Manager, Media And Public Affairs - Strategic Communication And Engagement

Are you a Media and communications professional seeking a new challenge that includes developing engaging content, managing a dynamic team of communicators and enhancing the reputation of state schooling in Queensland?

The Department of Education's Strategic Communication and Engagement branch is seeking a manager of media services, including the provision of strategic Media and issues management, proactive and reactive media responses and issues and crisis management.

This strategic role is responsible for leading a team that builds and maintains relationships with internal and external stakeholders to lead the department's media functions and may include some on-call and out of hours work.

About the Department of Education

The Department of Education are dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce that reflects the community and schools we support by treating everyone with respect and dignity. This starts with recruitment and selection. The methods of assessing suitability in the recruitment process may vary. This includes making reasonable adjustments to support applicants at all stages of the process and employee lifecycle.

The Strategic Communication & Engagement (SCE) branch is responsible for the department's corporate communications, sponsorship and events as well as Media and social media. Services provided by SCE ensure that the department has a strategic corporate communications framework and consistent approach to engaging with schools, members of the community, the media, business, and other government agencies.

About the Role

This is a permanent role located in Brisbane, with some flexible work options. The candidate will provide strategic media advice to senior executives and the Minister's Office on a range of sensitive and complex issues. The candidate will be responsible for managing a team of media officers including an on-call roster to respond to media enquiries and emerging issues, and to provide media support as required. There may be some local travel as part of media duties.

• Managing the media services for the department, including the provision of strategic Media and issues management, proactive and reactive media releases and responses, media training and to act as the media spokesperson as required in liaison with the Minister's office.
• Ensuring that all Communication and media activities are appropriate to client needs, government objectives and organisation priorities.
• Making sure that sound issues and crisis management systems are in place and are supported by skilled and experienced people to maintain the department's capability to respond to emerging issues and promote the positive initiatives of the organisation.
• Lead and manage a communications team in the research, preparation and approvals for a range of public communication materials including speeches, media releases, media responses and feature articles, as well as contributions to departmental publications.

About You:

As Manager of the Media team you will:

• have excellent skills in time management and the ability to prioritise tasks to meet urgent deadlines while ensuring appropriate approvals processes are followed;
• contribute to the continuous improvement of the Media team by actively innovating and improving strategies, processes and systems;
• use your experience in providing strategic advice on communication activities to departmental staff, the Minister and Director-Generals' offices;
• have experience in liaising with members of the Media and managing media issues.

Please refer to the attached role description for any mandatory requirements for this position.

How to Apply

Applicants are to submit:

• A brief resume; contact details for 2 referees (one of whom should be your current supervisor); and
• A maximum 2-page written response outlining your skills, knowledge and experience that relates to the role.

We welcome all applicants to share any support needed to ensure our recruitment process is inclusive. 

Applications remain current for 12 months from the closing date and may be considered for appointment to identical or similar vacancies within the Department. 

Applications from recruitment agencies will not be accepted. 

When working in regulated employment an employee must have a current Working with Children Clearance (blue card) issued by Blue Card Services.

Salary rate shown is reflective of full-time (1.0 FTE). 

The Department of Education is a family inclusive workplace. Click here to find out more about our Inclusion and Diversity strategies. ( https://alt-qed.qed.qld.gov.au/working-with-us/induction/department/human-resources/inclusion-and-diversity#:~:text=Pathways%20to%20Parity,participate%20fully%20in%20our%20workplaces. )