Internal Communications Manager

The British Academy

Hours
35 hours per week

About the Organisation

British Academy is the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences, established by Royal Charter in 1902. We mobilise these disciplines to understand the world and shape a brighter future. Today’s complex challenges can only be resolved by deepening our insight into people, culture, and societies. With a Fellowship of around 1,700 leading national and international academics, the Academy invests in researchers and projects across the UK and overseas; engages the public with fresh thinking and debates; and brings together scholars, government, business, and civil society to influence policy. The Academy currently has five directorates: Communications & Marketing; Development; Policy; Research; and Resources, plus a small Governance & Fellowship Team.

About the role

The British Academy, the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences, is seeking its first Internal Communications Manager to join the Communications and Marketing Team in our Communications Directorate. The post holder will manage the delivery of internal communications across the organisation. The Internal Communications Manager is a pivotal role in shaping how our colleagues collaborate and connect to deliver brilliant work.

You will ensure staff receive regular, clear and engaging information which builds understanding of how everyone across the organisation contributes to the British Academy’s strategic goals and fulfils its purpose as the UK’s voice for the humanities and social sciences. The Internal Communications Manager will design and deliver the internal communications strategy that engages staff with the organisation, aligns internal messaging with our ways of working, behaviours and corporate objectives, and celebrates our successes and shared purpose.

As a confident communications professional and leader, you are adept at managing relationships with senior stakeholders and understanding colleagues’ internal communications needs. You are a persuasive and confident communicator, able to deal with sensitive issues with tact and discretion. Experience in internal communications management and channels, including developing and managing a staff intranet, is essential for this role.

Responsibilities

Internal Communications Strategy and Planning:

• In partnership with the Deputy Head of Communications (Fellowship and Community), develop an internal communications strategy that prioritises clarity, accessibility and staff engagement, aligning with the British Academy’s 2027-31 strategic plan and People Strategy.
• Develop and manage an internal communications calendar covering Leadership communications, organisational and HR updates, staff engagement moments and storytelling that celebrates our work and demonstrates momentum and impact in delivering the Academy’s strategic goals.
• Ensure internal messaging aligns with our workplace values and provides visibility of the valuable work being delivered across all directorates and departments.
• Proactively identify and manage internal communications risks, monitoring emerging issues and supporting reactive communications when required.

Leadership and Management Communications:

• Support the Chief Executive, Senior Management Team and Heads of Department by drafting internal messages, briefings, scripts and Q&A materials.
• Develop templates, tools and guidance to help managers communicate effectively and accessibly with staff.
• Prepare materials for staff events and leadership updates.

Channel, Content and Editorial Management:

• Review and manage the Academy’s regular all-staff communications, including weekly staff and HR bulletins, fortnightly all-staff meetings and the daily media coverage round-up.
• Working closely with the Deputy Head of Communications (Fellowship and Community), develop and implement a staff intranet that enables staff to share and access information and resources more effectively and to collaborate within and across departments.
• Maintain editorial standards across internal communications channels to ensure accessibility, clarity and consistency.

Change and Organisational Communications:

• Ensure that organisational and operational updates are communicated to all staff with clarity and timeliness, and in alignment with accessibility best practice and our workplace values.
• Work with the HR team to ensure that colleagues feel informed and supported during periods of change.

Stakeholder Partnership and Collaboration:

• Build strong relationships across all departments to understand their internal communication needs.
• Work closely with senior Communications and Engagement colleagues to ensure that internal and external messaging is aligned.
• Build strong relationships with the EDI Manager and the Staff EDI Group to ensure that internal communications align with the Academy’s EDI Strategy.

Staff Listening and Engagement:

• Work with the HR team to deliver staff surveys and shape messaging about how staff feedback is being responded to.
• Work with the HR team to ensure that the Staff Engagement Forum provides an effective space for staff to raise ideas, issues and questions.
• Share stories, updates and celebrations from across the organisation, ensuring that different voices are platformed.
• Role model organisational values and be a leader for positive change

Internal Campaigns and Events:

• Coordinate internal campaigns on key themes such as wellbeing, inclusion, season launches or organisational priorities.
• Help plan and deliver staff events such as all-staff meetings, staff conferences and social events.

Analysis and Improvement:

• Monitor engagement across internal channels using Salesforce and SharePoint analytics and use these insights to continuously and iteratively optimise content.
• Gather and interpret feedback to continually evolve internal communications in terms of style, frequency and formats.
• Keep abreast of best practices and developments in internal communications.

Key Stakeholders:

• Senior Management Team; HR Team; IT Team; Research Directorate; Policy directorate; Communications and Engagement directorate; Facilities team; Front of House team

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Requirements:

• Proven experience in forming and maintaining relationships with internal stakeholders
• Positive attitude to challenges and collaboration with colleagues
• A professional and confident approach when dealing with a variety of people and work styles
• Interpersonal and teamwork skills, with the ability to clearly and concisely communicate aims, creative approach, priorities and concerns
• Sensitivity, tact and discretion
• Persuasive and confident communication

Knowledge & Skills:

• Experience of working collaboratively to develop and deliver impactful internal communications plans and campaigns
• Experience in developing and managing an intranet platform
• Experience of working with document management platforms such as Microsoft SharePoint
• Experience of using CRM systems to support internal staff mailings
• Extensive experience in proofreading, copywriting and editing
• Good eye for strong, impactful images and ability to produce simple visual assets
• Strong understanding of in-platform analytics, such as Salesforce Account Engagement and SharePoint, and how to use this data to drive performance

Proactivity & Planning:

• Manages time and resources effectively to achieve own and organisational objectives
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills
• Knowledge of best practices and emerging trends in internal communications

Problem Solving & Decision Making:

• Understand how and when to involve more senior colleagues in decision-making.
• Able to prioritise effectively and delegate when appropriate.

Leadership:

• Confident, open-minded, flexible and enthusiastic outlook
• Comfortable advising senior colleagues
• Model drive and enthusiasm for the Academy’s mission, focusing on achieving great work

Required Qualifications

• Educated to bachelor’s degree level, qualified by experience, or equivalent

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive benefits package 
• 34 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays, a subsidised canteen, and an excellent occupational pension.

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely

How to apply

• To apply, and to see the full job description and our workplace values, please apply to the Applied recruitment platform.
• We have a two-step approach to hiring, beginning with submitting an application through the Applied platform. This will be followed by a panel interview and may involve a task component.
• Please note that we use AI screening software to identify responses that have been copied from AI sources and are not your own work.
• The deadline for applications is 12:00 noon on 26th June 2026; however, we may close this role sooner if we receive a high volume of applications.  In these circumstances, we will give those who have shown interest 24 hours' notice of the change of deadline.

Interviews

• Interviews for this role are currently scheduled for 13th July 2026, but this may be subject to change.

Policies

Our senior management team have worked with staff to foster a culture of collaboration, respect, and empathy, in which all contributions are recognised as we work towards our common goals. Our people strategy and working practices focus on building strengths and sharing insights, with learning & development, wellbeing, and equality, diversity & inclusion at the centre of how we operate as an organisation. Investing in our staff and encouraging a healthy work/life balance is central to our success, as we move forward and continue to grow. Academy, including our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement.

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