Head of Media and Public Relations

**The Project**

The Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games will be an experience like no other with the Vision to Create the Games of our Lives. The Organising Committee's (OC) Marketing, Communications and Media team is looking for someone who will help us put the spectator at the heart of the games. Someone who can not only bring the Games to life today, but make it memorable for years to come.

In 2026, Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Gippsland and Shepparton will be on the world stage, attracting millions of viewers and creating thousands of jobs. The legacy of the Games will last beyond the competition period, with investment in the community, social and affordable housing and world-class sporting facilities.

**The role**

Reporting to the Executive Director, Communications, the Director, Media & PR will lead a small team to drive the forward public agenda of the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games through media, partners, stakeholders and the community. You will manage reputation and emerging issues and deliver high-impact and low-cost visuals and executions. You will manage media administration and relationships with international, statewide and local media (including industry and sporting press). At all times, maintaining a strong, interdependent relationships with Games partners - all working within the marketing, communications and brand strategies, and the community and commercial objectives of the Games.

Due to the start-up nature of the organisation, the role will be required to undertake media and PR functions described below until the team grows to a critical mass, in addition to strategic leadership.

This role will be regionally based (Geelong), and the incumbent may need to travel to or from regional locations to support delivery of the Victorian Regional Commonwealth Games. There are workspaces available in Bendigo, Ballarat and Traralgon. However, as we get nearer to the Games, Geelong will be the base office.

Fixed Term contract to 30 April 2026.

**Key Accountabilities**
- Assist with the development and implementation of strategy direction in conjunction with the Director, Communications on media & PR, and on strategic communications and content as required.
- Use earned media to communicate key Games messages to a wide variety of target groups in the years leading up to the Games in 2026, and in doing so, generate positive awareness of and interest in the Commonwealth Games and the Games brand.
- Plan and deliver a full pipeline of media & PR stories and activations, which are negotiated between Games partners, designed for visual impact, aligned to broader marketing, media and communications strategies, and delivering to Victorian Government and Host Contract objectives.
- Build and maintain a book of key contacts across international, national, state, local and community media (including sporting, industry and multicultural media) and manage the function of day-to-day media writing, administration and distribution.
- Manage and monitor emerging reputational issues.
- Manage key, interdependent relationships with signatories of the Host Contact, relevant partner agencies, and other community, sporting and Government stakeholders.
- Develop and manage media and communications materials, including narrative, FAQs and other corporate and internal writing.
- Assist in the development of, and implement and monitor, an in-house style guide, and assist in the development of other strategic or internal communications materials where required.
- Advise and assist with media and communications strategies and products that are accessible to people living with disability, and accessible to multicultural communities.
- Lead a small team across media and PR functions.
- Briefing, oversight and day to day project management of all responsible functions.
- Any other duties as directed, including supporting the Board, Chair and CEO with media or strategic communications duties or products.

**About you**:
Are you an energetic leader that can inspire and motivate your team? Work as part of a cross functional team to deliver a major event, in record time? Experienced in managing media & PR for large organisations or events, or sporting organisations and capable of managing competing stakeholder needs? To be successful, you will be resilient, and target driven, well known for rolling up your sleeves to get the job done. This is a fast paced, complex environment, with a team growing rapidly around you.

**Key Selection Criteria**
- Experience and demonstrated success in leading high-profile and/or strategically successful media and/or PR functions.
- Experience and demonstrated success working with regional Victorian or regional Australian media.
- Demonstrated experience in working across multiple projects and delivering high quality work while meeting tight deadlines.
- Demonstrated experience in managing multiple stakeholders across several organisations.
- Suitable qualifications relevant to the role.
- Abil