Corporate Social Responsibility Assistant

Working in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team, the Corporate Social Responsibility Executive assists in the delivery of CSR company initiatives, messaging and projects. Through supporting the implementation of our corporate and social commitments, the CSR Executive helps the wider Corporate Affairs team who is responsible for the Harrods corporate reputation and brand in building the Harrods corporate brand and positioning Harrods as a socially aware and responsible organisation.

The CSR Executive will work closely with our Corporate Social Responsibility Manager to continue the development of our company-wide strategies such as our sustainability initiatives and charity objectives. They will support the team in implementing Harrods CSR strategy, delivering CSR initiatives across all pillars, and acting as an ambassador for more responsible practices and social investment across the business. Through a strong network of internal and external stakeholders, the CSR Executive will proactively and reactively raise the profile of Harrods CSR commitments. 

The CSR Executive responsibilities will work across the following primary areas; Harrods sustainability strategy and its charity partnerships and community investment strategy.

Across sustainability, the role will include supporting the CSR Manager on the progress of Harrods sustainability strategy – Harrods Path to a Sustainable Future, where the team plays a centralised function in supporting initiatives across the business. It will include engagement with teams across the business in areas such as sourcing and supply chain transparency, emissions reductions monitoring and support, and communicating progress to the business; gaining support across all levels of the business.

Across charity and community investment the CSR Executive will lead on Harrods charity partnerships strategy, engaging with local charities and supporting and centralising Harrods employee fundraising and volunteering efforts. The CSR Executive will help lead Harrods new charity partnerships direction and structure, defining the issues and partners that further our objectives, as well as supporting in the raising and allocation of funding within it.

The CSR Executive will have a strong background and experience in their field. They will be required to support the Corporate Social Responsibility team with understanding the rapidly evolving CSR environment and the dynamic aspects of this discipline including, but not limited to, sustainability, philanthropy, diversity and internal communication.  They will monitor micro and macro trends to identify risks and present any opportunities.  They will also be responsible for representing the Corporate Social Responsibility team internally to a range of stakeholders across the Brand Experience Division and more widely.

Key accountabilities include: identifying industry relevant issues and Harrods response, supporting the delivery of Harrods Corporate Social Responsibility strategy, managing tools used across the busines to support sustainability initiatives (e.g. Sedex, Carbon Footprint data tracker), manage the implementation of Harrods charity partnerships and bringing general best practice to the business.

Importantly, the CSR Executive will be an independent self-starter, who will take the initiative in identifying proactive opportunities to strengthen Harrods reputation.  

• Understand the existing Harrods corporate brand positioning and how to maintain and develop this.
• Support in delivering the overarching Harrods Corporate Social Responsibility strategy for the business.
• Identify proactive opportunities to promote the Harrods brand externally through strategic CSR initiatives as well as understanding of the external landscape.
• Good knowledge of policy areas related to Harrods and the wider UK business/retail/luxury industry and understanding on how to promote Harrods to relevant stakeholders in these policy areas.
• Working closely and collaboratively with other members of the communications function at Harrods – press office, internal communications, campaign planning, to advance a consistent and cohesive Harrods message.
• Supporting the CSR team in delivering Harrods Corporate Social Responsibility strategy, working with relevant teams across the business and key external stakeholders and suppliers.
• Nurturing and building key relationships with charity partners and local community partners
• Responsible for monitoring and reporting of Harrods Corporate Social Responsibility strategy to relevant internal stakeholders, which will include completing relevant and appropriate reports and documents.
• Be an ambassador of the Harrods brand, the Marcomms Team and the Brand Experience Division.

Key relationships: work in partnership with the Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Head of Corporate Affairs, wider Marcomms team, wider Brand Experience Team (e.g. Creative, VM, Insight etc.), Harrods Senior Leadership, Employee Experience & HR team.

Flexibility and readiness to adapt to changing priorities.

• Delivering the agreed Corporate Social Responsibility strategy for the business, alongside appropriate measurement.
• Building a strong relationship with all key stakeholders across the business and key external representatives.
• Demonstrate in depth knowledge of the Macro trends and influences impacting and affecting the business and wider industry to help shape and better each activity.
• Project management, meeting deadlines and stakeholder management to manage expectations and deliver better collaborations.
• Ensure quality and originality of communication campaigns, events and materials.
• Create and develop opportunities to communicate positive brand vision and goals. 

• Experience in a similar role
• Understanding of environment reporting, legislation and compliance requirements for the retail industry
• Excellent PC literacy (word, excel and preferably SAP)
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Project and programme management experience
• Excellent time-management skills and the ability and willingness to multi-task.
• Flexibility and readiness to adapt to changing priorities
• Good attention to detail
• Strong work ethic and unwavering commitment to Harrods values
• Ability to perform duties effectively with minimum supervision and guidance

At Harrods, we ask everyone to believe in the Art of the Possible, to challenge the conventional view of what is possible and turn delivery into an art form. Our brand needs us to be Master of Luxury, Experts of Exceptional and Creators of Magic, As brands are made by people, our people have a really important role to play.

We have five employee values that show us the way; We take pride, We Strive to Exceed, We are One, We are Human and We Build Trust. These values are the behaviours and ways of working that we attach the most importance to at Harrods. We use our values to illustrate how we want to be with each other, with customers, with suppliers and other stakeholders.