Assistant Director, Communications

Why work at TEQSA?

TEQSA welcomes people with diverse skills, experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. TEQSA encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, people with disabilities, people that identify as LGBTQIA+, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. We offer our people a range of benefits that include flexible work arrangements, professional development opportunities and free access to an EAP which extends to immediate family members.

About you

• are you passionate about contributing to the excellence of Australian higher education?
• are you a strategic thinker with a drive for innovation and collaboration?
• do you want to work in a challenging, dynamic, and rewarding environment that is mission-focused?

About the position

The Assistant Director, Communications contributes to the protection of the reputation of Australia's world-class higher education, through TEQSA's quality assurance of the sector.The role works closely with TEQSA's CEO and Executive Leadership Team (ELT) in quality assurance to promote TEQSA, and its role protecting student interests.

The role is responsible for implementing and further developing the Agency's external communication strategy in consultation with the CEO and ELT and includes working with media including digital media.The role is responsible for the Agency's communications, predominantly external communications, and provides support to the Agency's internal communications, particularly through its supervision of the Web and Publications Coordinator and their responsibilities (i.e., intranet).Interstate travel may be required.

Duties

As Assistant Director, Communications, reporting to the Director, Communications and Engagement, you will be responsible and accountable for:

• implementing and continuing to update the Agency's external communications strategy, while overseeing aligned internal communication planning and delivery
• media liaison focal point, drafting and clearing media responses through appropriate channels (i.e., CEO or Executive Director, departmental and ministerial contacts).
• providing advice to senior managers and agency business groups to support stakeholder relations and communication activities.
• developing and managing relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including Departmental and Ministerial communication colleagues, whilst promoting agency objectives, and facilitating the timely sharing of stakeholder information across business groups in the agency.
• managing publicity and marketing for TEQSA's annual conference and events and webinars (TEQSA Talks).
• managing workflow, and overseeing quality of delivery, of communication activities to the Communications team.
• supporting the CEO and Commission with development of key messages or talking points for internal and external communication activities such as T*Forums and TEQSA Talks webinars.
• creating and managing website content in accordance with APS and international web publishing standards and provide advice on content accessibility and usability requirements.
• producing high-quality content for reports, briefings, presentations, media releases, feature articles, brochures, publications, and web content, including management of social media posts and podcasts and webinars.
• monitoring regulatory decisions and other outcomes of Commission meetings for publication.
• responsible for managing TEQSA's brand and style guides and providing editing support.
• managing service providers of communications services e.g., media monitoring, publications.
• managing an inbox and responding to enquiries, including journalists, members of the public, students, international counterparts, and others.
• managing a range of projects to a high standard and often within tight deadlines.
• representing the agency in cross-agency, and other forums.
• contributing to the achievement of the Engagement Group's corporate and business planning objectives.
• other duties and projects as required.

Our ideal candidate

TEQSA is looking for high-performing team members who are passionate about contributing to the excellence of Australian higher education. Our ideal candidate will have:

1. high level written and oral communication skills, including the ability to prepare and coordinate delivery of high-quality communications and presentations for internal and external stakeholders, including translating highly technical documents into compelling content.
2. demonstrated experience in managing media relations activities: executing proactive external (media) leadership communications and engagement plans and managing reactive media queries.
3. demonstrated ability to develop and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders and to keep abreast of trends and developments in the higher education sector.
4. develop, or oversee the development and delivery of, external and internal communication plans to support communications related to TEQSA initiatives or projects in collaboration with subject matter experts.
5. demonstrated ability to develop communications strategy and undertake strategic planning to deliver on the team's and the agency's goals and objectives.
6. lead a small team of professionals to deliver external and internal communication priorities.
7. strong leadership skills and experience in setting and meeting clear performance targets, including managing performance for quality and timely outcomes.
8. contribute to strategic and operational planning/improvements for the team, to continuously improve quality and efficiency.
9. a knowledge of, or an ability to quickly develop a sound knowledge of, government and agency communications guidelines.
10. an ability to work autonomously, manage competing priorities and deliver high quality projects.

Qualifications and experience

• relevant tertiary qualifications in communications, journalism, public affairs, public relations.

Highly desirable:

• experience in the higher education sector and/or government communications,
• digital content production skills and experience, and
• project management experience

Eligibility

The successful applicant must:

• be an Australian citizen.
• complete a National Police Check satisfactorily.
• be able to obtain and maintain an Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) clearance to Baseline status, supported by TEQSA.

Failure to satisfy any of the above conditions may result in the withdrawal of an offer of employment or termination of employment.

How to apply

Please refer to TEQSA's career page for more details about the role in the Candidate Information Pack (CIP) to assist you in applying for the role.

Your application should include:

1. A current resume (maximum two pages)
2. A two-page cover letter (pitch) (maximum 1000 words) detailing how your skills and experience address the 'our ideal candidate' section (i.e., what makes you the best candidate for the position).

Applications close 11.45pm on Sunday, 23 November 2025.

Apply today We look forward to receiving your application.