainability initiatives, supporting the Campaign Implementation Manager, to ensure consistent application of DS Smith’s brand/ sustainability positioning (communication and content).
• Monitor brand & sustainability perception and messaging effectiveness, using insights to refine and evolve the strategy.

About You

• Experience in a communications or marketing role with a strong focus on sustainability
• Proven success in developing strategic sustainability themes and aligning cross-functional stakeholders within a global business environment
• Deep understanding of sustainability-related regulatory requirements, particularly in packaging, and how to translate these into credible communications
• Strong capability to develop and execute sustainability-focused content and communications strategies that meet evolving audience expectations and external pressures
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence and align diverse stakeholder groups around strategic messaging
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities, with a high level of attention to detail and strategic oversight.