Internal Communications Manager (Exempt)

Illinois Secretary of State•Chicago, IL

20h•$70,000 - $90,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Internal Communications Manager leads the development, coordination, and strategies that keep Secretary of State staff informed, engaged, and connected to organizational priorities. This role creates clear, consistent, and compelling messaging across newsletters, videos, email communications, and internal digital platforms. The position also plays a key role in shaping internal communication policies, strengthening organizational culture and advancing new technologies that improve how information flows across the agency.

Requirements

A curious and strategic mindset with strong problem-solving skills, with excitement about producing social-oriented results.
Passion for communications as a driver of organizational health and employee engagement.
Equivalent Experience -or-a bachelor’s degree in a business-related field.
3+ years of experience in roles related to communications, organizational development and/or learning.

Nice To Haves

Strong writing, editing, and storytelling abilities
High technical agility and acumen navigating complicated and complex systems
Process-oriented, data-driven approach to designing and improving communication, workflows and information flow
Degree or Certification in Communications, Organization Design/Development, Change Management, Human Resources, Public Relations, Learning & Development, or related fields or certifications
Proactive, and committed to creating opportunities for staff to stay informed and make data-driven decisions
Familiarity with internal communications best practices and standards
Collaboration and influencing across departments and levels
Managing multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Launching internal newsletters or campaigns that improved awareness and engagement
Designing, implementing, or managing SharePoint knowledge sites that centralized resources and streamlined employee access
Creating data dashboards that visualize metrics in support of data-driven decision-making
Involvement with Lean Six Sigma, or similar process-improvement methods
Microsoft Power User/Champion-level experience with M365 communication tools
Use of M365 tools and automations in a self-service capacity, from the end-user standpoint

Responsibilities

Plan, write, and distribute internal newsletters, email updates, video messages, and other staff communications.
Ensure all internal messaging is timely, accurate, accessible, and aligned with organizational goals.
Partner with leadership to develop internal communication policies, guidelines, and best practices.
Design and implement strategies to improve communication effectiveness and staff engagement.
Build prototype dashboards and visualizations using Power Platform tools (Power BI, Power Apps, etc.) to demonstrate how data can be collected, presented, and used across the organization.
Collaborate with External Communications to ensure alignment between internal and public-facing messaging.
Coordinate with department heads to gather updates, influence communication planning, and share relevant information with staff.
Establish, manage, and continuously improve the agency’s internal website (intranet)
Maintain consistent messaging across all internal channels and ensure information is easy to find and understand.
Develop and maintain internal communication processes, workflows, and standards.
Performs other duties as required or assigned.