Public Affairs Officer

Public Affairs Officer 3 (EL 1) - $115,663 - $145,856 per annum plus superannuation
- Portfolio Strategy Division
- Brisbane, QLD,Canberra, ACT,Melbourne, VIC,Sydney, NSW
- Communicate nationally significant work and compelling work to a broad range of stakeholders.
- Join a friendly and high performing branch.
- Be a team leader and manage a small team.

**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 and manage staff.

Key responsibilities include:
**Strategic Communications**: Develop and implement comprehensive communication strategies and plans aligned with departmental priorities. Identify target audiences, craft scroll-stopping messages, determine effective channels, develop creative solutions, and evaluate your success. Bring innovative ideas and creative approach to the work we do.

**Stakeholder Engagement**: Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to identify communication needs, develop key messages, and deliver tailored communication products. Manage relationships, build and maintain trust, trust, provide clear, helpful and timely advice, and ensure alignment of messaging.

**Team Leadership**: Take personal responsibility for meeting objectives and progressing work. Lead a team of communications professionals, providing guidance, mentorship, and fostering a positive work environment. Delegate tasks, monitor performance, and support professional development.

**Risk Management**: Maintain a strong understanding of potential reputational risks and think critically to minimise risks. Be prepared to act swiftly and stay composed under pressure. 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**
- Proven 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, corporate communications, design, social media and advertising campaigns.
- Demonstrated prior experience in a communications role in the Australian Public Service.

**Skills and capabilities**
- Highly developed communications skills including the ability to negotiate outcomes and deliver high quality written communications strategies, products, talking points and briefs.
- Demonstrated ability to lead a high performing and inclusive team by setting a clear direction, providing a positive work environment with regular feedback and coaching, and building capability.
- A proven ability to develop, maintain and harness productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders founded on trust.
- The ability to exercise sound professional judgement, operate independently and manage competing and changing work priorities.
- A can-do attitude and commitment to learning, sharing knowledge, training and upskilling others and responding to feedback.

Mandatory qualifications
- A cadetship or a relevant public affairs degree or diploma and 8 years’ relevant work experience.

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