Assistant Director, Media And Crisis Communications

National Emergency Management Agency: National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was established on 1 September 2022 as a single, accountable Commonwealth authority that delivers a whole-of-nation approach to reducing disaster risk, planning, preparing for, responding to and recovering from all hazards across the emergency management continuum. 

NEMA works closely with local communities as well as state and territory Governments to deliver the best outcome for communities across Australia. To help communities respond and recover, while preparing Australia for future emergencies, we:

• Fund programs and initiatives, big and small, that help communities in times of emergency, as well as to recover and prepare, including through disaster recovery funding and the Disaster Ready Fund to help reduce the risk and impact of disasters;
• Work with communities, industry and non-government organisations by connecting local Regional Support Officers and other NEMA staff right around Australia, to share lessons learnt, provide awareness on navigating Government services, and gain community and industry-led ideas and concepts to inform strategic policy and planning;
• Provide national leadership to share knowledge, situational awareness, and trends in disaster efforts to inform, guide and shape the national picture and decision-making at the Commonwealth, state and local Government level – including through policy development and strategy to improve risk reduction, resilience and recovery; and
• Provide round-the-clock all-hazards monitoring and operational coordination for domestic and international emergencies, including supply chain disruptions, critical infrastructure outages, biosecurity risks and widespread cyber-attacks, and through supporting preparedness and response activities, including through the operationalisation of the Australian Government Crisis Management Framework.

Overview of the Branch and Section:  The National Emergency Management Agency’s (NEMA) Media, Communications and Engagement Branch provides expert public communication, internal and executive communication, stakeholder engagement and media advice to promote ministerial and Agency priorities, policies and programs. The Branch delivers all media management and external engagement functions including but not limited to; media support for Ministers and the Executive, social media, graphic design, video production, speechwriting, internal communication, external and strategic communication campaigns.

The Media and Crisis Communications team provides high level expertise and advice in media, Crisis Communications and public affairs to Agency senior leadership, and the offices of the Minister for Emergency Management and the Prime Minister. The position also provides day to day leadership of the Media and Crisis Communications team.

About the role:
As the Assistant Director, Media and Crisis Communication you will provide high level media, Crisis Communications, public affairs advice and support for the Agency. You will work closely with your Media, Communications and Engagement Branch colleagues and across the Agency, including the offices of the Coordinator-General and Deputy Coordinators-General.

You will establish strong connections across the Agency and with key external stakeholders, including the office of the Minister for Emergency Management, other Commonwealth Ministers, state and territory government departments and members of the media. As such, you will have strong communication and interpersonal skills, which will allow you to engage effectively with stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds and levels of seniority. As the Assistant Director, you will have a proven ability to produce comprehensive strategies aligned with business outcomes, lead their successful execution, and be hands on in the creation of content. You will also demonstrate how you use data to inform your approach and make improvements in both the quality of your team’s work and the overall standard of service provided by the Media, Communications and Engagement Branch. You must be able to participate in the Media, Communications and Engagement Branch on call roster, and be willing to be recalled at short notice to meet operational needs. You must be able to undertake interstate travel and at times you may also be required to work from the Australian Government’s National Situation Room.

At times staff within NEMA may be required to work outside of standard business hours, particularly during the high-risk weather season.

Our ideal candidate: Our ideal candidate will have previous experience as a journalist and/or in government Media and communications roles. A key aspect of the role is to have demonstrated skills and experience in media, Crisis Communications and/or public affairs, including the development of strategic messaging, media releases, responses and talking points and understanding the specific needs of different mediums (i.e. online, broadcast and traditional print). You must be able to produce to a very high standard content which is audience and channel appropriate. You will need to demonstrate your ability to work in a fluid and fast-paced environment including during a crisis. You must be able to manage multiple priorities and be resilient, responsive and flexible. You must be able to think on your feet and work under limited direction.  

We encourage applications from First Nations people, people with disability, LGBTQIA+ people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, mature age people and people from other diverse backgrounds. We are committed to providing a working environment that values diversity and inclusion and supports staff to reach their full potential.

Specific duties/responsibilities:

• Managing projects and team members to ensure timely delivery of high quality materials.
• Project managing strategies and associated materials, delivering impactful outcomes within tight deadlines.  
• High level written and verbal communication skills to write and edit content.
• Engaging and collaborating with team members and senior colleagues to identify or understand concerns and develop solutions that are suitable to the Agency.
• Providing communications advice and support in a fast-paced and rapidly evolving crisis situation

Role requirements/qualifications:

• A Degree in Media, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism or related discipline is desirable.
• An ability to gain an NV1 clearance. 

Applicant response:
As part of your application, you will be required to prepare a response document (minimum 11pt font in MSWord or PDF format), which you will upload in the next section. 

Please ensure you read the instructions carefully, noting failure to address identified requirements may lead to your application being deemed ineligible. 

Please prepare a one-page Applicant Response in relation to the advertised role, outlining:

• how your skills, knowledge and experience will be relevant to this role
• why you are interested in the role and what you can offer us
• any specific examples or achievements that demonstrate your ability to perform the role. 

How to apply:

As part of your application, you will need to provide:

• Your CV
• Your Applicant Response document
• Details of two referees
• A copy of your qualification
• Include your full name and the Requisition Number - 132084 in the footer of any documents being uploaded.

Eligibility and Specific Conditions of Employment

To be eligible to work with the NEMA you must:

• Be an Australian Citizen
• Fulfil the Agency’s minimum requirements by satisfactorily answering all screening questions during the application process
• Obtain and maintain the required AGSVA clearance
• Satisfy a probation period
• Undergo a health assessment (if applicable).
   

Technical Assistance

Notes

Remuneration: The Agency offers an attractive remuneration package, including salary, superannuation benefits and flexible working conditions appropriate to the level of the position.