Ses Band 1, Branch Head, Communication and Media

Senior Executive Service Band 1
- Operations Division
- Canberra, ACT

**Who we are**:
We are the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and help protect our environment, heritage, and water. We provide advice to the Australian Government around climate, energy, and the environment, and administer legislation. The department also enforce laws relating to the protection of the environment and biodiversity, wildlife, fuel quality and greenhouse gas storage.

We deliver policies and programs to:

- help address climate change and build a more innovative, future ready energy system,
- help protect, restore, and manage Australia’s land and ocean environment and heritage,
- improve the health of our rivers and freshwater ecosystems and manage Australia’s water resources for industry and regional communities.
- advance Australia’s interests in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean.

**About the Branch**
The Communications and Media Branch consists of skilled public affairs staff and is the centralised communication hub for the department. The Branch provides communication advice and creative content delivery to help achieve the department's vision and purposes.

This includes media and social media advice and services, communication services for internal and external audiences and Australian Government Campaign management. The Branch also provides professional and coordinated web, videography and graphic design services. The Branch also works with embedded communication areas and independent teams to ensure all communication effort is coordinated, integrated and aligned. The Branch currently supports the following teams:

- Communication Strategy and Services to Energy and Markets, Environment and Climate functions.
- Media
- Digital Services and Design
- Corporate Communications, Productions Services and Campaign Management
- Engagement and Projects

**About the role**
As the Branch Head of Communication and Media, your duties will include but are not limited to:

- leading a broad program of work for the communications and media functions across the climate change, energy, environment and water portfolios,
- continuing to develop and drive the direction for DCCEEWs overall program of external communications to meet organisational objectives and deliver on the government’s needs,
- guiding and mentoring staff responsible for delivery of all components of the branch including communications plans and tactics, media, social media, event management, corporate and departmental communications, speechwriting, creative design and production,
- providing leadership by contributing communications expertise to the strategic planning process, monitoring emerging issues and addressing risks as they arise and delivering high quality results across multiple channels,
- maintaining effective relationships across government and engage with portfolio ministers and their staff, key industry stakeholders, the wider community and the media to achieve the intended outcomes, and
- providing leadership and support to Australian Government Advertising Campaigns.

**What we are looking for**
To be successful for this role you will need to meet the Senior Executive Service capability for the SES Band 1 level, and you will have the following:

- Demonstrated ability to provide leadership to your team, and actively build effective, robust, and collaborative relationships with stakeholders to deliver on the department’s objectives.
- Experience or relevant understanding of Commonwealth government including liaison with central agencies, budget, and government processes, with a track record in successful policy, strategy, and budget initiatives,
- Strong understanding of the areas of work, including media, communications and campaigns, or the ability to quickly develop this understanding,
- Excellent stakeholder relationship skills and experience in engaging with internal and external stakeholders at all levels to explore opportunities and solve complex problems.
- Demonstrated strategic perspective and ability to manage competing demands and work to tight deadlines.
- Highly developed management and stakeholder engagement skills and ability to represent the department at a range of forums.
- It is_
**_ highly desirable_**:

- that applicants can completely engage with First Nations culture and people in their work. We expect that you will be experienced working in diverse teams and be willing to work on building your own competency in understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and how it impacts on the work of the department. We also expect that you are willing to build your confidence in working with all abilities as you will be responsible for the implementation of practices that provide a safe and accessible working environment for all employees._

**Desirable qualifications**
Relevant qualifications or strong exper