Internal Communications Business Partner

Internal Communications Business Partner

Full-Time 60000 - 70000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Sage

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Shape and deliver impactful internal communications strategies for a global academic publisher.
  • Company: Join Sage, a mission-driven independent publisher empowering researchers and educators.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 25 days leave, hybrid working, private medical cover, and professional development support.
  • Other info: Join a collaborative team committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Why this job: Be a strategic advisor influencing communication that drives positive change in a diverse environment.
  • Qualifications: Experience in internal communications and ability to navigate complex situations with confidence.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 70000 £ per year.

Join us and be part of a mission-driven, independent publisher. You’ll work with a diverse group of people who share a passion for empowering researchers, educators, and institutions to shape the future.

About Sage

Sage is a global academic publisher of books, journals, and library resources with a growing range of technologies to enable discovery, access, and engagement. Believing that research and education are critical in shaping society, Sara Miller McCune founded Sage in 1965. Today, we are controlled by a group of trustees charged with maintaining our independence and mission indefinitely.

Our Guaranteed Independence Means

  • Do more—supporting an equitable academic future, furthering disciplines that drive social change, and helping social and behavioural science make an impact
  • Work together—building lasting relationships, championing diverse perspectives, and co-creating resources to transform teaching and learning
  • Think long-term—experimenting, taking risks, and investing in new ideas

About Our Team

You’ll join a collaborative and growing global Internal Communications team who partner with leaders and teams across the business—building trusted relationships and influencing how priorities, change, and strategy are communicated. Working across regions, we ensure communication is clear, inclusive, and relevant to diverse audiences—balancing global consistency with local nuance. Together, we help colleagues stay informed, connected, and engaged in Sage’s strategy, culture, and transformation.

Your New Role

As an Internal Communications Business Partner, you’ll act as a strategic advisor to senior leaders, shaping and enabling clear, credible and effective communication that supports Sage’s business strategy and employee experience. This is a high-impact partnering role where you’ll use judgement, insight, and influence to guide leaders on what to communicate, when, and how—particularly in complex or ambiguous situations.

You Will

  • Use sound judgement and insight to diagnose complex or ambiguous situations, advising leaders on what to communicate, when, and how—and the trade-offs involved
  • Develop and shape communications strategies and approaches that align with the company narrative, values and Employee Experience principles
  • Provide constructive challenge and influence decision-making, using insight, evidence and professional authority to strengthen outcomes
  • Own demand shaping and prioritisation across your portfolio, recommending what to accelerate, defer or stop based on business impact and risk
  • Proactively identify and assess communications and organisational risks, surfacing issues early and advising on mitigation to protect trust and alignment
  • Bring together activity across teams to create a clear, consistent narrative, helping colleagues understand priorities and how their work connects to wider goals
  • Interpret colleague insight and sentiment, using feedback and data to inform advice, improve communication approaches, and strengthen outcomes
  • Hold end-to-end accountability for the activation and delivery of internal communications, ensuring high standards of quality, clarity and impact

Could you be our next Internal Communications Business Partner? We’re looking for someone who combines strong communications expertise with the confidence and judgement to operate as a trusted advisor.

Are You

  • An experienced internal or corporate communications professional, used to operating in complex, global, or matrixed environments?
  • Able to build trusted relationships with leaders, using clear and thoughtful communication to influence decisions and direction?
  • Skilled at translating ambiguous information into clear, practical communication strategies that support understanding and progress?
  • A strategic thinker and problem-solver, confident in navigating ambiguity and balancing priorities, risks, and perspectives?
  • Experienced in supporting large-scale change communications including sensitive or high-impact activity such as transformation programmes, restructures, or technology-led change (including AI)?
  • Comfortable offering constructive challenge, using insight and evidence to shape thinking and strengthen outcomes?
  • Skilled at connecting business priorities with employee experience, ensuring communications feel relevant, meaningful, and easy to understand?
  • Energised by working across teams and stakeholders, bringing clarity, direction, and accountability while maintaining high standards of quality?

