- Dis-Chem Pharmacies has an opportunity available for a Communication & Storytelling Lead for their Head Office. The Communication & Storytelling Lead is responsible for defining and embedding communication frameworks that ensure clear, consistent, and on-brand messaging across internal and external channels. The role leads employee and external communication, aligning messaging to business priorities, strengthening engagement, and protecting Dis-Chem's reputation within an integrated healthcare retail environment.
Minimum Requirements
Essential:
- Bachelor's Degree or Diploma in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.
- 5+ years' experience in internal communications, external communications, or corporate communications roles.
- 2 - 3 years' experience in a leadership or people management
- Experience in a retail or large, multi-site organisation is advantageous
- Demonstrated track record of improving communication consistency, engagement, and reach
- Develop and manage communications plans and calendars aligned to business priorities and key moments
- Adapt and apply brand-defined messaging frameworks to internal and external communication channels
- Coordinate channel execution to ensure timely, consistent delivery across internal and external platforms
Internal and external communication
- Deliver clear, engaging internal communications to stores, head office, and warehouse employees to support execution and alignment.
- Own coordination and execution of external communications (including PR, media engagement, and stakeholder messaging) in alignment with brand-defined frameworks
- Work in conjunction with Creative Studio and Integrated Marketing teams to develop, edit, and distribute content across key channels including intranet, email, presentations, notices, and digital platforms
- Manage and maintain core communication channels, ensuring content quality, relevance, and consistency
- Lead and coordinate crisis communications, including preparation of holding statements, response frameworks, and stakeholder messaging during high-risk or sensitive situations
Leadership and collaboration
- Partner with Marketing, Retail Operations, People and Culture, OD, and Commercial teams to align messaging and execution.
- Coordinate stakeholder inputs, agency support, and approvals to ensure accuracy and consistency
- Provide guidance to teams on effective communication practices and channel use
- Ensure communications comply with brand guidelines, regulatory requirements, and reputational standards
- Manage approvals, escalation processes, and messaging for sensitive, high-risk, and crisis communications
- Monitor feedback, engagement, and emerging risks to improve clarity, effectiveness, and protect reputation
- Experience in internal and external communications with multi-channel content development
- Strong writing and editing capability, translating complex information into clear, frontline-ready communication.
- Experience in crisis communications and reputation management
- Understanding of communication needs in retail or consumer-facing environments
- Strong stakeholder management and coordination skills across multiple teams
- High attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
Key Performance Indicators
- Communication effectiveness: Engagement and reach across priority channels
- Brand consistency: Adherence to on-brand messaging and reduced rework
- Operational enablement: Timely, clear communications supporting store and business execution
- Governance & risk: Adherence to approvals and reduced reputational or compliance incidents
- Reputation & crisis management: Effective handling of high-risk situations with minimal reputational impact.
Special Conditions of Employment
- South African citizen
- MIE, clear criminal and credit
- Driver's license and/or own reliable transport
Deadline:21st October,2026