We may be famous for big brands at small prices, but our best kept secret is our amazing culture.
About TJX Europe
We're part of the TJX Companies Inc, the leading off-price fashion and homeware retailer in the world. In Europe, we have over 690 stores across six countries, and two brands - TK Maxx and Homesense as well as growing our Ecommerce channels for tkmaxx.com, tkmaxx.de and tkmaxx.at. We're a passionate bunch here and have exciting plans for the future.
We've been taking our responsibility as a business seriously for over 25 years. Whether it's the millions we've raised for our charity partners (over £55 million so far), our green initiatives through the Carbon Trust or the sustainable trade programme we helped set up in Uganda, we believe in giving something back to our community.
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- Everyone who becomes part of the TJX family brings something unique to our collective culture - a diversity of experience, gender, ethnicity, age, viewpoint and much more.
About TK Maxx
In the Netherlands, TJX Europe drives the TK Maxx brand, positioned as a department store with big brands, for small prices, always up till 60% less than the RRP. The brand delivers a broad offer, from fashion and shoes for women, men, and kids to toys, home, beauty, gadgets and more. The off-price department store proposition is driven by the right mix of four pillars: Brand, Fashion, Price, Quality (BFPQ). In the Netherlands, the TK Maxx brand now has 16 stores, in the cities: Almere, Amsterdam (3), Apeldoorn, Arnhem, The Hague, Eindhoven, Enschede, Groningen, Heerlen, Nijmegen, Rotterdam (2) Utrecht, and Zoetermeer.
Job Summary
Based in the Netherlands, the Communications Manager will work within the Brand & Marketing Function playing a critical role within the Netherlands Country Marketing team to deliver a holistic communications strategy and activation plan (PR, Influence, Social and Experiential) for the TK Maxx brand.
This is an exciting, dynamic, and varied Management role focused on the development and delivery of brilliant on-brand communications to support achievement of annual sales and business goals.
The Communications Manager will lead by example, directing and managing an agency partner whilst acting as an ambassador for TJX and what it stands for.
The Role:
The Communications Manager is responsible for developing communications for a range of business stakeholders across the Brand and Marketing and Netherlands Country Marketing function. Under the guidance of the Manager of the Netherlands Country Marketing, the role holder will develop and execute the communications strategy and plans for our Dutch business.
This role requires a good understanding of communications (PR, Social, Influence and Experiential). The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate a strong commercial understanding and relevant retail experience.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategically lead, develop and activate the communications strategy/plans to deliver the Netherlands TK Maxx annual communications strategy in line with business goals and priorities
- Management of external communications agency HPB│Het PR Bureau to develop all communications activity
- Innovate and maintain up to date knowledge of communications from wider industry sources within the Netherlands and across Europe.
- Developing a comms strategy partnering with internal key business partners that maximises prioritised opportunities across the wider marketing function (Shopping Experience, Campaign Marketing, Gift cards)
- Diligent budget management for the annual TK Maxx communications budget, inclusive of PO management and budgetary planning/phasing, keeping costs within plan
- Partner with key functions across the Dutch business to uncover commercially led communications opportunities across our store base
- Lead the communications plans for any New Store Openings across both brands within the Dutch market
- Reporting and metrics lead to ensure actionable insights and best practice across all communications
- Develop and activate a corporate responsibility communication plan for the Netherlands, working with key marketing functions
Shared responsibilities:
- Monitor progress against goals to deliver the best possible result
- Oversee the delivery of compelling and useful outputs and learnings
- To ensure that all processes are adhered to, clearly documented and communicated to key stakeholders
- Partner with TJX stakeholders where needed across all aspects of the role
- Ensure you consider the consequences of future actions/ decisions for the long term and wider business
- Presenting to large audiences (10 people plus)
- Management of HPB│Het PR Bureau (external agency relationship)
Operations & finance
- Working with the Manager of Marketing the Netherlands and wider European Brand & Marketing team to define and manage communications processes, ensuring that they are efficient and integrated. Adjust processes and ways of working as the business evolves
- To deputise (when required) for the Manager of Marketing the Netherlands and cascade relevant information
- To report, control and monitor the communications annual budget, whilst pro-actively anticipating future challenges or opportunities impacting budget
Team and Relationship Management
- Lead on managing senior stakeholder relationships - 'Manager of' level and above
- Build and develop strong relationships with key business partners within B&M team, Buying, Retail, Store Operations and Store Trading
- Asks challenging and thought-provoking questions to gain understanding
- To manage on a day-to-day basis TK Maxx HPB│Het PR Bureau team
- Supported by the Manager of Marketing the Netherlands to set out and own the performance objectives for the team (and conduct performance reviews if applicable) in line with business timelines
- Proactively develop the HPB│Het PR Bureau team, identifying development needs and training opportunities
- Manage performance of external suppliers (including at a more senior level)
- Build strong, effective working relationships with external partners - equivalent level or above
Key Skills, Knowledge & Experience
- At least 5 years professional experience in either marketing or other relevant experience (Agency or Client side)
- Experience of self-development, objective setting and performance management
- Experience of working within a large retail business or matrix organisations (preferable but not essential)
- Ability to control and manage to tight deadlines
- Flexible, able to find solutions in uncertain or unknown circumstances, comfortable working 'in the grey'
- Highly numerate and confident with data
- Experience in managing third party agencies to deliver results
- Solid project management skills with the ability to influence stakeholders
- Experience of working with task management tools: Microsoft Word, Excel, Google Docs
- Experience of working with social media & influencer measuring tools
We welcome applications from everyone. We do not discriminate on basis of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marriage and registered partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and/or sexual orientation. At TK Maxx there are many opportunities to discover something new. Each new day means new products and a new opportunity to reinvent retail find. At TK Maxx, a constantly changing and always welcoming environment is a thing that can be found in every brand and every store.