Director of Internal Communications

Berkeley, CA

We are hiring a Director of Internal Communications to spearhead our efforts to inspire, inform, and engage our growing team. This critical leader will help define our internal communications strategy and work closely with our leadership team to execute against it.

We’re looking for a gifted communicator and storyteller that enjoys fast-paced growth, is comfortable with change and ambiguity, has a flexible growth mindset, and is excited about helping us build the UPSIDE story from the inside out! The focus will be on positioning the company's messaging consistently and effectively to reach and engage employees.

This role will report to the Chief Operating Officer and will work closely with the leadership team and numerous cross-functional teams within the company. They will also be a key lead in formulating the organizational response to any crisis PR situations. Executive maturity, sound decision making and judgment, and ability to maintain confidence are critical.

Responsibilities include…

Developing an internal communications strategy to connect employees to UPSIDE’s mission, values, and strategy; ensure that organizational initiatives and priorities are successfully and consistently communicated; and help employees feel engaged, supported and inspired
Creating and managing our internal communications processes and calendar to deliver important communications from leadership and across and between teams and ensure our employees know where to go for the information they need
Developing content (slides, talking points, videos, newsletters) for company communications in partnership with the UPSIDE leadership team
Providing strategic, direct hands-on support to key senior executives including consultation, message/content development and materials preparation for employee-facing events and meetings
Monitoring relevant topics and trends (internally and externally) that could impact our employees, our culture, or our company’s mission and make recommendations to leadership as appropriate, including proactive internal messaging
Working closely with our external communications and PR team to ensure consistency and coordination between internal and external messaging
Partnering with the people team on the strategy and execution of company celebrations and events (trainings, guest speakers)

About you…

Bachelor's degree, with journalism, communications, public relations or marketing preferred
10+ years of communications experience, preferably in internal communications spanning start-up and larger organizations through periods of significant growth. Experience with developing strategic plans and processes and communicating to a variety of different audiences is desired
Communicate with clarity, empathy, and creativity. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, a passion for storytelling and narrative building, and ability to proactively source and develop stories from employees
Have a strong sense for storytelling, messaging, themes and techniques that resonate with internal audiences/constituencies. Able to tailor approach to different audiences and receive and adjust to feedback
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build trust and relationships across all functions and levels of the organization, including working with and coaching senior executives
Strong understanding of digital communications and their optimal use in supporting change and information dissemination
Understanding of organizational change management practices and considerations
Balanced way of working - Keen eye for detail and a skillful writer, editor, and content producer with a track record of producing high quality work - but still able to prioritize and excel in a fast-paced environment
High level of interpersonal maturity, poise and professionalism
Thrive in dynamic, ambiguous environments with evolving responsibilities; growth mindset and highly flexible and adaptable; can achieve success and complete objectives in the absence of well-defined systems, procedures, and benchmarks
Able to handle high level confidential matters with discretion and professionalism

Who you’ll work with…

This role will partner with every function! It’s a rare opportunity to learn different parts of the business and industry and to shape the future of UPSIDE from the inside out!
You’ll work closely with our Chief Operating Officer, People team, and Communications and Branding teams and will interact regularly with our Leadership team and Directors across the organization.

Key Contributions in First Year…

Develop comprehensive Internal Comms Strategic Plan and annual calendar based on input from key stakeholders (employees, leadership)
Spearhead a cadence of live communications events such as All Team Meetings, fireside chats, and Leadership summits that are complemented with asynchronous announcements and multimedia communications
Build strong working relationships with leadership and provide coaching to improve effectiveness of communication
Improve employee understanding of UPSIDE strategy and approach and clarity around areas of high interest (compensation, development, resource allocation)
Ensure that company communications and messages are resonating equally with different employee groups (level, demographic, function, etc.)

UPSIDE Benefits!

Stock options for all full-time incoming team members!
90-100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for team members (medical [including HSA and FSA], dental, and vision)
Pet insurance for your furry family members!
Unlimited PTO
DE&I (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) Council and People Engagement Programs
Company-sponsored learning & development opportunities

UPSIDE Foods is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Our company-wide mission is to create a product for everyone, so we are deeply committed to having teams and leaders that reflect this mission.

Apply