Job description
At McLaren, our mission is to set the standard for high performance in sport. Everyone, in every part of the team, has a role to play. So if you want to test your ideas with the world watching... And measure your progress in milliseconds... And play your part in racing history... You belong here. High performance starts with you.
Purpose of the Role:
To join our race for performance, we’re looking for an accomplished internal communications professional to business partner with and deliver first-class people and culture outcomes for our stakeholders, including senior and executive leaders, within our Commercial and Business Performance functions.
With your seasoned expertise and deep understanding of their worlds, you will develop and deliver an integrated internal communications strategy to ensure high employee advocacy across McLaren Racing, especially focusing on Commercial and Business Performance.
As a member of our tight-knit and high performing team, you will play a critical part in the internal communications office, forging strong relationships with your natural curiosity and commitment to execute, and your detailed communication and engagement plans that align with functional and organisational strategy.
Role Dimensions:
This leadership role will spearhead high-profile internal communications initiatives that shape and strengthen organisational culture, while driving engagement and alignment with our objectives. With a particular focus on continuing to build and protect our hard fought for culture, this role demands creativity, vision, and an unwavering commitment to collaboration and inclusion. You won’t be afraid of getting stuck in, directly engaging in the development and delivery of impactful strategies that energise and connect teams to our vision and values with every word.
Based in Woking at the McLaren Technology Centre, has no direct reports, and reports into our Head of Internal Communications. There may be some flexibility with working hours to fulfil this role effectively.
Principal Accountabilities:
1. Develop and execute the Internal Communications strategy for Commercial and Business Performance functions with agility. Leverage your exceptional commercial and functional expertise to customise your approach, ensuring it aligns seamlessly with the needs of your areas.
2. Champion cultural initiatives and introduce strategies that reinforce our values and strengthen employee connection to the company’s mission.
3. Collaborate closely with senior and executive leadership in Commercial and Business Performance to understand priorities and provide effective counsel. Support leaders in delivering culture-focused communications that inspire and motivate employees.
4. Develop and publish creative content and campaigns across McLaren Racing’s communication channels. Write, edit, proof-read, and deliver targeted messages to varied audiences.
5. Oversee the execution of multiple cross-functional and high-impact comms projects, ensuring timely delivery and maintaining exceptional standards under demanding deadlines.
6. Work closely with the internal and wider communications team to align messaging for internal and external purposes.
7. Monitor and evaluate your activities, analysing metrics to assess impact and effectiveness, taking learnings and maximising impact with further measurable improvements.
8. Ensure our channels are fit for your functions’ purpose and resonate with your audience. Continuously scrutinise and refine them for optimal performance.
9. Partner with your departments to align local communications with McLaren Racing’s brand, voice, and culture. Translate complex information into clear and compelling stories.
10. Provide communication support during organisational change, ensuring cultural principles are protected and embraced during transitions.
11. Build and strengthen relationships with stakeholders, establishing yourself as a trusted advisor to drive alignment and collaboration. Elevate the Internal Communications teams’ visibility and reputation as a key driver of organisational success and cultural excellence.
12. Relentlessly pursue the optimisation of our processes and establishing advanced best practices.
13. Act as a role model for our values, behaviours and culture. Mentor junior members of the team.
Job requirements
Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
14. Significant experience in Internal Communications or a related field (experience in sport, engineering, or technology sectors is desirable)
15. Demonstrated success in using internal communication channels and innovative tools and technologies to support communications efforts
16. Appreciation of organisational culture and the critical role communications plays in shaping, reinforcing, and protecting it. Familiarity with cultural frameworks, diversity and inclusion principles, and employee engagement strategies.
17. Excellent copywriting and presentation skills with the ability to understand and adapt different communication styles or tone of voice required for internal communications.
18. Experience in change management and evolving workplace culture desirable.
19. Ability to engage employees through different formats (events, film, and photography).
20. Proven ability to multitask and manage multiple ongoing projects simultaneously.
21. Expert knowledge of Microsoft products, including Teams and SharePoint.
Personal Attributes:
22. Ability to persuade and influence others through effective communication skills.
23. Ability to engage with multiple internal and external stakeholders at all levels of seniority.
24. Comfortable working in ambiguity and in a fast-paced environment.
25. Proactive mindset for continuous improvement and proven ability to switch between big picture and attention to detail.
26. Able to analyse and offer ideas to solve complex problems.
27. Ability to work well under pressure and demonstrate emotional resilience and intelligence in the face of competing demands and conflict.
28. Demonstrate creativity and be full of ideas.
29. Strong organisational skills and co-ordination capabilities.
30. Good interpersonal skills – experience dealing with people and a positive ‘can-do’ attitude. Rolls their sleeves up and gets stuck in.
31. Able to work flexibly, adjusting working hours to meet the demands of the role.
What can McLaren offer?
We constantly strive to be better tomorrow than we are today. Our ambition is to be the most pioneering and exhilarating racing team in the world, and our collective task is to set the standards for high performance in sport. We show up every day with energy and enthusiasm, ready to play our part.
We encourage and support diversity, equity and inclusion. We will actively promote a culture that values difference and eliminates discrimination in our workplace.
McLaren Racing is based at the iconic McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) near Woking. Here at McLaren, we offer hybrid working with 3 days a week based in the MTC.
Our state of the art, sustainable campus offers many facilities including a gym, restaurant and indoor and outdoor break-out areas, as well as direct access to park and common land. The MTC is connected to Woking mainline station via regular shuttle buses, from which London Waterloo is a 30 minute train ride.
We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including private healthcare, car schemes, life insurance and generous pension contributions.