Assistant Director, Strategic Communication

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, Education and Engagement Branch is a specialist team of skilled practitioners in the field with extensive electoral experience. The Branch is responsible for the delivery of communication, education and community engagement products and activities that are engaging, accurate and inclusive.

The Opportunities

If you’re passionate about Australia’s democracy and bringing your expertise to support the Australian community to enrol and vote, we have the job for you! This is an exciting opportunity for a creative and skilled communication professional to work on some of the most impactful engagement activities across government. 

The Assistant Director, Strategic Communication works with a Senior Communication Officer to deliver a range of activities to inform voters of their rights and responsibilities during the electoral cycle. The role includes developing and implementing strategies, writing messages and information products, supporting campaign activities, community and stakeholder outreach, procuring and managing external suppliers and providing advice and support to AEC business areas.  

This role will help ensure the AEC’s communication with voters and stakeholders is consistent across all channels, easy to understand, customised to suit the needs of audiences who may need additional support to participate, considers the most effective channels for messages. 

The role will work collaboratively with, and support business areas across the AEC, with a view to maturing our communication approach as an organisation. It will drive innovation approaches to the way we communicate with our voters.

To excel we are looking for people who:

• Are experienced communication professionals, with the ability to develop and implement complex communication plans and strategies.
• Are strategic thinkers – canvassing sources, identifying how things can be done differently, and able to develop, manage and evaluate communication activities.
• Are excellent writers, who can tailor messages and information products for diverse audiences, including First Nations peoples.
• Are highly organised – delivering results while running multiple projects with competing deadlines. 
• Can manage external suppliers – procuring and effectively managing contracted services.
• Enjoy collaboration, by building and managing relationships with business areas and external stakeholders providing sound advice and support.
• Show drive, initiative and good judgement – working autonomously as well as part of a team, and taking pride in and ownership of their work.
• Stay positive and calm under pressure, with a willingness to step up to significant communication demands during federal elections and other electoral events.
• Support team members and leaders, including managing and mentoring junior staff.

Desirable

• A communication or public affairs qualification (degree/diploma – e.g., communication, journalism, media, public affairs, marketing, stakeholder management). 
• Extensive communication work experience of at least 5 – 7 years in an external communication role.

 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.
• Applicants may be required to undertake psychometric testing as part of this recruitment process.