Smith+Nephew
Director, Internal Communications, Enterprise AI Adoption
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At Smith+Nephew we design and manufacture technology that takes the limits off living.
This role leads the enterprise internal communications strategy for Smith+Nephew’s Enterprise AI adoption programme. The Director is accountable for shaping the Enterprise AI narrative, message architecture, leadership communication, employee engagement approach, channel strategy and communications governance across functions, regions and priority workflows. Working closely with executive sponsors, business leaders, programme teams, change management, HR, learning, technology and communications partners, this role ensures employees understand what Enterprise AI is, why it matters to RISE, what is changing, and how leaders and teams are expected to engage. The role provides senior communications counsel, protects message clarity and consistency, and helps build trust, confidence and momentum for responsible AI adoption across a complex global transformation.
What will you be doing?
- Define and lead the enterprise internal communications strategy for Enterprise AI adoption, ensuring clear, consistent and audience-relevant communication across all programme phases.
- Develop and maintain the Enterprise AI narrative, strategic messaging framework, leader messages and core storylines aligned to RISE, Way to Win, responsible AI and business value.
- Act as senior communications advisor to executive sponsors and enterprise leaders, providing counsel, talking points, Q&A, presentations and messaging support for town halls, leadership forums and employee communications.
- Set communication standards, governance, decision rights and editorial discipline for Enterprise AI communication across central, business, regional and pod-level teams.
- Design and manage the enterprise communication channel strategy, editorial calendar and sequencing of communication to ensure leaders and employees receive the right information at the right time.
- Lead development of high-impact communication assets, including leadership messages, intranet content, manager briefings, FAQs, town hall materials, launch communications, toolkits, videos, stories and employee engagement resources.
- Partner with change management to ensure communications support readiness, adoption, reinforcement and feedback, while maintaining clear accountability between communication and change activities.
- Develop audience-led communication approaches for executive leaders, people managers, impacted workflow users, all employees and specialist stakeholder groups across regions and functions.
- Lead employee engagement and feedback approaches that build understanding, trust and dialogue, identifying questions, concerns, resistance themes and opportunities to improve communication effectiveness.
- Coordinate communication activity across programme, product, HR, learning, technology, business, regional and functional communications teams to reduce duplication and protect message consistency.
- Establish and manage communication effectiveness measures, using data, employee insight and feedback to evaluate understanding, engagement, message reach and channel performance.
- Contribute to enterprise internal communications standards, playbooks, governance and knowledge sharing for future AI and transformation initiatives.
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Location: US / Europe (Hybrid Working Model)
Education: Bachelor’s degree (Communication, Psychology, or Business preferred but not required depending on experience)
Licenses/ Certifications: Internal communication, change communication or digital communication certification desirable
What will you need to be successful?
- Director-level experience leading internal communications for large, complex, global organisations
- Proven experience leading communications for enterprise transformation, digital, technology, data, AI or major organisational change programmes
- Deep experience developing enterprise narratives, strategic messaging frameworks, leader communication plans, employee engagement approaches and communication governance
- Experience advising executive leaders and senior stakeholders on complex, sensitive and high-profile communication topics
- Experience managing communication across multiple audiences, channels, regions and workstreams in highly matrixed environments
- Experience partnering with change management, HR, learning, technology, business and programme teams to support adoption and employee understanding at scale
- Significant experience setting communication standards, editorial discipline, governance and measurement for enterprise-wide communication programmes.
- Enterprise internal communications strategy and execution for complex technology, digital, AI or transformation programmes
- Enterprise narrative development, message architecture and audience-led storytelling
- Executive communications, leadership advisory, stakeholder counsel and senior-level influence
- Communication governance, decision rights, editorial planning and standards across global matrixed organisations
- Channel strategy, editorial calendar management and communication sequencing across multiple platforms and geographies
- Employee engagement, listening, feedback management and issue identification during periods of change
- Clear, human and practical writing for diverse employee audiences, leaders and managers
- Partnering with change management to align narrative, readiness, adoption and reinforcement while maintaining clear accountability
- Communication effectiveness measurement, using data, employee insight and feedback to improve reach, understanding and engagement
- Strategic thinking, sound judgement, collaboration and problem solving across global, matrixed organisations.
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The anticipated base compensation range for this position is $141,750 - $232,688 USD annually. The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate will be based on multiple factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge/skills, experience, and geographic location. Compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate. In addition to base pay, we offer competitive bonus and benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k), tuition reimbursement, medical leave programs, parental leave, generous PTO, paid company holidays, 8 hours of volunteer time annually, and a variety of wellness offerings such as EAP.
Inclusion + Belonging: Committed to Welcoming, Celebrating and Thriving. Learn more about our Employee Inclusion Groups on our website https://www.smith-nephew.com/
Your Future: 401k Matching Program, 401k Plus Program, Discounted Stock Options, Tuition Reimbursement
Work/Life Balance: Flexible Personal/Vacation Time Off, Paid Holidays, Flex Holidays, Paid Community Service Day
Your Wellbeing: Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account (Employer Contribution of $500+ annually), Employee Assistance Program, Parental Leave, Fertility and Adoption Assistance Program
Flexibility: Hybrid Work Model (For most professional roles)
Training: Hands-On, Team-Customized, Mentorship
Extra Perks: Discounts on fitness clubs, travel and more!
Smith+Nephew provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.
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