Colleague Communication and Engagement Manager - Innovation

We're looking for a Colleague Communications & Engagement Manager to help bring National Grid's innovation story to life for our colleagues. National Grid is a leader in this area, with innovation running across the organization alongside our corporate venture capital lab, National Grid Partners (NGP).

You'll work closely with the Strategy, Innovation and Market Analytics team (which includes NGP) and each of the business unit innovation teams to translate innovations into compelling, credible stories that inform, align and engage employees.

We're a large and complex company - and innovation storytelling requires the ability to translate complex concepts, technologies and initiatives into simple and engaging content. This role will be vital in lifting the innovation story internally, raising awareness of NGP's portfolio of technologies, and finding new and engaging ways to share complex information, ensuring the innovation story is valued and engaged with by colleagues.

This role will report into internal communications but with a dotted line into NGP's marketing and communications team.

1. Strategy, Planning & Stakeholder Engagement

• Build relationships with teams in Innovation in SIMA, BU Innovation teams, and all of NGP to identify stories to share across the business (this will include joining regular status calls with NGP marketing to ensure strong collaboration).
• Input into annual communications plan for innovation across the business and ensure it works with larger internal communications plans and activations.
• Translate business priorities and innovation efforts into clear, employee-relevant narratives.

2. Innovation Storytelling

• Identify, develop and write stories about innovations across NG, pilots, startups, the NextGrid Alliance, relevant events and new ideas that demonstrate National Grid is leading the energy future.
• Ensure effective use of all internal communication channels and vehicles including Viva Engage, Grid:home (intranet), lunch and learns, campaigns, education series and other channels as applicable
• Turn complex or technical work into accessible, engaging content - delivered in flexible formats that can suit internal channels where team members can snack on content regularly or dive in for more details
• Highlight outcomes, case studies, learnings and impact internally
• Ensure the narrative arc is in line with our overall brand and external comms on innovation, while also ensuring colleagues are aware of the many initiatives at NG and are proud of the work and company

3. Measurement & Impact

• Regularly update via reports status and effectiveness of plan
• Track content, engagement and effectiveness and report same quarterly and annually
• Use feedback and data to continuously improve relevance and engagement
• Demonstrate how internal communications and storytelling supports alignment, grows pride in the NG brand and educates all colleagues

• 5 - 10 years in internal communications, corporate communications, marketing or related roles
• Educated to Degree level or equivalent experience in communications, marketing, or related field
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams, time zones and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• An expert relationship-builder and stakeholder manager.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, excellent narrative and storytelling skills
• Creative, continual improvement mindset, eager to learn and embrace new ways to engage colleagues across the business
• Ability to translate complex initiatives, technologies or ideas into stories that all colleagues can relate to
• Analytical and with experience measuring communications to create real actionable insights.

At National Grid, we're at the heart of a major change in how energy is produced, delivered and used. We connect millions of people to the energy they need across Great Britain and the US, while investing to support a cleaner, more reliable system for the future.

Joining us means working on challenges that matter. You'll help shape how the energy system evolves, supporting the transition to net zero while helping keep energy affordable and reliable.

This role is based in Boston, MA or Brooklyn, NY, with hybrid working.