What's Happening?
Wiley Research is undergoing a significant transformation, reshaping its business model, operational methods, and competitive standing. To navigate this period of market disruption, the company is seeking a Senior Manager, Research Communications. This
role is crucial for developing and executing a comprehensive internal communications strategy for the Research business unit. The Senior Manager will be responsible for translating complex strategic developments into clear, human narratives, celebrating progress, and providing staff with the necessary context to understand their work's importance. The position requires close collaboration with Wiley's corporate communications function, ensuring Research-specific messaging aligns with broader enterprise themes while maintaining relevance for Research staff. The individual will attend senior leadership meetings to advise on communication implications in real-time and design a communication calendar to provide staff with predictable insights into the business direction, aiming to reduce speculation and disengagement during the transformation.
Why It's Important?
This strategic hire underscores the critical role of internal communications during periods of significant organizational change within a major U.S.-based global publishing and knowledge-services company. Effective communication is vital for maintaining employee morale, alignment, and productivity when a business model is being reshaped. For Wiley, a company with 8,840 employees, ensuring that staff understand the 'why' behind the transformation and how their contributions fit into the larger strategy is paramount to its success. A well-executed communication strategy can mitigate potential negative impacts such as employee disengagement, resistance to change, and loss of institutional knowledge. Conversely, a failure to communicate effectively could lead to increased uncertainty, decreased productivity, and potential talent attrition, impacting Wiley's ability to adapt and compete in a rapidly evolving market. The role's emphasis on clear, human narratives highlights a recognition that successful transformation relies not just on strategic decisions but also on the human element of understanding and buy-in.
What's Next?
The Senior Manager, Research Communications will be tasked with immediately developing and implementing a robust communications strategy. This will involve defining communication channels, cadences, audience segmentation, and narrative priorities on a quarterly and annual basis. A key initial step will be to establish a Research communications calendar to provide staff with regular updates, aiming to foster transparency and reduce uncertainty. The individual will also be responsible for creating and maintaining a repository of core Research messaging, including strategy narratives and transformation milestones, to ensure consistent and accurate information dissemination. Furthermore, the role will involve designing initiatives to engage Research staff, allowing them to provide feedback and understand their connection to the broader strategy. The effectiveness of these communications will be continuously tracked through feedback mechanisms and open rates, with data used to refine and improve future communication efforts.
Beyond the Headlines
The creation of this role reflects a broader trend in corporate strategy where internal communications are increasingly recognized as a strategic imperative, not merely a support function, especially during periods of significant disruption. For Wiley, navigating a transformation in its business model and competitive positioning in the knowledge-services sector, effective internal communication is crucial for fostering a culture of adaptability and resilience. The emphasis on 'human narratives' and acknowledging the 'genuine difficulty of working through market uncertainty' suggests a move towards more empathetic and transparent leadership communication. This approach can build trust and psychological safety among employees, which are essential for innovation and sustained performance. The long-term success of Wiley's transformation will likely hinge on its ability to not only implement new business models but also to effectively communicate these changes in a way that empowers and motivates its global workforce, potentially setting a precedent for other companies undergoing similar shifts.
