Director, Internal Communications

At Suntory Global Spirits, we craft spirits of the highest quality and deliver brilliant experiences to people around the world. Suntory Global Spirits has evolved into the world's third largest leading premium spirits company ... where each employee is treated like family and trusted with legacy. With our greatest assets - our premium spirits and our people - we're driving growth through impactful marketing, innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. Suntory Global Spirits is a place where you can come Unleash your Spirit by making an impact each and every day.

What makes this a great opportunity?

The Internal communications team is a critical enabler of the transformation underway at Suntory Global Spirit's and our ambition to become the World’s Most Admired Premium Spirits Company. Operating within the Global Corporate Communications team, the Director, Internal Communications will serve as the day-to-day lead of SGS communication across enterprise needs.

Reporting directly to the Head of Global Internal Communications, this role will focus on several areas to support our Company culture and organization, including:

- Senior counsel and support on complex enterprise narratives

- Enterprise transformation and change communications

- Strategic partnership with executives across several global functions and business areas

- Crisis and high-stakes communications

Role Responsibilities

Position Overview
Reporting directly to the Sr. Director of Global Internal Communications, this role is a senior member of the Global Internal Communications team responsible for helping shape how Suntory Global Spirits communicates with and engages employees around our business strategy, transformation and priorities.
The role will serve as a strategic communications partner to senior executives and global functions, providing counsel on complex and high-profile communications and translating business priorities into clear, compelling enterprise narratives. The successful candidate will bring strong judgment, executive presence and the ability to navigate a complex global organization, often working across multiple stakeholders and priorities under tight timelines.
This role will also play an important part in strengthening the quality, consistency and coordination of internal communications across the company, partnering closely with global, regional and functional Communications and People, Culture & Communications teams.

Key Responsibilities
• Serve as a strategic communications adviser to senior leaders, including members of the executive leadership team, providing counsel on communications strategy, messaging, sequencing and employee engagement.
• Develop and shape complex enterprise narratives that connect company strategy, business performance, organizational priorities and transformation into clear and compelling communications for employees.
• Lead communications for organizational change, partnering closely with senior leaders, HR and other stakeholders to develop integrated strategies, leader communications, messaging, FAQs and employee engagement plans for key company initiatives.
• Provide communications leadership for high-stakes and sensitive issues, bringing sound judgment, discretion and a strong understanding of employee and organizational dynamics to rapidly evolving situations.
• Build trusted relationships across the organization, working effectively with senior executives and stakeholders across global functions, regions and business areas to understand priorities, anticipate communications needs and provide proactive counsel.
• Develop executive communications and content for a range of internal channels and forums, including leadership announcements, town halls, senior leadership meetings, employee events, talking points, presentations and other strategic communications.
• Drive cross-functional communications planning and integration, identifying connections across business priorities and helping ensure employees receive coordinated, timely and consistent communications.
• Partner closely with regional and functional communications teams to ensure enterprise communications are globally relevant while allowing for appropriate regional and local context.
• Maintain a high bar for communications quality, reviewing and shaping significant enterprise communications to strengthen clarity, consistency, tone and alignment with company strategy and culture.
• Support crisis and issues communications, working with Corporate Communications, Legal, HR and other partners to develop employee communications and leader guidance when speed, accuracy and judgment are critical.
• Contribute to the continued evolution of the Global Internal Communications function, identifying opportunities to simplify ways of working, including championing the use of AI, strengthen communications planning and improve how the company reaches and engages employees.

Qualifications

Experience and Capabilities
• Deep internal communications expertise, with a demonstrated track record leading enterprise internal communications and serving as a trusted communications adviser to C-suite leaders within a complex global organization.
• Strong experience developing communications strategies and narratives for enterprise transformation, organizational change and complex business priorities.
• Exceptional writing, editing and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex topics into clear, concise and compelling communications.
• Strong executive presence, judgment and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to counsel senior leaders, constructively challenge and navigate differing stakeholder perspectives.
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships and influence across functions, geographies and levels in a global, matrixed organization.
• Strong technical and digital fluency, with the curiosity and judgment to explore and apply AI and emerging communications technologies skillfully, thoughtfully and responsibly.
• Experience producing high-profile internal meetings and events, including executive town halls and leadership forums, with strong attention to content, audience experience, production and execution.
• Sound judgment and discretion in managing sensitive and confidential information.
• Strategic and highly collaborative, with a hands-on approach and the ability to move fluidly between senior counsel, strategy development and execution.

Qualifications
• Strong writing and communications skills, including fluent English.
• Bachelor’s degree in communications or a related field.
• 10+ years combined experience in internal communications or corporate communications.
• Highly collaborative leader with experience working in cross-functional teams and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Experience working in highly matrixed organizations.
• Proven ability to lead large and complex projects.
• Travel: up to 20%, including global travel.

The salary range for this role is $165,000- $180,000 along with an annual bonus, 401K match, profit sharing, and medical and wellness benefits. The salary range is commensurate with the candidate’s location, experience, and skillset. This role is based in either our Chicago office or New York office and is not eligible for relocation.

While relocation, immigration, and/or tax compliance support are not guaranteed, we may offer assistance to successful candidates depending on factors such as role requirements in accordance with company guidelines.

At Suntory Global Spirits, people are our number one priority, and we believe our people grow together in diverse and inclusive environments where their unique insights, experiences and backgrounds are valued and respected. Suntory Global Spirits is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, military veteran status and all other characteristics, attributes or choices protected by law. All recruitment and hiring decisions are based on an applicant’s skills and experience.