Head of Internal Comms

Waymo•San Francisco, CA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with the mission to be the world's most trusted driver. Since its start as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009, Waymo has focused on building the Waymo Driver—The World's Most Experienced Driver™—to improve access to mobility while saving thousands of lives now lost to traffic crashes. The Waymo Driver powers Waymo’s fully autonomous ride-hail service and can also be applied to a range of vehicle platforms and product use cases. The Waymo Driver has provided over ten million rider-only trips, enabled by its experience autonomously driving over 100 million miles on public roads and tens of billions in simulation across 15+ U.S. states. As a member of the Communications team, you’ll be on the cutting edge of bringing autonomous driving technology to the public, developing strategies that will increase understanding, acceptance, and adoption of this life-saving technology. We work with reporters, editors, bloggers, and other influencers to tell stories about Waymo and the potential of our technology to change how we move and live. We partner with the engineering, business, policy, marketing, and product teams to create messaging for new products and other initiatives, counter misinformation, and shape our reputation.

Requirements

15+ years of experience in internal communications, corporate communications, or a related field, with at least 3+ years specifically in a people management role leading a team of mid-to-senior level professionals.
Proven track record in a high-growth tech environment, with demonstrated experience distilling complex technical subject matter (e.g. AI, robotics, or engineering) into clear, engaging content for diverse audiences.
Experience supporting C-Suite executives, including ghostwriting, speechwriting, and providing direct strategic counsel on complex organizational changes or business shifts.
Demonstrated success managing large-scale internal events (e.g., global All-Hands, product launches, etc.) for a workforce of at least 1,000+ employees across multiple geographic locations.
Proficiency in communication tech stacks and analytics, specifically using tools like GChat, internal intranets, and email marketing platforms to track and report on engagement KPIs and sentiment data.
Exceptional project management skills, with a concrete history of managing multiple high-priority cross-functional projects simultaneously and meeting tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in the autonomous vehicle industry, robotics, or a complex mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) business, providing an immediate understanding of the industry’s unique safety and regulatory nuances.
A history of managing internal communications for a workforce transitioning from US-centric operations to a global footprint, including experience with localized messaging and cultural sensitivities.
Hands-on experience or creative direction in multimedia storytelling, such as internal podcasts, video production, or high-end visual design to elevate engagement beyond text-based updates.
Formal training or certification in change management methodologies (e.g., Prosci or ADKAR) to help lead the organization through large-scale pivots or business model evolutions.
Experience working alongside PR or Legal teams to manage internal messaging during high-pressure situations or external media scrutiny.
A track record of launching employee resource groups (ERGs) or cultural initiatives that foster a sense of belonging in a hybrid or geographically distributed work environment.

Responsibilities

Lead a team of three FTEs to deliver high-quality content, events, and communications counsel to executives.
Manage their professional development while balancing the team's capacity against the high-velocity needs of the business.
Partner with cross-functional leaders to extract high-priority technical and commercial developments, distilling them into the most relevant need-to-know insights for the broader company.
Ensure Waymonauts are the first to know of major developments - ahead of seeing them in headlines.
Oversee the end-to-end execution of high-impact touchpoints (monthly all hands meetings, Brown Bags, Intranet, team chat threads, etc.) to drive consistent awareness across different time zones and job functions.
Partner with leadership to distill complex business strategies and technological roadmaps into transparent communications, ensuring executives are equipped to champion the company’s vision authentically.
Lead your team to surface stories that build enthusiasm and technical understanding of our autonomous driving systems.
Establish and monitor OKRs to measure the effectiveness of internal reach and sentiment, using data to pivot strategies through the team and business’ global scale.