Senior Public Affairs Lead

Overview

Hume City Council, a rapidly growing and culturally diverse local government in Victoria, Australia, is seeking a Senior Public Affairs Lead on a fixed-term 12-month full-time contract. The position offers an annual salary of $126,861.28 plus superannuation and is part of the Strategic Communications & Advocacy team.

Role Purpose

The Senior Public Affairs Lead will provide expert strategic communication, public affairs, and publicity assistance to promote the Council's advocacy goals, reputation, and key priorities. Reporting to the Manager of Strategic Communications, this role partners closely with the Government Relations and Advocacy unit to bolster advocacy campaigns, stakeholder engagement, media strategies, and profile-building efforts.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver strategic communications and public affairs support aligned with Government Relations and Advocacy objectives.
• Lead publicity initiatives and strategic media engagements to highlight Council’s achievements and advocacy efforts.
• Prepare high-quality communications advice, briefing notes, and messaging for the Executive Leadership Team, Councillors, and senior stakeholders while ensuring consistent organizational messaging.
• Manage impactful communications projects supporting organizational priorities.
• Collaborate to identify emerging issues, mitigate communication risks, and craft proactive messaging to safeguard and enhance Council’s reputation.
• Elevate Council’s influence and visibility across government, industry, media, community, and key external stakeholders.
• Offer strategic advice on complex, sensitive, and high-profile issues.
• Support the Manager of Strategic Communications in preparing communications materials for ELT, Councillors, and senior audiences.
• Adapt flexibly to support broader strategic communications needs and emergent priorities.

Required Skills and Experience

• Sound professional judgement in issuing public affairs and strategic communications guidance.
• Ability to identify communication risks and knowing when to escalate matters.
• Proficient in translating complex policy or project information into clear, compelling content tailored to various audiences.
• Experience crafting strategic messaging, public positioning, and identifying publicity opportunities.
• Capacity to manage multiple high-priority projects within defined scopes and timelines.
• Strong planning, coordination, and delivery skills for communications aligned to advocacy, reputation, and organizational goals.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for diverse stakeholders including senior leaders and the public.
• Effective relationship-building skills enabling collaboration across units including Strategic Communications, Government Relations, Executive Services, and project teams.

Qualifications and Requirements

• A tertiary qualification in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Affairs, Government Relations or equivalent substantial experience in relevant fields.
• Possession of a current driver's licence.

Work Culture and Values

The Council fosters an inclusive, collaborative environment underscored by values such as striving for continuous improvement, inclusivity, accountability, and community focus. It is an equal opportunity employer encouraging applications from diverse groups including people with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, LGBTIQA+ individuals, and culturally diverse backgrounds.

Additional Information

The appointment is subject to background and probity checks, including reference checks, Working with Children Check, and criminal record verification. Applications are assessed progressively, with early submission advised to ensure consideration.