Role: Sr. Communications Manager
Location: Mountain View, CA, 94043 (Hybrid)
Duration: 6 Months
Role Overview & Core Responsibilities with Collaboration & Stakeholder Exposure
- Senior Employee Communications Manager supporting an engineering organization, responsible for internal communications strategy and execution across leadership announcements, org updates, technical storytelling, all-hands communications, company meeting narratives, and Hack Week support.
- Partner closely with engineering leaders, VPs, communications partners, and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Translate technical and infrastructure topics into clear messaging for broad employee audiences.
- Independently engage senior leaders, gather information, provide communications counsel, and influence outcomes.
- Own both strategy and execution, including planning, writing, publishing, and distribution of communications.
Skills & Capabilities (Technical and Soft Skills)
- Strong employee/internal communications expertise, preferably in engineering or technical environments.
- Advanced AI fluency required:
o Experience using Copilot and AI as a strategic partner, not just for drafting or proofreading.
o Familiarity with agents, skills, automation, reusable workflows, and AI-enabled productivity.
- Exceptional writing, editing, storytelling, and narrative development skills.
- Strategic thinker who can connect impacts across teams, ask thoughtful questions, and challenge assumptions when needed.
- Strong business acumen and executive stakeholder management.
- Comfortable with ambiguity, frequent change, fast-paced environments, and competing priorities.
- Demonstrated creativity, innovation, collaboration, and adaptability.
- Proficiency with Microsoft tools, Google Workspace, SharePoint, Slack, and related collaboration platforms.
Background, Experience & Education
- Strong preference for candidates with engineering, infrastructure, or technology communications experience.
- Engineering degree or engineering practitioner background not required; ability to communicate effectively with engineers is required.
- Approximately 6+ years of employee communications experience preferred.
- Startup and high-growth company experience viewed favorably due to pace and changing priorities.
- Contracting experience is acceptable, including multiple shorter-term engagements.
- Seeking fresh talent; previously considered candidates may be reviewed if experience has significantly evolved.
Additional Operational or Notable Details
- Single headcount supporting the engineering communications team.
- Need driven by maternity leave coverage and staffing changes, while also supporting key annual initiatives such as Hack Week.
- Role is approximately 99% internal communications.
- High-volume communications environment where AI-enabled productivity is considered essential.
- Successful candidates must quickly learn organizational priorities, tools, and internal processes.
- Team experiences frequent shifts in priorities, making flexibility and adaptability critical.
- Extension or future conversion may be possible but is not guaranteed.
- Hiring team would like someone to start as soon as possible, though fit is prioritized over immediate availability.
Key screening focus areas:
- Engineering/technical communications background
- Advanced AI fluency
- Strategic communications expertise
- Strong writing ability o
- Executive presence
- Problem-solving and strategic thinking
- Comfort with ambiguity and change
- Hands-on execution mindset
Candidate Expectations
- Understand and communicate effectively within engineering organizations.
- Demonstrate advanced AI usage and practical application.
- Show strong writing samples and strategic communications thinking.
- Be prepared for a hands-on role that combines strategy, execution, stakeholder management, and rapid adaptation to changing business needs.
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