Overview Of Benefits

  • 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) with 2 additional floating personal days.
  • Hybrid working up to 2 days per week in office and a home working allowance.
  • Life assurance, income protection, and travel insurance.
  • Private medical cover and access to the company doctor.
  • Tuition scheme and support for pursuing professional qualifications, including access to Sage books and journals.
  • Variety of snacks and beverages available in the office.
  • Healthy lifestyle reimbursement and anniversary trips.
  • Access to Company loans (season ticket loan, rental deposit loan, cycle loan).

We’re a Disability Confident Employer (Level 1). If you’d like to apply under this scheme, please let us know in your application. We’re committed to making our recruitment process accessible and inclusive. If you’d like to request reasonable adjustments, please email humanresources@sagepub.co.uk. Please note we only accept applications via email if an adjustment has been agreed.

Closing date for applications June 24, 2026 — Please apply early to ensure your application is considered.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At Sage, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and to sustaining a culture that celebrates diversity, encourages authenticity, and builds a deep sense of belonging. We encourage applications from all members of society irrespective of age, disability, sex or gender identity, sexual orientation, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion, or belief as crafting value through diversity is what makes us strong.

EEO Statement

Sage is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified applicants. Accommodations will be made for any part of the interview process.

Internal Communications Business Partner employer: Sage

Sage is an exceptional employer that champions a mission-driven culture, fostering collaboration and innovation within a diverse global team. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we offer extensive benefits including hybrid working options, professional development support, and a focus on well-being, all while empowering our staff to make a meaningful impact in the academic publishing sector. Join us in shaping the future of research and education in a supportive environment that values inclusivity and long-term thinking.

Sage

Contact Details:

Sage Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Internal Communications Business Partner

Get Involved in PR Events

Dive into local PR meetups and workshops. Events like these are perfect for getting your face out there, chatting with industry pros, and spotting potential job openings at companies like Sage. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to learn about trends and make lasting connections.

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We think you need these skills to ace Internal Communications Business Partner

Internal Communications Expertise
Strategic Advisory Skills
Relationship Building
Influencing Skills
Communication Strategy Development
Judgement and Insight
Problem-Solving Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Get Your Story Straight:In public relations, storytelling is everything! Make sure your CV highlights your experience in crafting compelling narratives and managing media relations. Share specific examples of campaigns you've worked on, and don’t forget to include any press coverage you've generated—it's impressive proof of your skills!

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Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be more than just a recap of your CV; it’s your chance to shine! Emphasise why PR excites you and how your background fits with the mission of Sage. Show us that you’ve done your homework and speak to why you’re passionate about the work we do.

Connect the Dots:When you’re writing your application, think about how your past experiences link to the responsibilities of the role. Mention any internships, volunteer work, or projects that involved public speaking, event planning, or strategic communication. This will help us see how you can seamlessly bring your skills into a full-time position at Sage.

How to prepare for a job interview at Sage

Master the Art of Storytelling

In public relations, storytelling is key. We should prepare compelling narratives about past campaigns or projects we’ve worked on. Think about how we can illustrate our impact and creativity in those stories—be ready to discuss specific examples that showcase our skills in managing media relationships and crafting messages.

Know Your PR Tools Inside Out

Familiarity with PR tools like Cision or Meltwater is crucial. We need to be able to discuss how we’ve used these tools in past roles or projects. If we've worked on media lists, press releases, or analytics reports, let’s have those experiences ready to share along with metrics we’ve achieved to back up our claims.

Stay Current with Industry Trends

We’ve got to stay sharp on the latest trends and events impacting the public relations field. Having a few insights ready about recent campaigns or shifts in media landscapes can show that we’re engaged and knowledgeable. This will also help us make connections between our experiences and the current state of the industry.

Showcase Our Versatility

As full-time PR professionals, we need to demonstrate our adaptability. Be ready to talk about how we've handled challenging situations, managed crises, or adapted strategies on the fly. Employers will appreciate our ability to pivot and find solutions under pressure, so let’s have those scenarios at our fingertips to discuss.