Associate Director, Internal Communications & Employee Experience - UniFirst

Shape How 16,000 Team Partners Connect, Engage, and Thrive
At UniFirst, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As a $2 billion leader in uniform and facility services with 16,000 Team Partners across the U.S. and Canada, ee are growing and transforming fast—and we’re committed to building a workplace where every person feels informed, inspired, and proud to contribute.

The Associate Director of Internal Communications & Employee Experience is a strategic leader responsible for shaping how we inform, engage, and inspire UniFirst Team Partners across all levels of the organization. This is a high-visibility role that involves designing and driving communication strategies and programs to connect our people to our Mission, Core Values, and growth vision. This role combines communication strategy, employee engagement, and culture-building initiatives to ensure our Team Partners feel connected to our mission to Always Deliver for our customers, communities, and one another.

What You will Do

Strategic Leadership & Planning
• Design and deliver a multi-year communication and engagement strategy that strengthens connection, culture, and employee experience, which drives measurable improvements in retention and performance, engagement, belonging, and recognition.
• Lead, mentor, and grow the team while staying actively involved in the work, from strategy development to content creation.
• Build strong relationships and partner with senior, business, and operational leaders across the organization to drive alignment and clear communication, ensuring consistent messaging during business updates, organizational changes, and cultural initiatives.

Create Connection
• Oversee company-wide communication channels (intranet, newsletters, town halls, etc.) to ensure every Team Partner stays informed and connected.
• Create compelling content for internal and business communications channels, including intranet, newsletters, digital signage, and video messages.
• Guide project communications—own the rollout communications for key initiatives, such as system launches, operational updates, or policy changes.
• Support field and frontline teams—develop clear, actionable messaging that reaches non-desk employees where they are.

Elevate the Employee Experience
• Collaborate with Operations, HR, and business leaders to strengthen Team Partner engagement and recognition.
• Design campaigns and events that celebrate milestones, reinforce values, and help our people feel connected to the UniFirst mission.
• Act as a champion for culture, ensuring every message reflects who we are and what we stand for.
• Oversee annual engagement and pulse surveys—vendor selection, rollout, data analysis, and action planning.

Drive Results
• Establish metrics and KPIs to measure communication effectiveness and employee engagement, using insights to improve strategies.

What We’re Looking For
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Public Relations, Marketing, HR, or a related field; master’s degree a plus.
• 10+ years of experience in internal communications, employee engagement, or corporate communications, ideally in a multi-location organization of similar scale.
• Proven experience advising senior executives and managing communications during periods of growth and change.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with a history of building and inspiring teams.
• Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills with a focus on clarity and connection.
• Experience navigating fast-paced environments with a focus on both strategy and execution.
• Experience leveraging technology platforms and analytics to enhance communications and measure impact.
• A genuine passion for culture, connection, and creating an outstanding employee experience.

Why Join Us
At UniFirst, our people are the heart of everything we do. This is an opportunity to lead a high-impact function that drives engagement and culture across a $2B organization with deep roots and ambitious growth plans. You will have the platform to shape meaningful connections, elevate leadership voices, and help 16,000 Team Partners feel proud and supported in their work every day.

Benefits & Perks:

401K with Company Match, Profit Sharing, Health Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, Tuition Reimbursement, 30% Employee Discount, Employee Referral Bonuses.

UniFirst is an international leader in garment & Uniform services industry. We currently employ over 14,000 team partners who serve 300,000 business customer locations throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

We were included in the top 10 of Selling Power magazine’s “Best Companies to Sell For” list and recognized on Forbes magazine’s “Platinum 400 – Best Big Companies” list. As an 80-year old company focused on annual growth, there’s never been a better time to join our team. 

UniFirst is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or employment against any individual on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ancestry, religion, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, citizenship, or any other factor protected by anti-discrimination laws