Description:
Reporting directly to the Director (Change, Transition and Governance), this position will be responsible for writing and editing, relationship building, making presentations, project management, visual communications, communication planning and management and organising communication events. This role will review, update and implement the high-level communications plan to raise awareness of major activities and high level physical, technical and procedural changes resulting from the CTDP.
This role plays a critical part in ensuring timely and effective communication to a diverse range of stakeholders both internal and external to the department and significantly contributes to strategic change management.
You will provide contemporary and best practice strategic communication advice artefacts and advice to guide the successful implementation of this exciting large-scale Department Services program.
As the Principal Communications Officer you will be responsible for:
- planning and scheduling of communication activities aligned to program deliverables and the strategic change management requirements, communication plan and engagement strategy;
- preparing a range of communications for centralised and regional, internal and external stakeholders to promote, support and engage people that will be impacted by the transition from current service delivery models and systems to the new services and systems;
- production of all communication products required during the engagement period to mitigate identified risks, build a positive reputation for the program and support stakeholders and staff through change (i.e. briefing memo, targeted email, meeting/presentation, project newsletter, intranet page, website, video content, media releases, articles for inclusion in Department newsletter,) suitable to the target audience;
- prepare time sensitive written materials including speeches, newsletters, website content, publications, presentations, roadshows and lunchbox sessions, media releases and factsheets;
- drafting, proof reading and editing documents on behalf of other program staff;
- developing material (case studies) that chronicles the programs successes, alignment to stakeholder feedback and lessons learned;
- partnering with the program team and project streams to understand and develop key messages and generate new, innovative ideas to communicate them;
- Soliciting questions and research and develop responses and FAQs to stakeholder queries in partnership with the program teams;
- forecasting, researching, drafting and approval of planned future communication products;
- marketing the program and its outcomes and benefits; and
- liaising with communication specialists in the Corporate Communications Services Branch (People and Engagement) to ensure that the project communications conform with the standards set by the Department.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate succinctly and with influence
- Proactive engagement with stakeholders, ability to work with all internal areas and has great attention to detail
- Ability to work independently and part of a team to elicit information and material to inform communication material and planning
- Ability to be flexible, responsive and work under pressure in a project environment
- Ability to provide advice relating to implementation of highly effective communication strategies
- Demonstrated experience in developing communication strategies for a program with multiple project components, involving a broad range of geographically dispersed stakeholders
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate succinctly and with influence
- Ability to quickly fit into an established team and develop strong rapport with stakeholders and existing communication specialists within the department
- Ability to work autonomously as required, to deliver high quality communication products