Your Purpose

As the Corporate Affairs Manager, you are responsible for protecting and elevating the company's reputation through strategic communications, media relations, community engagement and public affairs initiatives. You will lead internal and external communications that strengthen associate engagement, build trust with key stakeholders, support business objectives and reinforce Harris Teeter's position as a respected community partner and employer of choice.

Serving as a strategic storyteller and primary media spokesperson, you will provide executive communications support, manage crisis communications and deliver timely, informed counsel that safeguards and enhances the company's reputation. Through every interaction, you will uphold Harris Teeter's commitment to quality, service, speed and innovation while consistently demonstrating Service Excellence principles.

What You'll Do

External Communications & Media Relations:
- Lead Public Relations and External Communications strategy
- Develop and execute integrated media and PR strategies and plans
- Serve as company spokesperson; coordinate and produce broadcast segments (TV features, sponsored content, etc.)
- Respond to media inquiries; manage interview and statement requests
- Establish and maintain relationships with local media, influencers, bloggers and external stakeholders
- Partner with Marketing & Merchandising teams to ensure consistent, aligned messaging across channels
- Support development of multimedia content (video, photography) highlighting Corporate Affairs initiatives
- Monitor corporate image and ensure alignment with company brand and positioning
- Measure and report outcomes of PR and communication programs
- Manage development of executive level reporting, including quarterly recaps and cross team inputs

Internal Communications & Executive Messaging:
- Support execution of internal communication strategies and plans
- Support executive communications, including leadership messaging alignment
- Provide design and review support for internal and external communication materials
- Serve as a communication resource across departments to accelerate clarity and effectiveness
- Support the consideration, development and execution of company-wide and associate recognition awards, i.e. content editing, submission management, support in planning and amplification strategies to maximize visibility and impact

Public Affairs & Government Relations:
- Lead Government Relations activities, including attending relevant meetings and monitoring key issues
- Coordinate followup actions to support company priorities
- Serve as a trusted representative of the company in public forums
- Support external stakeholder engagement that influences reputation and policy outcomes

Crisis Management & Reputation Protection:
- Execute crisis communication plans and messaging
- Collaborate with internal and external leaders to manage potential crises and reputational issues
- Serve as alternate member of the Special Situations Team
- Direct media and public messaging during critical incidents
- Provide counsel and rapid-response messaging support across departments

Community Engagement & Responsible Business:
- Provide managerial oversight of charitable initiatives and community engagement programs
- Support community partnerships in key markets; attend major events as company representative
- Support planning and execution of recognitions and communityfocused awards
- Amplify community efforts to maximize visibility, credibility, and impact

Events, Programs & Brand Activation:
- Lead planning and execution of corporate events (groundbreaking ceremonies, onsite activations)
- Coordinate content, logistics, messaging and stakeholder engagement for events
- Partner crossfunctionally to ensure brand consistency and execution excellence

Training, Capability Building & Enablement:
- Develop, coordinate & deliver media training for company leaders
- Deliver training for newly appointed Operational and Merchandising leaders
- Equip leaders with key messaging, tools and frameworks to represent the company effectively

Agency & Budget Management:
- Develop and manage PR budgets
- Manage PR agency relationship and performance

Supporting Leadership Through the 5 Es

As a leader, you are expected to model and reinforce our leadership expectations through the 5Es Leadership Framework - serving as both an example and a multiplier of leadership impact across teams and functions:

- Envision: Craft a bold, strategic vision that aligns with the company's direction. Communicate clearly and consistently to ensure every team understands the "why" behind the work and feels connected to the bigger picture.
- Energize: Cultivate a high-energy, resilient environment where passion, recognition, and urgency fuel momentum. Drive engagement across levels by being visible, present, and inspiring in your leadership.
- Enroll: Build alignment and commitment by involving others early and often. Create clarity around change, communicate transparently, and ensure all stakeholders feel heard, valued, and empowered to act.
- Enable: Break down barriers, advocate for necessary resources, and build capability across your teams. Champion development, empower decision-making, and foster a culture of continuous learning and ownership.
- Execute: Deliver results that matter. Turn strategy into action with prevision and agility, ensure accountability, and continuously improve outcomes through clear priorities, strong follow-through, and data-driven decisions.

What You Bring

Required:
- Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, PR, Consumer Affairs, Business Administration, or related field
- 7+ years of Communications, Public Affairs or similar role
- Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills for multiple channels and audiences.
- Strong analytical, interpersonal and problem-solving skills
- Demonstrated success meeting deadlines and effectively prioritizing, managing/executing multiple complex projects simultaneously
- Flexibility to work in multiple environments as projects dictate (office, field, retail, manufacturing and logistics)
- Extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office - specifically, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Ability to effectively interact with all levels within the organization and build/maintain cooperative business partnerships
- Ability to be on call on weekends and after hours. Ability to travel overnight.

Preferred:
- Communications or Public Affairs leader in retail or corporate environment
- Previous work with elected officials, government or campaigns
- Previous work within or managing PR agencies
- Experience with Public Relations/Media analytics platform

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an associate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Physical Demands

Physical demands include, but are not limited to, high aptitude for standing and walking endurance, sitting while driving to various stores, lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, pushing and pulling climbing ladders of various types, bending, squatting, and kneeling, and working in different temperatures inside and outside the store.

Job Title: Corporate Affairs Manager
Job Code: 428
Department: Legal
Reports To: Director of Corporate Affairs
Supervises: Community Relations Specialist & HT Studios Producer & Creative (OPEN)
FLSA Status: Salaried
Location: Store Support Center
Created Date: September 2026