Overview:
In this highly strategic role, you’ll serve as a trusted partner to executive leadership and teams across AFNA headquarters, manufacturing sites, and global affiliates. You’ll lead the charge in building thoughtful, creative communications strategies that connect employees to our purpose, values, and priorities—helping them understand not just what we do, but why it matters.
Responsibilities:
We’re looking for a dynamic, driven Internal Communications Manager who’s ready to energize, align, and inspire teams across our business. This is more than a communications role—it’s an opportunity to shape the employee experience and bring our company’s purpose to life.
In this highly strategic role, you’ll serve as a trusted partner to executive leadership and teams across AFNA headquarters, manufacturing sites, and global affiliates. You’ll lead the charge in building thoughtful, creative communications strategies that connect employees to our purpose, values, and priorities—helping them understand not just what we do, but why it matters.
Whether launching company-wide initiatives, supporting local activation, or rolling out culture-building campaigns, you’ll use your storytelling expertise, project management savvy, and brand mindset to make every message count. If you’re passionate about employee engagement, thrive in fast-paced environments, and want to make a tangible impact, we’d love to meet you.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Internal Communications
- Develop and drive an annual internal communications strategy aligned with company goals—especially around innovation, best-place-to-work culture, and operational excellence.
- Act as a strategic advisor to leadership and departments across the business, providing expert recommendations on internal messaging and campaign execution.
- Proactively surface and shape stories that reflect our mission, values, and culture in action.
Storytelling & Communication Channel Management
- Own the editorial voice of internal communications, managing the internal communications calendar, storytelling strategy, and key message pillars across internal channels.
- Lead end-to-end storytelling creation—everything from executive messages and employee newsletters to video scripts, intranet updates, and onsite posters.
- Collaborate with internal creative teams, agencies, and cross-functional stakeholders to deliver internal narratives that are high-impact and beautifully executed.
Employee Engagement & Culture
- Develop, propose and champion programs that build a connected, informed, and inspired workforce—including national and global surveys, awards, celebrations, and cultural activations.
- Elevate our physical and digital employee communications hubs to ensure they’re vibrant, relevant, and reflective of our employee base.
- Support company-wide events and leadership forums by ensuring strong messaging development and message clarity.
Leadership & Stakeholder Support
- Translate organizational business priorities coming from multiple stakeholders into compelling, actionable, and measurable internal communication strategies.
Brand Stewardship & Governance
- Serve as guardian for global internal brand protocols—including usage of the Ajinomoto Group logo, mascot, and other visual identifiers—to ensure consistency and compliance.
- Establishing internal compliance processes for usage and consistency of global internal brand protocols and policies
- Partner with global colleagues to align internal communications practices and tools across regions.
Measurement & Reporting
- Design and manage systems to measure engagement and effectiveness across internal campaigns.
- Translate data into actionable insights and continuous improvements in message delivery and channel performance.
Who You Are
You’re a rare combination of strategist and executor. You see the big picture—and then roll up your sleeves to make it happen. You have the executive presence to advise senior leaders, the empathy to connect with employees at all levels, and the creativity to craft content that breaks through the noise.
- Bachelor’s Degree in marketing, communications or a related field
- 5+ years progressive experience in internal communications, corporate communications, or employee engagement—preferably within a matrixed or manufacturing organization
- A proven ability to lead strategic initiatives and produce high-quality storylines across a range of formats and channels
- Strong editorial instincts and the ability to distill complex information into clear, compelling messaging
- Exceptional relationship-building skills and emotional intelligence
- Experience working with intranet tools, survey platforms, and internal analytics.
- A deep understanding of company culture as a lever for performance, engagement, and brand alignment.
- Experience working across manufacturing and corporate fields a plus
- Experience working across multiple business functions, with a proven ability to navigate different stakeholder needs and perspectives.
- Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills with attention to tone, style, and audience
- Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
- Ability to work independently, take initiative, and drive projects forward while maintaining a collaborative mindset
- A keen eye for visual communication and an understanding of design principles
- Knowledge of Japanese a plus
- Up to 20% travel may be required; occasional off-site and off-hours may be required
- Range of Pay $120,000 - $130,000 annually. Plus, annual bonus.
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