STA recruiting new Communications Manager

  • Full time management position, Canberra
  • Salary: $80K – $90K
  • Two-year contract with possibility to extend.
  • One direct report

Science & Technology Australia is the leading voice for Australia’s STEM sector, representing 82 member organisations and, through them, more than 77,000 STEM professionals. Join a small team working flexibly and with passion to grow the impact of this dynamic, ambitious and modern organisation with a deep commitment to elevating the role, reputation and impact of Australian science and technology.

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Reporting to and working closely with the CEO, this crucial role strategically manages STA’s public reputation and footprint. The Communications Manager oversees and implements STA’s communications strategy, including its public, social media and media presence and reputation, as well as member and event communications.

STA strongly encourages applications from Indigenous Australians, people with disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, professionals of all ages and LGBTIQA+ people.

Roles and responsibilities:

  1. Implement, evaluate and update the Communications Strategy in line with STA’s strategic and operational plans, for the purpose of elevating the role, reputation and impact of Australian science and technology
  2. Grow the social media and media profile of STA, its programs and events to a high professional standard, including managing media liaison and design and distribution of the monthly newsletter
  3. Manage key communications staff and service providers
  4. Manage the STA brand and related design, working with internal and external stakeholders to promote STA in a consistent and strategic manner
  5. Develop and manage the organisation’s WordPress website, including some HTML coding and maintenance of the backend platform
  6. Working collaboratively with other senior staff, lead content creation for STA, its events and programs – including web content, social media collateral, speechwriting, opinion pieces, policies, procedures and other official documents
  7. Assist with other projects where required, including but not limited to logistical, administrative and communications support.

Skills, knowledge and experience:

  • Formal qualifications in public relations, marketing, communications, journalism or a related discipline
  • A passion for and commitment to science and technology
  • Comprehensive experience in developing and implementing effective communications, media and public relations strategies and able to maintain a clear sense of strategic direction for communications within national and state political context
  • Highly developed oral, written and interpersonal skills and originality in developing messaging
  • Experience in proactively and strategically using social media informed by audience data and analytics
  • Experience in proactive and reactive media liaison and building media networks
  • Experience in managing websites, including development of website content
  • Sound administrative and organisational skills, with timeliness and strong attention to detail and quality
  • Ability to relate to people across a wide spectrum of interests (including consumers, service providers, peers, government and media)
  • Ability to take responsibility and work unsupervised including; problem-solving, sound judgement, decision-making and strong negotiating ability
  • Ability to manage staff, including performance reviews, professional development, conflict resolution and managing workload.

Applicants are requested to submit a brief CV and a cover letter (two pages max) demonstrating with examples how they meet the following selection criteria:

  1. Successful strategic management and implementation of multi-faceted communications plans
  2. Growing an organisational news media presence through direct media liaison
  3. Effective hands-on website management
  4. Success implementing analytics-informed social media strategies to grow audiences and engagement
  5. Strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion
  6. A passion for science and technology

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