Executive Director, Strategic Communication

About this role

• Act as an authoritative source of critical evidence-based advice which impacts on organisational decision making in relation to strategic and innovative communication-related services.
• Executive fixed term opportunity up to 5 years within the Strategic Communication Branch.
• SES Grade 2: $279,239 - $401,017 Total Remuneration Package.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is seeking an Executive Director, Strategic Communication to provide a critical role within People, Safety, Culture and Communications.
About the Business Unit
People, Safety, Culture and Communications (PSCC) provides services and advice to the department on a wide range of human resources (HR), transformation, occupational health and safety, industrial relations, workforce planning matters and business assets. This includes HR policy and strategy; organisational culture and change; recruitment and retention; performance and development; pay, benefits and workforce reporting; occupational health and safety management; employment regulations; and public service medal nominations.
About the Role
The Executive Director, Strategic Communication is responsible for the extensive range of activities associated with planning and implementing communication activities designed to promote and support the full range of business activities. This includes corporate communications, internal and external communications and public relations/media services across a diverse portfolio overseen by four ministers;

• Attorney-General, Minister for Workplace Safety
• Minister for Police and Emergency Services
• Minister for Corrections, Minister for Crime Prevention, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support
• Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Liquor and Gaming Regulation

A key function of the role is to provide advice to the department's senior executives and ministers on both department wide and portfolio specific communications and media issues. The Executive Director, Strategic Communication will manage a team of staff and an operational budget, delivering on statutory reporting obligations; planning, developing and implementing strategic and innovative communications campaigns and strategies to support government policy; and responding to current media issues.
To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.
About you
To be successful in this role, you will have:

• A proven track record in executive management and corporate leadership, in dealing with the media, and in developing and delivering strategic, integrated, innovative, successful communication strategies, campaigns and public relations exercises within a complex, diverse and sensitive service delivery environment.
• Highly developed relationship building and stakeholder management skills, with a track record in building and maintaining successful partnerships with a broad client base, including demonstrated experience working with the media.
• High level communication and interpersonal skills combined with demonstrable ability to liaise and negotiate at senior levels and resolve complex issues in a high-risk corporate environment.
• A proven track record in project management and high-level experience to lead, manage and motivate a wide range of staff engaged in the delivery of communications functions, by setting the strategic agenda and fostering a common purpose, targeted towards the consistent achievement of business goals, and policy and program objectives.
• Significant experience in identifying, coordinating and leading responses around strategic cultural change, business improvement and reform across a large and dynamic organisation.
• Ability to be perceptive and quick to understand conceptually demanding problems, reason through issues and demonstrate the ability to introduce innovative and improved ways of achieving outcomes.

How to Apply
Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.
The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include national police checks and misconduct screening.
If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.
FOR INTERNAL VPS EMPLOYEES:

• For this particular vacancy, priority consideration applies to Victorian Public Service (VPS) and select employees of the Victorian Public Sector who apply through the Jobs Skills Exchange (JSE) jobs board platform.
• For all VPS employees, due to the new Jobs Skills Exchange (JSE) policy, please apply through the JSE to be eligible to be considered for this position in the first round.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT:
The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.