Head of Internal and Change Communication, Cambridge

We are seeking an experienced Head of Internal and Change Communication to join our People and Culture function on a 2-year fixed term contract. This role is pivotal in leading global internal communications strategy and supporting organisational change at the RSC. You will work closely with the Leadership Team and stakeholders across the organisation to ensure clear, consistent, and engaging communication that aligns with our strategic objectives, reinforces our mission and values, and supports colleagues to deliver our goals.

The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is working to create a future that is more open, more green, and more equal. Chemistry is at the heart of the changes that society needs: better healthcare, environmental protection, clean energy, and secure food and water for everyone. We are an organisation with a thriving international community of over 60,000 members, an internationally renowned publisher of high-quality chemical science knowledge and the professional body for chemists in the UK, with a reputation as an influential champion for the chemical sciences. Our purpose is to help the chemical science community make the world a better place.

At the RSC we embrace flexibility and offer hybrid working. Although this role is contractually based at our Cambridge or London office, you will be able to work from home within the UK, with the expectation that you will attend the office as needed for your role – and this is likely to be around 2 days per week. If you need flexible working arrangements, please outline this in your application. Travel between our Cambridge and London offices will be required for this role.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build and lead the internal and change communication team, overseeing its activity and performance management to ensure the highest standards of professional practice.
• Research, write, deliver and evaluate a change and internal communication strategy aligned with the RSC's business strategy and values, building employee engagement and supporting change.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the Leadership Team on all matters relating to change and internal communication.
• Advise and support senior leaders in crafting their internal communications to ensure clarity, consistency, and alignment with RSC strategy.
• Lead integrated activity to encourage employee engagement, collaboration, and feedback, fostering buy-in and building change resilience.
• Lead and oversee the management and development of the RSC's communication channels, including the intranet.
• Develop metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of internal and change communication and adjust strategies based on feedback and performance data.
• Oversee the internal and change communication budget ensuring efficient allocation of resources.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Proven track record of building and leading a communication team demonstrating both professional communication skills and exemplary leadership.
• Exceptional interpersonal and management skills with a passion for growing talent and fostering an inclusive working environment.
• Demonstrable experience as a confident, credible professional communicator who has successfully delivered impact through strategic communications.
• Strong strategic thinking abilities with proven problem-solving skills and the ability to translate vision into actionable plans.
• Proven ability to influence at a senior level articulating the rationale to gain support and agreement.
• Extensive experience of delivering change communication in a complex organisation going through change at pace.
• Proficiency across the entire communication mix, including intranet platforms, collaboration tools, and analytics.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex messages for diverse audiences.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to coordinate several complex issues and priorities simultaneously.
• Evidence of using technology and data to drive both strategic and operational decision making and activity.
• Educated to degree level and/or professional qualification in communication ideally with membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., CIPR, CIM), or equivalent professional experience.
• Evidence of commitment to continuous professional development (CPD).

Why Join Us?

At the RSC, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and dynamic internal culture that empowers our people to deliver high-impact, world-class initiatives. This role offers a unique opportunity to lead our internal communications strategy, support our ongoing organisational change, and be an influential part of our transformation journey.

How to Apply:

If you are interested in this role, please apply before the end of the closing date. When applying, you will need to provide an up-to-date CV and a supporting statement (no more than 500 words) indicating how your skills and expertise match the competencies outlined in the Job Description.

Visit our Work For Us website to learn more about us, our benefits, equal opportunities statement and inclusive culture pledge. At the RSC, we recognise the benefits of a diverse workforce and welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from disabled and ethnic minority candidates.

As a part of the Disability Confident Scheme, we endeavour, where possible, to offer an interview to candidates meeting the essential criteria of the role, who has a substantial physical/mental impairment which impacts their ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. We are committed to making our recruitment processes accessible to all and as part of this, we are flexible in the ways we give and receive information. If you would like to apply using a different format, please contact the Recruitment Team at jobs@rsc.org or on +44 (0) 1223 432229 and we will do our best to put any reasonable adjustments in place.

Job Type: Temporary Full-Time

Location Detail: Thomas Graham House,(290), Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WF