Assistant Director, Internal Communications

Agency Purpose

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is an independent statutory authority established by the Australian Government to maintain an impartial and independent electoral system for eligible voters through active electoral roll management, efficient delivery of polling services, and targeted education and public awareness programs.

The AEC's values and commitments

The AEC values and commitments are an essential component of our operating environment and frame how AEC staff work. The AEC's focus is on electoral integrity through the values of quality, agility and professionalism.

The Team

The Communication and Campaigns section sits within the Communication Education and Engagement Branch at the AEC. The branch is a team of energetic, passionate and skilled practitioners, responsible for ensuring all people are informed about the process of voting in federal elections and referendums and encouraging voters to participate. This includes a focus on people who may experience barriers to participation and may need additional support to equitably participate. This is achieved through the collective work across the branch, covering electoral education, strategic communication, advertising campaigns, community engagement, and design.

The Communication and Campaigns section comprises three teams who provide campaign, design and internal communication services to the agency.

Advertising campaigns are critical to the success of major electoral events and help ensure people have all the information they need to be able to participate. The design team produces all corporate materials, education resources, and election materials such as ballot papers. The internal communication team plays an important role in knowledge sharing across the organisation and informing and engaging staff.

The Opportunity

The Internal Communication manager drives and delivers the strategic development of the AEC's internal communication approach and management of key corporate channels; and leads a small team that provides internal communication services in support of AEC goals and objectives.

You will collaborate with colleagues in communication, digital technology and change management and will have regular interaction across the agency including with member of the Executive Leadership Team, state office staff and various national office business areas. Your role will include activities in strategic communication, internal communication campaigns and activities, development of quality communication materials, management of key corporate channels including the intranet (SharePoint platform), support for executive communications and service provision to business areas.

As a communication professional, you will undertake complex and sensitive work under broad direction and will be required to utilise your creativity, expertise and judgment. During electoral events you'll deliver critical activities in a high-pressured environment.

You'll be responsible for contributing to broader section work on strategic communication planning to ensure consistency with agency goals and objectives, while delivering your own work priorities and meeting deadlines.

Key position responsibilities include planning, developing and delivering a strategic internal communication approach for the AEC, including a focus on improvement to ensure continuation of effective internal communications, while providing specialist advice and assistance to a range of business areas, including executive, on aspects related to their internal communication requirements of the AEC.

To excel you'll have:

• Strong leadership and management skills, with experience in developing capabilities, encouraging career development and embedding professionalism.
• Demonstrated ability and technical experience using digital platforms such as SharePoint.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and strategically with diverse stakeholder groups to achieve outcomes.
• A high level of personal integrity, accuracy and impartiality while achieving results within legislative and policy parameters.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple competing priorities with flexibility in the face of changing priorities and deadlines.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills including demonstrated ability to prepare briefing documents and submissions and explain complex issues simply.

Desirable

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in communication.
• Working level of technical knowledge to assist with management of internal channels
• Knowledge of, or ability to, quickly gain knowledge of Australia's electoral system.

Eligibility

• AEC employees must be Australian citizens.
• Any person who is, and seen to be active in political affairs, and intends to publicly carry on this activity, may compromise the strict neutrality of the AEC and cannot be considered.
• Applicants are required to consent to, undergo, obtain and maintain a character clearance.
• Applicants are required to consent to, undergo, obtain and maintain the security clearance required for this role.

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