Senior Communications Manager

Contract: Fixed term (18 months)

Location: London

About the role

The Senior Communications Manager (Change Communications & Transformation), together with the Head of Leadership Communications and Global Employee Engagement Director, leads change communications efforts. They develop and deliver communications that drive cultural and structural changes. This includes work on transformation projects, change processes, and leadership capability building focused on change and transformation. This senior role within the worldwide employee involvement group combines deep expertise in change communications, workforce connection and collaborator management.

The role will be passionate about messaging related to organizational shifts and renewal initiatives but with elements of leadership focused change comms support and training. It will work closely with the CRLT, market CR colleagues, the finance leadership team, and executive team. It will also collaborate with senior leadership and others to ensure our transition and renewal communications and tools are consistent, clear, and strategically aligned.

Role Responsibilities

• Act as the main comms adviser for global strategic change programmes. Coordinate with other comms colleagues and team leads to ensure communication is consistent and clear for employees during transition.
• Experience and skill in sophisticated transformation messaging and leadership involvement.
• Work independently, while exercising good judgement on matters requiring escalation and cross-stakeholder alignment under pressure.
• Act as CR lead on the delivery of communications for the Accelerate Programme alongside Strategy and transformation. Must be able to independently conduct briefings at the highest level of the organisation on this work.
• Collaborate with the Director of Worldwide Employee Engagement and Head of Leadership Communications. Provide CR input to internal content for leaders and wider teams. Support selective announcements, media handling preparation, and briefing training sessions on change communications with the CEO and CFO.
• Act as independent lead for the Transformation CFO and a connector within various change comms processes.
• Act as a senior leader within the Employee Engagement team to provide coaching and upskilling to colleagues as we focus on the professional development and change communication work of our high-performing communications team.
• Provide counsel to senior management and executives during key moments through the year as vital including ahead of SLG, MDs, and employee briefings. Ensuring a timely, consistent, and effective response to mitigate reputational risk, making use of the EE data and listening data we have.

What you'll bring

• It is essential that the Senior Communications Manager – Change Communications and Leadership - has demonstrable experience of navigating complex change processes, engaging leadership teams, communicating issues, and managing high-pressure situations to deliver clear, consistent, and effective messaging.
• A minimum of 7–10 years of experience in corporate and financial communications is required, ideally employee engagement also.
• In addition, the successful candidate will have strong integrated communications experience.
• Strong, current understanding of content and digital channels.
• Outstanding writing and presentation skills.
• Outstanding project management and project leadership skills with proven experience.
• Able to build strong relationships with broad spectrum of people and align them from idea to implementation.
• Calm under pressure, with experience in managing issues and applying sound judgment.
• Has experience of working in a highly commercial environment. Good understanding of Diageo’s commercial drivers and disciplines an advantage.
• Has the ability to work with leaders and colleagues at all levels and the capability and confidence to provide direction and support to those leaders, and other colleagues up to the most senior levels in Diageo.
• Managing complexity. Demonstrated track record of delivering performance within a matrixed, complex, multi-stakeholder environment.
• Strong drive, resilience and determination.
• Highly tuned functional and behavioural skills with demonstrable track record.
• Clear understanding of the obligations faced by a regulated, listed business.
• Able to flex leadership style to influence at the most levels within the business.

Flexible Working Statement

Flexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you so that you’re supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one.

Diversity statement

Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. And creating an inclusive culture, where everyone feels valued and that they can belong, is a crucial part of this. We embrace diversity in the broadest possible sense. This means that you’ll be encouraged and celebrated for who you are just by being you. You’ll be part of and help build and champion an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, mindsets, and more.

Our ambition is to build the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world. Join us and help transform our business as we take our brands to the next level and build new ones as part of crafting the next generation of celebrations for consumers around the world.

With over 200 brands sold in more than 180 countries, we’re the world’s leading premium drinks company. Every day, over 29,000 talented people come together at Diageo to create the magic behind our much-loved brands. From iconic names to innovative newcomers – the brands we’re building are rooted in culture and local communities. Our ambition is to be one of the best performing, most trusted and most respected consumer products companies in the world.

Our founders, such as Arthur Guinness, John Walker, and Charles Tanqueray, were visionary entrepreneurs whose brilliant minds helped shape the alcohol industry. And through our people, their legacy lives on. Join us, and you’ll collaborate with talented thinkers, leaders, and makers from all corners of the world. Together, you’ll innovate and push boundaries, shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future that we can all be proud of.

With diversity at our core, we celebrate our people's unique passions, commitments and specialist skills. Because when varied voices, mindsets, and personalities come together, great ideas are born. In our supportive culture, your voice will be heard and you’ll be empowered to be you. Just bring your ambition, curiosity and ideas, and we’ll celebrate your work and help you reach your fullest potential.

Primary Location: London, England