Internal Communications Specialist

About AARNet

Australia’s Academic and Research Network (AARNet) was established in 1989 and is widely regarded as the founder of the Internet in Australia and renowned as the architect, builder and operator of world-class network infrastructure for research and education. 

As Australia’s National Research and Education Network (NREN). We connect over one million users — researchers, faculty, staff, students, hospitals, vocational training providers, schools and museums — across Australia.

We are an organisation of innovators, doers, and courageous thinkers. We don’t settle for the status quo; instead, we anticipate the future needs of our customers and build solutions today. If you share our imagination, foresight, and drive to shape the future, why not come and join us?

https://www.aarnet.edu.au/

Role Purpose

The Internal Communications Specialist is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive internal communication strategies that drive employee engagement, facilitate organizational change, and enhance knowledge sharing across AARNet. This role serves as a strategic partner to executive leadership, ensuring consistent, clear, and impactful messaging throughout the organization.

As a critical enabler of organizational effectiveness, the Internal Communications Specialist will design and manage internal communication platforms and systems that foster collaboration, transparency, and knowledge transfer. This role will be instrumental in building a connected, informed, and engaged workforce that understands and actively contributes to AARNet's strategic objectives.

The Internal Communications Specialist will report to the Director, Marketing Communications and work closely with the CEO, People & Culture Office and the broader executive team to craft compelling narratives that bring AARNet's vision to life, support transformational initiatives, and maintain alignment between strategic priorities and day-to-day operations.

Key Accountabilities

In this role, your main responsibilities are:

Business Partnering & Executive Communications

• Partner with executive leadership to develop and deliver strategic internal communications that cascade organizational priorities and drive engagement
• Craft executive communications including all-staff announcements, town halls, leadership messages, and Board updates
• Coach and support senior leaders on effective communication techniques and message delivery
• Develop executive visibility programs that strengthen leadership connection with employees
• Create compelling content that translates complex strategic initiatives into clear, actionable messages for all employee levels

Change Management Communications

• Design and implement communication strategies that support major organizational change initiatives
• Develop change communication frameworks and toolkits to ensure consistent messaging across transformation programs
• Partner with project teams to identify communication needs, stakeholder impacts, and engagement strategies
• Create feedback mechanisms to gauge employee sentiment and adjust communication approaches accordingly
• Monitor and measure the effectiveness of change communications to ensure adoption and minimize resistance

Internal Knowledge Management

• Lead the development and management of internal communication platforms, including intranet, collaboration tools, and knowledge repositories
• Establish governance frameworks for content management, ensuring information accuracy, relevance, and accessibility
• Design and implement knowledge sharing initiatives that break down silos and promote cross-functional collaboration
• Create systematic approaches for capturing, organizing, and disseminating organizational knowledge and best practices
• Drive adoption of collaboration platforms through training, engagement campaigns, and user support
• Develop metrics and analytics to measure platform effectiveness and knowledge sharing behaviors

Strategic Communications Planning

• Develop annual internal communications strategies aligned with business objectives
• Create integrated communication campaigns that reinforce organizational culture and values
• Establish communication standards, guidelines, and best practices across the organization
• Measure and report on internal communication effectiveness using data-driven insights

Skills, experience & qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Business, or related field
• 10+ years of progressive experience in internal communications, with demonstrated success in both agency and corporate environments
• Proven track record in executive communications and C-suite stakeholder management
• Extensive experience in change management communications for large-scale organizational transformations
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing knowledge management systems and collaboration platforms
• Strong experience with digital communication tools, intranets, and enterprise collaboration technologies
• Exceptional writing and editing skills with ability to adapt tone and style for diverse audiences
• Strategic thinking capabilities with proven ability to translate business objectives into communication strategies
• Experience in the technology, telecommunications, or education sectors highly regarded
• Strong project management skills with ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Data-driven approach to measuring communication effectiveness and ROI
• Demonstrated ability to influence without authority and build trust across all organizational levels