The Director for Internal Communications develops strong internal facing communications and campaigns focused on effective two-way communications at NPR. The Director develops internal-facing plans, strategies, messaging, and meetings in support of NPR’s programming, people, and projects. The Director is responsible for maintaining and overseeing all internal communications platforms and activities to ensure that each reflect timely, useful, strategic and/or operational information.
The incumbent provides direct support to NPR’s executive team on strategic communications – including crisis communications -- that are consistent with NPR’s goals and brand, support NPR’s business and operational objectives, and affirm the NPR/station partnership and other key stakeholder relationships. The position determines and directs NPR’s message development with internal stakeholders. The position works hand-in-hand with NPR media relations to ensure internal and external messages are aligned at all times.
Areas of Responsibility:
- Establish goals, plans and priorities for internal audiences to increase understanding of NPR’s activities, management decisions, achievements, and challenges. Ensure that activities and materials align with the NPR brand and values. Oversee the execution of these communications with sensitivity to NPR’s position as a highly visible news organization, and also a membership organization made up of public radio stations whose brands are closely connected with NPR’s.
- Plan, direct, and oversee the implementation of internal communications plans and programs that support NPR communications goals and create meaningful two-way communications between NPR leadership and staff by drawing on creative and meaningful communications tools and opportunities, communications best practices, and a thorough understanding of social media tools and strategies.
- Provide high-level crisis communications support to the CMO, VP for Communications, and Executive Director for Media Relations in high pressure situations as well as around high-stakes confidential matters to ensure adequate and appropriate communications to NPR’s internal audiences.
- Draft and execute a daily internal all-staff newsletter, ensuring that in tone, style, and quality of storytelling, the newsletter meets the same high standards that are applied to NPR’s programming content. Maintain and evolve the NPR Intranet site to ensure it reflects best practices in web usability, user-focused navigation, and readability. Draft and edit content for the site, ensuring that all content on the Intranet is accurate and updated on a continuous basis.
- Develop internal meeting strategies and materials, including approaches for all-staff meetings, brown bags, supervisor meetings, and other internal education and engagement activities.
- Work collaboratively and closely with NPR’s Executive Director for Media Relations to ensure full alignment of internal and external messaging.
- Provide extensive message development and copywriting support to the VP for Corporate Communications, including advising on message development and ghostwriting high-profile company announcements, statements, speeches, talking points, and reports.
- Identify and pursue transformative approaches to internal communications in support of the NPR mission, and to ensure NPR’s internal communications grow trust in the NPR brand.
- Create a meaningful and rewarding work environment for one direct report (the Corporate Communications Associate) and a collaborative work environment within the Corporate Communications team.
- Provide extensive copyediting and proofreading support to Corporate Communications activities and projects.
- Provide communications support to HR, Facilities, and Security around operational changes at NPR. Provide leadership and support to HR communications and changes to the NPR employee work experience.
- Develop and oversee fact sheets and other informational materials in support of larger Corporate Communications activities.
Educational Background:
Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, English or a related discipline.
Skills/Experience:
- Work requires a minimum of 8-10 years of demonstrated success in developing and implementing internal communications programs and strategies to a variety of internal audiences under high-pressure and unyielding deadlines.
- Must have a strong working knowledge of communications best practices and be able to guide corporate messaging with diplomacy, tact, and sensitivity for all audiences.
- Excellent storytelling abilities and the capacity to frame NPR’s constantly evolving story in a clear and compelling way to NPR staff.
- Minimum of 5 years of direct management experience. Ability to recruit, retain, and grow a high-performing team.
- As NPR’s internal communications are with NPR journalists, experience in effective media relations is preferred.
- Strong understanding of public radio is required. Familiarity with NPR’s internal operations preferred.
- Experience dealing with highly confidential information. The ability to think clearly under intense pressure is mandatory.
- Experience overseeing social media and internal communications platforms and activities. A working knowledge of intranet best practices is required.
- A passion for the staff of NPR and the craft and art of internal communications.
- Outstanding writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
- The ability to flex writing style to ghostwrite for different leaders, reflecting the unique characteristics and communications styles of each individual.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral. The ability to lead powerful presentations and convey clear messages to internal audiences.
- Ability to work closely and effectively with a diversity of individuals across the organization and public media system who have varying degrees of communication skills and interest in order to support NPR communication goals.
- The ability to translate complex ideas into language easily comprehensible to all audiences.
- Understanding of and experience with using social media tools and approaches as part of communications strategies.
- Excellent organizational skills, sense of humor, collegial personality, ability to work effectively with others, and flexibility.
Compensation/Benefits:
NPR offers a competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package including health and wellness benefits, retirement, and work/life balance programs, as well as opportunities for career growth and development.
Job Function:
Organization Info
Listing Stats
Post Date:
Mar 4 2019
Active Until:
Apr 4 2019
Hiring Organization:
National Public Radio, Inc.
industry:
Nonprofit