Symphony Communications Manager 

Context/Scope

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol, home to an iconic portfolio of brands enjoyed in over 180 countries. The company’s ambition is to become the best-performing, most trusted, and most respected consumer products company in the world. To support this ambition, Diageo has launched the Symphony Programme a high-impact, enterprise-wide data transformation initiative focused on creating centralised, high-quality data products to drive business agility, digital scalability, and innovation. The programme spans multiple markets, functions, and technologies, aiming to rewire Diageo's decision-making and operational capabilities through data.

The Communications Lead plays a critical role in ensuring Symphony is understood, embraced, and supported at every level of the organisation. By creating and delivering a clear, consistent, and engaging communications strategy, this role ensures that stakeholders from executives to frontline teams are informed, aligned, and motivated throughout Symphony’s journey.

Purpose of Role:

To design and lead the Symphony communications strategy, ensuring clear, consistent, and targeted messaging that builds awareness, drives engagement, and supports adoption of Symphony across Diageo. The Communications Lead acts as Symphony’s voice, translating complex change into meaningful stories that resonate with diverse audiences globally.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop and Own the Communications Strategy by creating a clear and integrated approach that supports Symphony’s change and adoption objectives.
• Design and Deliver Communication Campaigns that explain Symphony’s purpose, progress, and benefits to stakeholders at all levels.
• Ensure Consistency and Clarity of Messaging by aligning communications across all Symphony workstreams, business functions, and markets.
• Tailor Messaging for Audiences by creating materials and channels suited for executives, managers, and employees to maximise understanding and impact.
• Manage Internal Channels including intranet hubs, newsletters, collaboration tools, and live events to share updates and engage stakeholders.
• Support Leadership Engagement by preparing executive updates, speeches, talking points, and visual storytelling for Symphony sponsors.
• Collaborate with Change and Training Teams to ensure communications are integrated with readiness and capability-building activities.
• Create Communication Assets and Toolkits for markets and functions to enable local adoption while maintaining global consistency.
• Monitor Effectiveness of Communications by gathering feedback, tracking engagement, and adapting strategies as needed.
• Champion Storytelling and Engagement to foster excitement, buy-in, and ownership across Diageo’s global community.

Qualifications and Experience

Required

• 10+ years’ experience in corporate communications, change communications, or employee engagement in large, global organisations.
• Proven ability to develop and deliver communication strategies that support business transformation.
• Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to simplify complex messages for diverse audiences.
• Experience using a range of internal communications channels (digital, social, live, print)
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, including experience preparing executive communications.
• Ability to operate effectively in complex, matrixed, and challenging environments.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or related field
• Experience in digital, data, or transformation communications (e.g., ERP, analytics, operating model changes)
• Familiarity with Agile programme environments and product-oriented communications
• Experience in FMCG/CPG or other multinational industries
• Professional communications certifications (e.g., CIPR, IABC, or equivalent)

Success Metrics

• Symphony communications strategy is executed consistently across functions and markets.
• Stakeholders report high awareness, understanding, and confidence in Symphony objectives and outcomes.
• Communication campaigns drive strong engagement across multiple channels and geographies.
• Executives and leaders are equipped with clear, compelling messaging to sponsor change.
• Feedback indicates that employees feel informed, involved, and supported throughout Symphony.
• Communications contribute directly to successful adoption and business readiness outcomes.

As a temporary contractor, you'll be employed by our Managed Service Provider, Magnit Global, who manage most of our temporary contract hiring, you will not be employed by Diageo.