Purpose of Role
The Internal Communications Manager (Change and HR) will lead the planning and delivery of internal communications to support organisational change, HR initiatives and workforce-related activity during a high-change period.
The role will play a key part in supporting staff understanding of, and engagement with, the University’s strategic direction, including the launch and embedding of Strategy 2035 and associated changes to ways of working, structures and priorities.
Reporting directly to the Global Director of HR, the role will act as a trusted communications adviser to senior leaders, enabling confident, consistent and effective communication with staff. A dotted-line relationship with the Global Director of Marketing and Communications will ensure alignment with corporate messaging, governance requirements, external partner relations and brand standards.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
The Internal Communications Manager (Change and HR) will lead on the planning and delivery of specialist internal communications activity, including:
Change, Strategy and HR Communications
1. Develop and deliver internal communications plans to support organisational change programmes, workforce initiatives and HR priorities.
2. Support the launch and embedding of the University’s Strategy 2035, translating strategic objectives into clear, relevant and engaging staff communications.
3. Ensure change and HR communications are aligned to the University’s long-term strategic direction and values.
4. Translate complex and sensitive information into clear, accessible and audience-appropriate communications for staff.
5. Support the embedding of new ways of working through targeted communications and engagement activity.
Employee Relations and Consultation Communications
6. Provide specialist communications support for employee relations and workforce change activity, including formal consultation processes where required.
7. Develop briefing materials, key messages, FAQs and leadership toolkits to support consistent and confident communication.
8. Ensure communications are handled with appropriate discretion, accuracy and professional judgement.
Leadership Advisory and Support
9. Act as a trusted communications adviser to senior leaders and HR colleagues during periods of change.
10. Prepare high-quality briefings, messaging frameworks and supporting materials linked to strategic and workforce priorities.
11. Support leaders to communicate effectively with their teams during uncertainty and transition.
Internal Channels and Content
12. Deliver communications across relevant internal channels, working in partnership with the central internal communications team.
13. Ensure messaging is timely, accurate and aligned with agreed tone, brand and governance standards.
14. Contribute to staff-facing platforms and leadership communications as required.
Alignment, Governance and Quality
15. Work closely with the Global Director of Marketing and Communications to ensure alignment with corporate communications priorities, including Strategy 2035 messaging.
16. Maintain high standards of quality, consistency and clarity across all internal communications activity.
17. Coordinate activity to avoid duplication, overload or misalignment across internal channels.
Insight, Evaluation and Continuous Improvement
18. Monitor staff feedback and engagement to assess the effectiveness of change, strategy and HR / University communications.
19. Use insight and evaluation to adapt messaging and approaches as strategic and organisational priorities evolve.
20. Share learning and best practice to strengthen organisational capability in change communications.
Essential & Desirable Criteria
Essential
21. Educated to degree level or with equivalent professional experience.
22. Significant experience in an internal communications role, with a strong focus on organisational change and HR-related communications.
23. Demonstrable experience handling complex and sensitive communications in a large or complex organisation.
24. Proven ability to advise and influence senior leaders with confidence and credibility.
25. Excellent written, verbal and digital communication skills.
26. Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to operate effectively in high-change environments.
27. Ability to manage competing priorities, work autonomously and meet tight deadlines.
Desirable
28. Experience of supporting the communication of organisational strategy or major transformation programmes.
29. Experience of working closely with HR teams on workforce or organisational change initiatives.
30. Experience of working in, or with, a large-scale or global organisation.
31. Understanding of employee relations and consultation processes.