About us

We're a truly international company, fourth largest in our industry and operating across 119 markets. An inclusive, innovative global FMCG business supported by 26,000 employees. As we embrace a new era of growth, we are transforming. Our ways of working and culture are driven by a challenger mindset, constantly questioning the status quo where people can bring their best selves to work. Our agility and collaboration are driving our ambitions, innovation and success all supported by our award-winning development programmes that creates exciting and rewarding career opportunities for all.

As we move forward, our consumers will be at the heart of what we do, evolving to needs and expectations and committing to a more meaningful contribution to harm reduction by building a successful NGP business. Integral to our long-term success is our sustainability strategy, behaving responsibly and supporting our ambitions, all underpinned by high governance.

Encouraging inclusion at local levels and supporting a developing and robust diversity agenda globally, we’re fully committed to creating and maintaining an environment that celebrates and respects difference.

The Role

The Director of Corporate Affairs, NGP is a matrixed role that sits both near the top of Imperial’s Group Corporate Affairs function, and at the top level of Imperial’s NGP business. The role holder will report directly to the Director of Group Corporate Affairs, with dotted-line reporting to the NGP Director, and will be ELT-2.

The role holder will own all policy positions and issues research relating to the NGP category.  The individual will develop, internally test, gain approval, and where necessary revise these policies. Policy approval will be through the Policy Forum, which includes five members of Imperial’s ELT. There may also be the requirement for occasional policy development and education work with the CEO, and, less regularly, with the Board. The role holder will also ensure that once approved, policies are communicated internally, and advocated externally, to industry associations and the broader public. The policy aspect of the role will cover all Imperial's global markets except the Americas, where our subsidiary, ITG Brands, has operational independence.

As a core member of the NGP Leadership Team, the role holder will provide collective governance and leadership for the NGP category, including setting NGP Corporate Affairs Strategy. They will work closely with all members of the NGP Leadership Team, particularly the NGP Category Directors (covering electronic vapour products, heated tobacco products, and oral nicotine delivery products), and will deploy their team appropriately across the many Corporate Affairs issues in NGP.

To succeed, the Director of Corporate Affairs, NGP, will have to leverage excellent relations across Imperial, represent the NGP Leadership Team in internal forums and represent the NGP consumer in all decisions and activities. This is a high-visibility role within Imperial Brands, demanding an excellent ability to communicate, motivate and deliver.

Principal Accountabilities

• Represent corporate affairs on the NGP Leadership Team and represent the NGP Leadership Team in Group Corporate Affairs decision-making.
• Provide governance, leadership and strategic-thinking for the NGP category in Imperial Brands.
• Act as a Corporate Affairs "Business Partner" for NGP Category Directors, providing either direct advice or seeking technical expertise from within the business (Group Legal, Fiscal Affairs, Group Science etc.).
• Set out a clear and concise NGP Corporate Affairs that support our NGP Must Win Battles – pursuing an external environment towards our preferred policy outcomes, or at least to minimise any major deviations away from our desired outcomes.
• Contribute to NGP pilot market success and abstract key Corporate Affairs learnings for market scaling.
• Ensure that Corporate Affairs considerations are embedded into our product platform renewal programme, working closely with our Innovation teams across NGP categories.
• Oversee the content of all policy positions relating to NGP. Work with the Director of Corporate and Legal Affairs, Combustibles to ensure that the process for formulating policy is fit for purpose, and ensuring that improvements are made when/where this is not the case.
• Understand the existing environment and anticipate future developments that may provide opportunities or threats, and ensure that these opportunities are understood throughout the business.
• Develop and manage a diverse and inclusive team.

Skills & Experience

Essential:

• University degree or equivalent
• Experience of coordinating Corporate Affairs projects across stakeholders/markets, preferably within a large multinational company, confidence operating in matrix-style organisations combining direct and functional reporting
• Track record of successful project management
• A strong commercial mind-set with experience in the nicotine, FMCG or D2C sectors
• Influencing/relationship management skills across multiple stakeholders, with proven ability to advise and influence at the highest level, both internally and externally
• Gravitas and experience to navigate complex internal structures to deliver results
• Ability to lead and inspire others
• Ability to operate dynamically in an environment of change and manage and prioritise multiple programs of work
• Thorough understanding of Corporate Affairs disciplines and challenges faced by professionals
• Communications and excellent writing skills
• Proven ability to form networks and build relationships across markets

Desirable:

• Additional European languages would be an advantage
• Media experience would be useful

What we offer

Imperial Brands offer a competitive package of salary, bonus scheme, pension and 25 days holiday (with an additional 4 days on top to cover the Christmas period and bank holidays) and hybrid work.

Next steps

Interested applicants should apply with their CV highlighting their suitability for the role.