Employee Communications Management

University of Utah; Campus (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute is seeking an Internal Communications Manager to lead institute-wide strategies that inform, engage, and align staff across health care and research settings.

You will partner with senior leadership, HR, and operations to plan enterprise communications, measure impact, and refine channels—from intranet to newsletters and displays—while advancing a collaborative culture.

Qualifications

• Equivalency: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience.
• Manager level requires bachelor’s + 6 years or master’s + 4 years of related experience.
• Experience designing communications for a varied workforce.
• Experience in internal communications or related function.
• Strong interpersonal, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and develop internal communication strategies across intranet, newsletters, digital displays, manager messaging, and person-to-person interfacing.
• Collaborate with creative and digital teams to develop audience-centered content formats (video, storytelling, visuals).
• Partner with senior leadership, HR, and operations to plan and support enterprise communication needs.
• Provide strategic counsel to leaders on communication planning, timing, and delivery.
• Balance ongoing strategy with time-sensitive, high-priority organizational needs.
• Contribute to major enterprise initiatives including event planning and CEO-sponsored culture activities.
• Define and track communication metrics (reach, engagement, comprehension, action).
• Use employee data to refine strategies and improve processes.
• Coordinate with University of Utah Health internal communications teams for alignment.

Skills

Health care experience

Change management

Audience communication design

Interpersonal skills

SharePoint

Writing & editing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications or related field

Tools

SharePoint

Intranet platforms

Digital signage

Job description

Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)

Job Summary

The Internal Communications Manager leads the development and implementation of institute-wide strategies to inform, engage, and align Huntsman Cancer Institute’s varied staff as part of the collaborative Communications and Public Affairs team. The person ensures key messaging reaches employees across both health care and research environments effectively, regardless of role, location, or access to technology. This entails using multiple channels and strategies for audience-specific communication to clinical, research, administrative, and frontline staff (e.g., environmental services, nursing, lab, and community-based employees).

The Internal Communications Manager works with teams across the institute to foster employee engagement, plan for organizational growth and expansion, and reinforce the collaborative culture that sets Huntsman Cancer Institute apart.

Candidates who will be most successful in this role are positive, motivated, proactive, and people oriented. They are apprised of what’s happening across the organization, helping disseminate information while generating a sense of mission-driven pride and connection.

Huntsman Cancer Institute is committed to cancer prevention, care, and survivorship for all communities within the area we serve – which includes Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming – with impact worldwide.

In your cover letter or during your interview process, we invite you to share how your professional experiences have prepared you to serve as a member of our team as we work to reduce the cancer burden experienced by all people and communities. This may include description of your prior experiences related to research, prevention, clinical care, community engagement/outreach, training, administration, or other areas relevant to Huntsman Cancer Institute’s mission and this position.

Learn more about the great benefits of working for University of Utah: benefits.utah.edu

The department may choose to hire at any of the below job levels and associated pay rates based on their business need and budget.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities

• Oversee and develop successful strategies for various internal communication channels and methods such as the intranet, e-newsletters, digital displays, manager messaging, and person-to-person interfacing.
• Collaborate with creative and digital team members to develop innovative, audience-centered content formats—including video, storytelling, and visual communication that improve reach, understanding, and engagement across various employee groups.
• Partner with senior leadership, HR, and operations teams to plan and support enterprise communication needs, ensuring efforts are coordinated and streamlined.
• Provide strategic counsel to leaders on communication planning, timing, and delivery.
• Balance ongoing communication strategy with responsiveness to time-sensitive, high-priority, and evolving organizational needs.
• Participate in and contribute as a key member in major enterprise initiatives, including event planning and CEO -sponsored culture and communications needs.
• Define and track communication metrics, including reach, engagement, comprehension, and action.
• Use employee data and feedback to refine strategies and improve processes.
• Continuously assess and enhance tools, channels, and approaches to improve communication effectiveness; report outcomes and provide actionable recommendations to leadership.
• Coordinate with University of Utah Health internal communications teams to manage shared platforms and ensure alignment.

Minimum Qualifications

EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT : 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor’s degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).

Department may hire employee at one of the following job levels:

Manager, Employee Communications Management: Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 6 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 4 years of directly related work experience.

Preferences

• Experience in health care or academic medical center environment
• Experience supporting organizational change, culture initiatives, or employee engagement programs
• Demonstrated ability to design communications for a varied workforce
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or related field
• Experience in internal communications or related function
• Strong interpersonal, collaboration, and problem-solving skills
• Familiarity with multiple communication platforms and tools (SharePoint, newsletters, digital signage, etc.)
• Proven experience writing, editing, and delivering broad-scale communication to varied audiences across multiple platforms
• Demonstrated career progression, with increasing responsibility for communication strategy, stakeholder counsel, project ownership, audience reach, and/or leadership of major internal communications initiatives

Type

Special Instructions Summary

Additional Information

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at [phone] for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at [phone] or [phone] or University Human Resource Management at [phone] if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.

Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX ( OEO ). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the: University of Utah Non‑Discrimination page .

Online reports may be submitted at https://oeo.utah.edu

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As per University of Utah policy 5-108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members , a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.