Address
Form of workShape and deliver strategic communications for public education in South Australia.
Your new company
Every child and young person deserves a great education. The Department for Education works to ensure every young person has access to quality education in every community across South Australia.
They have a strategy to unlock the potential of each child, both now and for the future. Through partnerships with learners, students, parents, and the broader South Australian community, they are building a world-leading public education system—one that is equitable and prioritises learning and wellbeing.
When our children and young people thrive, our communities and state also flourish.
Your new role
Reporting to the Executive Director Strategic Policy and External Relations, the position is responsible for creating and implementing the strategic direction and continuous improvement for all external and internal communications for the department.
The role leads a large and high performing communications team that provides centralised communications, media, digital and marketing services across the department and for public schools and preschools.
A member of the Senior Executive team, the Director, Communications provides sound strategic communications advice to the Chief Executive, senior executives, and Minister’s Office. The role is also responsible for identifying and managing emerging communication and reputation issues and supports schools and preschools with issues management.
The role leads the promotion of public education, the department’s strategic priorities, policy directions, key reform programs and achievements, and leads the strategy for how the department communicates with its workforce, parents/carers and the community.
What you'll need to succeed
To be considered for this role, you will have:
- Experience leading a high performing communications team in a large, complex organisation.
- Experience developing and implementing communications strategies to achieve strategic outcomes.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to negotiate and liaise effectively at senior levels, both within and outside an organisation.
- Proven ability to manage budgets and staffing to meet performance outcomes.
- Proven ability to analyse, evaluate and apply research and information to support operational and corporate directions.
- Experience providing trusted advice at executive and ministerial levels.
- Experience in developing and maintaining effective networks, and productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience in media management, and in responding to and managing highly complex and sensitive issues.
- A solid understanding of government and ministerial processes is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated knowledge and commitment to promoting and creating a safe and inclusive work environment, and the requirements of Equal Opportunity and Work Health and Safety legislation.
- An appropriate tertiary qualification including post-graduate qualifications in an appropriate discipline is desirable.
- Experience leading in a large and complex organisation at an executive level, ensuring the translation of priorities into executed deliverables.
- You must have, or be able to obtain, a Department for Human Services issued Working With Children Check
What you need to do now
Sonia Diestel-Feddersen is recruiting this exciting vacancy. For a confidential discussion about this role, please contact 8231 3688.
To apply prior to the closing date of 28th February at 5pm all applications need to be sent to
- Resume
- Cover Sheet including 3 referees (one being your current reporting line).
- Employment Declaration
- A written statement of no more than 1500 words addressing the key competencies outlined in the PD
