Public Affairs Officer

Public Affairs Officer 2 (APS 6) - $91,057 - $103,642 per annum plus superannuation
- Portfolio Strategy Division
- Brisbane, QLD,Canberra, ACT,Melbourne, VIC,Sydney, NSW
- Communicate nationally significant and compelling work.
- Join a friendly and high performing branch.
- Diverse perspectives and experiences valued.

**Who we are**
We are the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and we lead Australia’s response to climate change and energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water. The Communication and Media Branch delivers strategic communications and media advice across all areas of the department and provides internal and corporate communications in support of the department and our ministers. We sit alongside strategic policy and play a unique role in communicating nationally significant and compelling work to a broad range of stakeholders.

**The Job**
The successful applicant will join a friendly and high performing branch to deliver communications outcomes.

Key responsibilities include:
**Strategic Communications**:
Develop and implement communication strategies and plans aligned with departmental priorities. Confidently present messages in a clear, concise and articulate manner. Identify target audiences, draft key messages, research effective channels and evaluate your success.

**Stakeholder Engagement**:
Build and sustain relationships with a network of internal and external stakeholders. Proactively provide assistance to build trust and a mutually beneficial relationship. Anticipate and be responsive to internal and external client needs.

**Team Builder**:
Be a team player, identify learning opportunities for others and empower them by delegating tasks. Make time for people and offer full support when required. Recognise the different working styles of individuals, appreciate diversity, and see things from different perspectives.

**Risk Management**:
Understand the department’s objectives and align communications activities accordingly. Consider the ramifications of issues and longer-term impact of your work and the team’s work. Acknowledge mistakes and learn from them and seek guidance and advice when required.

**Please note** that this recruitment process is advertised as both an ongoing and non-ongoing position. If an offer of non-ongoing employment is made, the successful applicant would be employed for an initial period of 12 months with the possibility of extension up to a maximum period of 3 years in total. Should a non-ongoing position become ongoing then the merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of eighteen months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may be used to fill the vacancy on an ongoing basis.

**What we are looking for**

**Knowledge and experience**
- Experience in developing communications tactics and activities that are guided by research, user testing, data and evidence-based methods, and monitoring and evaluating outcomes for continuous improvement.
- Broad range of communications experience, including strategic communications, social media, corporate communications, design and advertising campaigns.
- Demonstrated prior experience in a communications role in the Australian Public Service.

**Skills and capabilities**
- Strong communications skills including the ability to deliver high quality written communications strategies, products, talking points and briefs written in accessible and plain English.
- Ability to develop, maintain and harness productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders founded on trust.
- The ability to exercise judgement, operate independently and manage competing and changing work priorities.

**Mandatory qualifications**
- A cadetship or a relevant public affairs degree or diploma and 5 years’ relevant work experience.

**For additional information, please read the Job Description below.