Public Affairs Associate

Job description

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Ralph Lauren Public Affairs team is looking for a highly organized, detail-oriented and entrepreneurial candidate who can help us maintain and strengthen Ralph Lauren's reputation as well as advance our public policy and advocacy priorities. The role requires an understanding of the political, social and economic landscape in key markets where Ralph Lauren operates as well as the ability to quickly identify and react to emerging issues in these regions.

Job responsibilities include a wide range of projects, such as tracking legislation, initiating policy research and analysis, drafting communications and issues briefs, creating presentations and maintaining team calendars and project trackers. You will report to the Director of Public Affairs and interface with a range of teams across the business, including Sustainability, Citizenship, Sourcing, Legal, Corporate Communications and the Local Commercial teams.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES ​​​Monitor, analyze and report on global and regional policy trends, legislation and developments that impact Ralph Lauren’s business operations or reputation. Support cross-functional issues management and the development of risk mitigation strategies to maintain and strengthen the company’s reputation. Draft communications and engage with a range of stakeholders to advance Ralph Lauren’s public policy and advocacy priorities.

Build and strengthen Ralph Lauren’s engagement with its associations and memberships. Develop briefings for executive engagements with government officials. ​Coordinate with key business partners including but not limited to global corporate communications, sourcing, sustainability, citizenship, legal and the local commercial teams to develop policy positions and align on advocacy needs across the organization. Develop public affairs strategies to support major Company or Foundation announcements. ​Review company communications from a policy, geopolitical and reputational lens.

Update KPIs as part of quarterly reporting to measure effectiveness of engagement. ​Keep workstreams on track and share updates on a weekly basis.​​

Qualifications

​​​ 2-3 years of public affairs or communications experience ideally in an agency, in-house or in a political environment. Bachelor’s Degree in areas of communications, political science, international relations or a comparable field is preferred. ​Excellent verbal and written communications skills. Creative and entrepreneurial mindset. Highly organized with strong attention to detail and ability to multitask. Ability to comprehend and effectively synthesize complex information, especially related to public policy and issues in the news. ​Ability to work closely and effectively with others—including senior management, business partners and external partners.

Excellent time and project management skills.​​ Ralph Lauren will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in a manner consistent with the requirements of the law, including any applicable fair chance laws. Please note background checks will be evaluated individually.