Senior Communications Adviser

Who we areService Victoria is the one place to go for government services. It's our job to make things easy. Our customers give our services an overall 96% satisfaction score, and our app was the most downloaded in Australia for 2021.The Service Victoria culture is dynamic and fast-paced, we're not what you'd expect from a government department. We work flexibly and remotely, using our workspaces in Footscray and Ballarat for onsite collaboration. We have a mature digital services platform of contemporary cloud-based infrastructure, technical architecture and scalable and reusable common capabilities, with real-time integration into agency legacy systems. We use a range of market-leading technology, such as AWS, Salesforce, Node.js, React, MuleSoft, Sitecore (.NET), HTML/CSS/JavaScript, and Java. From a Salesforce point of view, we use areas such as Service Cloud, Experience Cloud, Omni Studio and Public Sector Solution.Service Victoria is an Administrative Office attached to the Department of Government Services (DGS). DGS was established on 1 January 2023 to improve everyone's experience of doing business and interacting with the Victorian government.Service Victoria and DGS are bringing important day-to-day services together in one department to make things easy and seamless for Victorians and businesses.We are doing this by connecting and digitising our systems and platforms across state and local government as well as streamlining our corporate and procurement services.You can find out more about our Ministers, leadership and entities .Service Victoria upholds and demonstrates the values of the VPS and is the embodiment of VPS leadership. Service Victoria's values are adopted from the Public Administration Act 2004:PR, Digital Marketing and CommsOur PR & Digital marketing team members are close-knit and collaborative, making them an integral part of the organisation. Reporting into the Office of the CEO, we promote government services, manage brand identity, engage with media, create content, manage digital channels, facilitate internal communications, execute campaigns, monitor performance, and support compliance.About the roleThe Senior Communications Adviser is responsible for internal communications at Service Victoria to enhance employee experience. Reporting to the Marketing Manager, you will play a critical role in transforming the employee experience through strategic internal communications and driving employee engagement initiatives such as monthly all-company days. You will also facilitate staff surveys to understand the voice of our employees and support organisational change initiatives.Your primary focus will be developing and implementing customer-centric internal communications. You will create and deploy internal communication materials and channels that are suited to the needs of Service Victoria's employees. You will also oversee developing and implementing an internal communications strategy and plan, ensuring that it aligns with the organisation's goals and values. This position will need tight collaboration with multiple teams within Service Victoria, as well as interaction with the Department of Government Services' media and communications team.You will also support external communications, performing the role of subject matter expert to ensure communications are aligned with Service Victoria's brand, writing style and tone of voice. Additionally, this may also include formulating and refining messages to enlighten and influence employees, customers and stakeholders as well as devising strategies and plans to successfully communicate these messages across multiple channels to meet communication objectives.Key accountabilitiesThe core responsibilities of the Senior Communications Adviser include:

• Develop and implement internal communications: Plan, create, and execute communication initiatives related to change management, employee engagement, and employee experience across Service Victoria and the Department of Government Services.
• Manage internal communication channels: Oversee and maintain internal communication channels including identifying opportunities to establish new channels, updating and maintaining the SharePoint intranet, and coordinating monthly staff forums.
• Prepare compelling internal communication content: Write, edit, and proofread engaging content to inform and engage staff, ensuring consistency with brand voice and messaging. This will include a communication audit of the current employee lifecycle, including overhauling induction material and other core information which staff need to know.
• Facilitate employee engagement activities: Plan and execute employee engagement activities, surveys, and feedback mechanisms to foster a positive work environment.
• Support media and communications: Serve as the primary contact point with the department to coordinate responses to media queries, talking points for public events, and other materials such as communication plans for new services delivered with other departments or agencies.

Key selection criteria

• Communicates with impact: Uses clear and concise language; Uses media appropriate to the audience and presents information to develop the understanding of the
• Flexibility and adaptability: Accept changed priorities without undue discomfort. Responds quickly to Comfortable working in collaboration with teams outside of own organisation
• Working collaboratively: Build a supportive and cooperative team environment; Engages other teams to share information in order to understand or respond to issues; Support others in challenging situations
• Political and Organisational context: Prepares and delivers logical, sequential and succinct presentations; Uses clear and concise language; Uses media appropriate to the audience and presents information to develop the understanding of the topic
• Interpersonal skills: Sees things from another's point of view and confirms understanding; Understand motivations, needs and wants of stakeholders and their impact on service delivery; Tailor communications according to audience and/or audience preference
• Problem solving skills: Finds ways to resolve complex problems in a timely manner and negotiate outcomes with multiple stakeholders

Experience and qualificationsMandatory requirements

• Communication
• Relational skills
• Sustainable performance

and is assessed as having a medium level of intrinsic risk.Desirable

• Communicate with impact
• Working collaboratively
• Interpersonal skills

Experience and awareness of government emergency response protocols and processes and crisis communications