Internal Communications and Colleague Engagement Manager

We have an exciting opportunity for an Internal Communications and Colleague Engagement Manager, reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer of one of our leading UK businesses. As the sole communication and engagement professional, you’ll have full ownership of how we build on the foundations of our current approaches. You’ll join us on a full-time, permanent basis and we can be flexible on specific timings. This role can be based anywhere throughout the United Kingdom. We’re keen that you get out and about at least once a fortnight so you’ll need to be prepared to travel to our sites, expenses and accommodation will be available for this. You might be currently working as a Senior Internal Communications Officer and looking for that first step into a management role or perhaps you’re already working as an Internal Communications Manager and now looking for greater autonomy.

Benefits of joining include:

• You’ll receive 31 days holiday (includes bank holidays) with offer long term holiday rewards after 3, 5 and 10 years service

• Save on tax through our Company contributory pension scheme through salary sacrifice

• All colleagues receive full Life Assurance cover

• An optional ‘Save as you earn’ Group share save scheme is available after 12 months service

• All colleagues receive a company paid Private Health Cash plan for you and your dependants, helping to support the cost of everyday healthcare

• Spread the cost of a new bicycle through our national Cycle to work scheme

• Colleague Discount card covering all businesses within Grafton Group

• You’ll have instant access to hundreds of retail discounts and cashback opportunities through our benefits portal

• Our free, confidential Employee Assistance Programme offers practical, impartial support on everyday matters ranging from medical, financial, legal to home and family issues

• We offer annual health screenings for all colleagues at all our sites

About the role:

Building on our existing engagement foundations you’ll play a key role in the design, development and implementation of our internal communication and engagement strategy. You’ll be our lead on advising our approach around critical change programmes such as Sustainability, Diversity & Inclusion and Wellbeing. Your work will shape how we engage with our colleagues and help us support and demonstrate our culture and values. You’ll provide guidance to the Senior Leadership Team, oversee our business as usual internal communications and engagement - ranging from our communication applications through to colleague engagement surveys, reward schemes and events. There will also be the opportunity for you to take a central role in several other colleague engagement initiatives, such as our Let’s Talk colleague forum. You’ll be able to work at both strategic and tactical levels, working on one day with our Project Manager and then the next updating content on our colleague communication channels. You’ll need to work closely with stakeholders across the organisation as well as engaging with other HR, external vendors, and employment benefit leads elsewhere within the Grafton Group. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, who has taken a lead in building a culture of greater colleague engagement and communication, this appointment reflects the desire by the business to continue this work and truly embed a culture of engagement and participation within the business.

Key responsibilities:

• Developing and delivering an internal communication strategy and planning a calendar of activities to support an increase in colleague engagement.

• Leading on the advancement and further development of the Workvivo engagement platform which we see as integral to the future of our organisational communications.

• Refining the established internal communications channels and developing a channel mix appropriate to the needs of all colleagues. Developing the creation of a colleague brand and a more consistent ‘look and feel’ for internal communications in line with our values.

• Implementing new internal communications best practice guidelines that can be understood and followed across the organisation allowing a consistent approach to local communications delivery.

• Designing, implementing and analysing results of colleague engagement surveys and other engagement initiatives, using outcomes to help drive organisational improvement.

• Working with and supporting the Senior Leadership team to develop engaging content that inspires and motivates colleagues.

• Keeping up to date with good practice and developments in internal communications and engagement, leveraging external networks where appropriate. You’ll be good at:

Essential:

• Fully understanding how to manage colleague engagement and be experienced in building engagement and employee value propositions (EVP).

• Working independently and balancing multiple projects.

• Managing and delivering projects from start to completion within a budget.

• Willingly ‘getting your hands dirty’ and taking on both strategic and delivery responsibilities.

• Writing compelling copy and crafting messages for an internal audience – both written and multi-media (including video and other relevant presentation formats).

• Collaborating with colleagues at all levels, including colleagues in different locations and other Group businesses.

• Understanding and appraising the benefits of digital communications and technology, with a commitment to a ‘Digital First’ approach.

Desirable:

• Experience working in a communications and engagement role.

• Knowledge and understanding of best practice employee engagement practice.

• Familiarity with medium to large sized organisations and matrixed structures/reporting lines.

• Experience in setting up and introducing new employee engagement platforms.

• Experience of using communication tools such as Canva, Biteable and Mail Chimp.

Location: This role is a full-time, home-based role but if you would like access to office space to work in, there are opportunities to work from our offices in Glasgow or Birmingham.