Lead, Communications (Dvcp)

• Flexible location
• Full-time and continuing
• HEW 9 $127,682 - $135,330 + 17% Superannuation (pro rata, part-time)

Why work with us?
At Deakin you will have access to benefits such as a variety of leave options including generous parental leave and the ability to purchase additional leave; flexible working arrangements to help manage your work-life balance; ongoing learning and development opportunities to grow your career; an inclusive and supportive culture and environment to work in, both online and on campus.
Who are we?
Deakin is a cutting-edge public university in Victoria, revolutionizing education with 61,000 students across five campuses: Melbourne Burwood, Geelong Waurn Ponds, Geelong Waterfront, Warrnambool, and our dynamic online Campus. We're proud to be a progressive and open-minded university, delivering the highest student satisfaction in Victoria and consistently ranked in the top 1% of the world's universities.
This is a hands-on, specialist media and corporate affairs position that works tactically and proactively on a range of complex stories and corporate affairs issues and provides high-level operational advice.
As a Lead, Communications, you will:

• Manage aspects of Deakin's public and corporate profile, along with risk and reputational awareness by leading the development, implementation, and evaluation of a multi-layered, proactive-focused corporate affairs strategy. Including managing aspects of Deakin's crisis communication response, and related advice and handling
• Tell and share great Deakin stories and corporate announcements that require working with colleagues across the University, and external partners, to support key strategic projects and amplify internal and external messaging.
• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of a multi-layered, proactive-focused media and corporate affairs strategy.
• Work tactically and hands on with complex media stories, and investigate and undertake special communication projects, as required.
• Lead with values, ethics, and emotional intelligence to foster team resilience, inclusion and performance and set clear standards of expected behaviour and celebrate and reward outstanding performance along with facilitating growth and development by giving balanced, constructive feedback considering individual capability and team performance
• Establish systems and procedures to guide work and track progress and strive for excellence and continually evaluate progress, and effectively overcomes barriers to achieve outcomes

To be successful, you'll have:

• Postgraduate qualifications and extensive relevant experience; or extensive experience and management expertise within a communication field; or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate for both content and intent, and experience writing a range of communications for a variety of audiences.
• A proven ability to thrive in a high-level, detail-focused, fast-paced communications and media environment with a proven ability and appetite to engage tactically and manage multiple communications projects simultaneously, and to navigate short, competing and changing deadlines.
• Extensive 'start to finish' experience developing and distributing communications collateral - including staff news, feature stories, media releases, reports, plans, correspondence, and briefing papers.
• Strong internal and external relationship management experience, with a capacity for conflict resolution, relationship management and diplomacy including stakeholder management.
• Experience in handling sensitive information including managing crisis communication and providing strategic and tactical advice to senior stakeholders on media issues.

Here's how to apply:
Please submit your updated resume and a short cover letter outlining your skills and experience.
For a confidential discussion regarding this role, please contact Andy Newton, Senior Manager, Media and Corporate Affairs via
For a copy of the position description, please see below:
Applications for this position close on Thursday 29 February at 11.55pm.
Are You Ready?
Deakin is a Victorian university with a global impact. We are an agile, dynamic, and innovative university committed to making a positive impact through our excellence in education, research and innovation and the contributions we make to the wider community.
We understand that our reputation has been built on the dedication and expertise of our staff and we offer a dynamic and diverse working environment with opportunities to grow and develop careers. We believe that a progressive, thriving culture will ensure that people choose to come, and stay at Deakin and contribute to our ongoing success.
We value diversity and aim to build an inclusive environment that champions, embraces and respects differences. We support and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people of all abilities, cultures, sexual orientation, and genders.