El 1 Assistant Director Communications

• Location: Canberra, ACT
• Salary Range: $118,220 - $129,820 + Attractive Superannuation
• Contact Officer: Tess L'Estrange 0473933765 Tess.LEstrange@dva.gov.au

The Communications Branch, within the Ministerial, Engagement and Communications Division, provides coordinated communication advice in support of the DVA’s commitment to put veterans and their families first. In addition to providing strategic communications support across the department, the Branch handles media enquiries, manages the department’s social media channels and provides graphic design, online publishing and corporate communication services.
Teams provide advice and assistance developing and implementing communication strategies, messaging and appropriateness of channels to all business areas in the department. They also have responsibility for managing clarity of expression and consistency of messaging across the department’s communication, from social media to hard-copy publications.
The Communications Branch is looking for a high-performing Assistant Director (EL1) to join the Strategic Communications Team. In the role, the successful candidate will be responsible for developing and implementing communication and engagement strategies in close consultation with Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling Division.
With a primary focus of communicating with veterans and their families, the Assistant Director will enact the activities and priorities outlined in the 2023-24 Open Arms communications strategy, and will utilise their experience in producing trauma-informed communication products to enact the strategy.
The successful applicant will have extensive experience in communications and the ability to work across a range of projects and operational priorities to deliver high-level strategic communication advice, develop and implement communication strategies, and provide issues management services to the department.
This role requires excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong project management skills, sound judgement, creativity and an ability to engage regularly with Senior Executive, the Minister’s Offices and other government agencies and stakeholder organisations. Experience in managing teams is essential.
Duties

• Under limited supervision lead the development and implementation of communication strategies and products for key departmental projects and initiatives.
• Have highly developed written and communication skills with a proven ability to negotiate and communicate with influence.
• Provide high-level communication, media and issues management advice to senior management and business areas.
• Assist the Director in team management, team reporting and team planning.
• Have strong leadership skills, including the ability to lead a small team.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Deliver high quality communication strategies, media materials, speeches and editorial and online content including social media.
• Support launches, presentations, displays, public relations events and other public affairs activities.Applicants must be an Australian citizen to apply.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be an Australian citizen to apply.

Notes
This recruitment process is being used to fill an ongoing (and/or Non-ongoing) position(s).
Where a non-ongoing position is offered, the role will be filled for an initial specified term of up to 12 months.
A merit pool of suitable applicants may be created which may be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies should they become available over the next 18 months.
Successful applicants engaged into the APS will be subject to a probation period.
DVA embraces and fosters a culture that supports diversity, inclusion and respect, where people are empowered to fulfil their potential. We welcome people with diverse skills, experiences, perspectives and backgrounds. We are dedicated and committed to attracting and recruiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and encourage applications from people with disability, people that identify as LGBTQIA+ and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Take on a rewarding, varied, and broad career with an Australian Public Service Department that can bring balance and flexibility to your working life, while supporting you to stay connected to your community.
DVA is committed to improving the data skills and capability of our workforce to underpin our goal of becoming a leading data-driven organisation.
RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information visit:
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