Engagement and Communications Manager

Location: Melbourne

Job type: Not provided

Organisation: Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health

**Salary**: Salary not specified

Occupation: Administration/Secretarial, Communications, Marketing and Media

Reference: 15646
- Full time / Classification HS8
- Based at Fairfield
- A culture where people care

**Job location**

Forensicare is the statutory agency responsible for the provision of adult forensic mental health services across Victoria.

We address the needs of people experiencing mental health issues, the mental health sector, the justice sector and the general community. These services are delivered through inpatient services at Thomas Embling Hospital, community services through the Community Forensic Mental Health Service and prison-based services at several locations. This position will be based at Fairfield with the option and encouragement to work across all Forensicare sites.

Forensicare is situated across five sites across Victoria with its largest site being Thomas Embling Hospital, located in Fairfield just 15 minutes north of the Melbourne city centre. Thomas Embling Hospital is a 136-bed secure hospital providing acute care, rehabilitation and continuing care programs. It includes a dedicated women’s unit.

**About the Role**:
The Engagement and Communications Manager leads a small team of specialists and engagement experts involved in development and implementation of effective and innovative communication strategies to support delivery of Forensicare’s strategic objectives-
Working in collaboration with and across directorates, programs, and government departments the Engagement and Communications Manager ensures all internal and external communications and stakeholder engagement at Forensicare are effectively coordinated and executed-
The Engagement and Communications Manager is adept at working in complex environments, actively champions communication improvements across Forensicare, displays leadership qualities that enrich a positive team culture and motivates staff to achieve set outcomes.**Duties**:

- To develop and implement a strategic communication and engagement strategy to support the outcomes of Forensicare’s Strategic Plan, drive the Model of Care and Culture Reform
- Effectively guide and manage a team of communications and media experts including supporting their work plan and professional development
- Build and maintain strong, collaborative and consultative working relationships with internal staff and external stakeholders that facilitate best practice communication across Forensicare and the community
- Enable content experts to review, manage and maintain Forensicare’s brand and communication channels, including ensuring the website, social media and intranet are maintained with up-to-date, engaging and contemporary conten
- Monitor, evaluate and report on the effectiveness and impact of the team’s communication activities
- Identify and manage issues in conjunction with relevant internal staff and government stakeholders, including developing statements and holding lines and strategies to mitigate risks best and protect the reputation of Forensicare and its consumers
- Initiate, codesign, develop or commission innovative projects to improve how staff proactively identify and drive positive media opportunities in collaboration with staff, consumers and cares (where appropriate) across and within Forensicare
- Partner with staff, consumers, and carers to prepare annual reports, publications, newsletters, digital communications, correspondence and marketing materials

**About You**:

- You will have expertise in effective and sustainable internal and external stakeholder engagement, including working with clinicians, consumers and carers
- Demonstrated ability to think at the big picture level regarding communication strategies and activities which achieve organisational goals
- Ability to think innovatively and generate new ideas and translate these ideas into solutions that maximise staff and consumer engagement and strategic outcomes
- Knowledge and experience in the development and delivery of integrated communication plans and strategic brand management for a highly complex and evolving organization through a variety of communications channels and platforms
- Exceptional communication skills, including developing and reviewing critical written materials covering a range of issues and presenting meaningful information to various audiences.

**What you need**:

- Tertiary qualifications in communications, marketing, public relations, and advocacy or a related field coupled with 5 years (or more) experience in similar roles.

**A culture where people matter.**
- Excellent supervision and investment in the skill development of managers and supervisors.
- Celebration and reward for good performance, through employee recognition.
- A leading, multi-faceted approach to safety, with unparalleled strategic, practical, individualised and team-base