Enterprise Internal Communications Manager

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory•Richland, WA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is seeking an exceptional communicator to lead its Enterprise Internal Communications. This pivotal role serves as the principal architect of PNNL's internal communications strategy, channels, and governance model, ensuring employees receive clear, timely and actionable information that advances organizational priorities and strengthens the staff experience across PNNL’s ~6,000 wired and non-wired employees. We're seeking an experienced internal communicator to shape and execute PNNL's enterprise internal communications strategy, ensuring clarity, consistency, and measurable impact across the organization. This role offers the opportunity to define how internal communications supports organizational performance and employee engagement across one of the nation’s premier research institutions. If you can balance strategic vision with tactical execution and are equally comfortable developing high-level communications strategy as rolling up your sleeves to resolve immediate challenges, this role may be the fit for you.

Requirements

BS/BA and 9+ years of relevant experience -OR- MS/MA and 7+ years of relevant experience
Demonstrated experience leading enterprise internal communications strategy and programs for a large, complex organization with a distributed workforce.
Demonstrated success developing and leading enterprise internal communications strategies, operating models, and transformation initiatives that advance organizational priorities, strengthen culture, and improve employee engagement.
Exceptional writing, editing, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, compelling messages and influence stakeholders at all levels.
Strong strategic, organizational, and project management capabilities, with the ability to balance enterprise-wide consistency and organizational flexibility while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
Experience using analytics and performance metrics to measure communication effectiveness, generate insights, and drive continuous improvement and measurable outcomes.
Collaborative, results-oriented leader with strong consulting, relationship building, and change leadership skills.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a comprehensive enterprise-wide internal communications strategy that advances PNNL priorities, strengthens culture, and enhances employee engagement.
Assess emerging communication needs and prioritize resources toward the highest-impact opportunities.
Lead integrated communications planning, including integrated campaigns, editorial planning, and coordinated message delivery across channels.
Incorporate industry trends, best practices, and thought leadership into communications planning and execution.
Serve as a trusted advisor to PNNL’s senior leaders on best practices for internal communications and employee engagement.
Coordinate enterprise executive communications, equipping leaders with clear, compelling, and consistent messaging.
Develop communication strategies and execution plans for high-profile announcements, strategic initiatives, and organizational changes.
Build strong partnerships with PNNL leadership, mission support organizations, research directorates, and cross-functional stakeholders.
Design communication approaches that effectively engage diverse employee audiences, including onsite wired and non-wired, remote, and hybrid workers.
Leverage audience insights, feedback mechanisms, and engagement data to improve communication effectiveness and the employee experience.
Balance enterprise-wide consistency with the unique needs and identities of PNNL’s business units and directorates.
Oversee the development of high-quality, audience-focused content across a variety of formats, including executive messages, newsletters, presentations, videos, digital content, and change communications.
Establish and maintain a consistent organizational voice, tone, and narrative across all internal communications.
Lead the governance, optimization, and evolution of PNNL’s enterprise internal communication channels.
Improve information flow and channel effectiveness while reducing communication overload and increasing employee reach and engagement.
Establish governance models, standard operating procedures, messaging maps, and coordination mechanisms that strengthen alignment across communications teams.
Lead enterprise communication planning and review processes, ensuring visibility, coordination, and strategic prioritization.
Build scalable systems, workflows, tools, and AI-enabled solutions that improve efficiency, collaboration, and communication quality.
Lead communication strategies that support organizational transformation, change management, and culture initiatives.
Partner with PNNL’s Public Affairs Advisor to support crisis communications when needed.
Establish SMART communication objectives, success metrics, and key performance indicators to measure effectiveness and business impact.
Analyze communication performance and employee feedback to identify opportunities for improvement and inform future strategies.