Senior Internal Communications Manager

The Senior Internal Communications Manager plays a crucial role in shaping and implementing our internal communications strategy, effectively managing employee engagement activities, overseeing large-scale internal events, driving internal brand promotion, and fostering a positive organizational culture. This role requires advanced strategic involvement, leadership responsibilities, and global influence. The senior manager will lead and deliver high-impact internal communication campaigns and projects while providing valuable insights to inform strategic decision-making. They will work collaboratively with the leadership team to build strong internal relationships across a range of departments. Additionally, they will manage members of the internal communications team, driving their development and performance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Shape and Implement Strategic Communications Plans: Develop and execute integrated internal communication plans to enhance employee engagement, support organizational goals, and increase visibility of key messages across the company.

• Lead High-Impact Campaigns and Projects: Plan, execute, and oversee internal communication campaigns and projects, ensuring alignment with overall business strategy and goals.

• Oversee Internal Events: Manage and execute high-profile internal events, both virtual and physical, that support employee engagement and business objectives.

• Manage Internal Brand Messaging: Ensure consistency and accuracy of internal brand messaging across all internal channels, including intranet, email, viva engage, newsletters, and digital signage.

• Innovative Engagement Initiatives: Develop and implement innovative employee engagement initiatives to foster a positive organizational culture and broaden internal reach and influence.

• Foster Relationships with Internal Stakeholders: Cultivate strong relationships with employees, department leaders, and key internal stakeholders to enhance communication effectiveness and corporate culture.

• Crisis Communications: Handle internal crisis communications and reputational issues in a timely and professional manner, ensuring clear and effective messaging to all employees.

• Internal feedback and Strategic Decisions: Compile and analyze internal feedback to inform strategic decisions and communication plans.

• Collaborate with Leadership Team: Engage with the leadership team and key departments to align the internal communications strategy with business objectives, acting as a trusted advisor and thought leader.

• Team Leadership and Development: Exhibit strong leadership in managing members of the internal communications team, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.

• Coaching and Performance Management: Demonstrated ability to coach and provide performance management to direct reports, ensuring that team members have clear goals and are supported in their professional development.

• Support for Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A): Provide critical internal communication support during mergers and acquisitions, ensuring that all employees are well-informed and that the organizational culture is maintained. Lead communication strategies to address changes, integrate teams, and manage transitions smoothly.

• Global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Coordinate with regional leads to bring greater cohesion to Sage’s corporate social responsibility activities—including volunteering, giving, and disaster relief—by helping to establish a consistent reporting and storytelling approach that reflects our employee value proposition and global impact.

• Employee Experience: Lead the development and execution of internal communication strategies that effectively embed the Employee Value Proposition (EVP) and core company behaviors into all aspects of the employee experience, ensuring alignment with organizational culture, values, and business objectives.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Proven experience of at least seven years in a similar role, ideally within large organizations or related industries.

• Demonstrated experience in leading and developing high-performing teams.

• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with senior leadership and across multiple departments.

• Extensive project management experience, with a track record of delivering high-impact internal communication campaigns.

• Deep knowledge and understanding of current trends in internal communications and employee engagement.

• Proven experience in internal event planning and execution, web content management, and employee engagement initiatives.

• Experience in gathering, analyzing, and leveraging internal feedback and corporate intelligence. Proficiency in using advanced analytics tools.

• Exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and communication skills, both verbal and written.

• Comprehensive understanding of organizational dynamics and key internal stakeholders.

• Ability to work under pressure, prioritize effectively, and manage workloads.

About Sage:

Sage is a global academic publisher of books, journals, and library resources with a growing range of technologies to enable discovery, access, and engagement. Believing that research and education are critical in shaping society, Sara Miller McCune founded Sage in 1965. Today, we are controlled by a group of trustees charged with maintaining our independence and mission indefinitely. 

Our guaranteed independence means we’re free to:

• Do more – supporting an equitable academic future, furthering disciplines that drive social change, and helping social and behavioural science make an impact
• Work together – building lasting relationships, championing diverse perspectives, and co-creating resources to transform teaching and learning

• Think long-term – experimenting, taking risks, and investing in new ideas

Overview of benefits:

• 25 days holiday excluding bank holidays full-time/pro-rated for part-time roles
• 2 additional ’floating days’ of personal leave, in recognition that each of us has cultural, religious, or family commitments that fall at times when the company is not closed.
• Life assurance
• Income protection
• Access to Sage books and journals
• Tuition scheme and support for pursuing professional qualifications
• Hybrid working arrangements - In office 20% of contracted hours. We work flexibly and most staff can choose to work from home for up to 80% of their contracted hours.

Other benefits, which may change include:

• Variety of snacks and beverages available in the office
• Home working allowance
• Travel insurance
• Healthy lifestyle reimbursement
• Access to the Company doctor
• Access to Company loans (season ticket loan, rental deposit loan, cycle loan)
• Anniversary trip

If you have a disability and need any support during the application process, please contact [email protected] We will respond to any requests for support in a timely manner. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

A cover letter is important to us but is not essential for your application. It offers the hiring manager valuable insights into how your skill set aligns with the role, what unique contributions you can bring to the team and why you are interested in this position.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At Sage we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that is representative of all sections of society and to sustaining a culture that celebrates difference, encourages authenticity, and creates a deep sense of belonging. We welcome applications from all members of society irrespective of age, disability, sex or gender identity, sexual orientation, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief as creating value through diversity is what makes us strong.  As a business and as an organisation with an increasingly agile workforce, we're open to flexible working arrangements where appropriate.