Head of Strategic Engagement

Company

For 25 years, people in Australia have placed their trust in Beyond Blue as a reliable source of mental health information, support and hope.

We are one of Australia's most well-known, trusted, and visited mental health organisations. We never take this for granted. With that comes a deep responsibility to listen, to understand people's needs and aspirations, and to ensure they are at the heart of everything we do.

About the role

Are you a visionary leader with a passion for communications and community engagement?

Beyond Blue is seeking a dynamic Head of Strategic Engagement to lead transformative initiatives that connect communities, amplify lived experience, and shape public understanding of mental health.

In this pivotal role, you'll drive strategic communications, foster meaningful stakeholder partnerships and evolve Beyond Blue's lived experience and community engagement. You'll lead a high-impact team across three key portfolios - Communications, Community Engagement, and Stakeholder Relations - to elevate Beyond Blue's voice and deepen its reach.

As the Head of Strategic Engagement, you will:

• Lead and inspire a high-performing team, driving strategic planning, budget oversight, and strong team engagement.
• Shape Beyond Blue's public voice through responsive, high-impact communications and trusted media presence.
• Contribute to Beyond Blue's positioning as a leader in earlier intervention and prevention
• Through strategic communications, improve mental health literacy and encourage action for mental health at individual, community and social levels
• Strengthen community connections via measurable engagement strategies that support advocacy, fundraising and volunteer involvement.
• Cultivate strategic relationships with stakeholders and partners to expand Beyond Blue's reach and influence.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure cohesive messaging and alignment across Philanthropy, Partnerships and Fundraising, Brand and Marketing, External Affairs, and Experience Design teams.

About you

To be successful you will hold:

• Qualifications in communications, journalism, public relations, community development, or related fields, combined with proven leadership and team management experience.
• Expertise in developing and executing high-impact communication strategies, managing media relations, and shaping public narratives to enhance reputation and engagement.
• Strong track record in cultivating strategic relationships with stakeholders, partners, and senior executives to drive collaboration and influence.
• Demonstrated experience engaging membership-based audiences, applying the IAP2 framework, and managing volunteer networks and events to support advocacy and fundraising.
• Skilled in identifying and managing reputational risks, providing strategic advice to leadership, and navigating complex public-facing issues.
• Ability to craft compelling narratives using diverse data sources across multiple platforms to connect with varied audiences.
• Advanced planning, budgeting, and forecasting capabilities, with a strong focus on delivering positive financial outcomes and efficient project execution.

Benefits of Working with Us

In return, at Beyond Blue, we offer a:

• A well-connected location that supports your active lifestyle:
  Based centrally in Naarm (Melbourne CBD), with modern office facilities and end-of-trip amenities so you can walk, jog, or ride to work with ease.
• Flexibility to suit your life:
  Remote and hybrid work arrangements, part-time and job-sharing options, plus purchased leave opportunities.
• Various benefits and leave entitlements:
  $15,900 salary sacrifice packaging, meal and entertainment benefits, and various leave options—including parental leave, family and domestic violence leave, gender affirmation leave, and community service leave.
• Inclusive and values-driven policies:
  Cultural, ceremonial, and discretionary leave, ensuring our team members can honour the days that matter most to them.
• Commitment to professional growth:
  Secondments and blended learning opportunities to support career development and continuous learning.

If you're excited about this role, but don't meet every requirement, that's okay— we would still encourage you to apply When you apply, let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments we can make during the interview process. All applications will be treated with strict confidentiality.

As part of our WGEA and Innovate RAP commitments, Beyond Blue is committed to fostering and preserving a workplace that values diversity and inclusion. We aim to grow and thrive as a diverse team with individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, self-expression, and talents.

In recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of stage in life, education, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, colour, religion, ability, sexual orientation, opinions and beliefs.

Culture & Values

Our values are the unseen drivers of our behaviours and ultimately become the organisational culture.

• We're focused
• We're brave
• We rise
• Together

How to apply

To apply, applications should include a current CV with a cover letter that highlights how your qualifications, skills, and experience align with the role and how you'd contribute to Beyond Blue's culture.

For detailed information about this position including the closing date, please refer to the position description on our careers page (candidates who are viewing from a job board such as SEEK or LinkedIn, please refer to our careers page on our website), or contact Talent Business Partner, Ty Tran, on

Preferred candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening, including a National Police Check and where required, a Working with Children Check.

Applications close: Monday, 15 September :00pm AEST.

We encourage early applications as we will be shortlisting and interviewing candidates continuously and may adjust the closing date.

Keywords:
Strategic Communications, Community Engagement, Community Development, Social Impact, External Affairs, Public Relations, Media Strategy, Advocacy, Volunteer Management, Partnership Development, Public Health, Mental Health Services, Prevention and Early Intervention, Lived Experience, Workplace Wellbeing, Business Development, Reputation Management.