Communications Manager (Multiple Positions) – Geoscience Australia
📌 Vacancy Fact Sheet
- Reference Number: VN-0769778
- Agency: Geoscience Australia
- Job Title: Communications Manager (Multiple Positions)
- Position Number: multiple
- Classification: Executive Level 1
- Closing Date: Sunday 21 June 2026
- Job Type: Full-Time, Ongoing;Non-Ongoing
- Location: Symonston ACT
- Future Merit Locations: Various locations – ACT, Various locations – NSW,
- Salary: $121,755 – $137,542
- Office Arrangement: Flexible (Flexible working arrangements will be considered in)
About Geoscience Australia
Geoscience Australia is Australia’s pre-eminent public sector geoscience organisation. We are the
nation’s trusted advisor on the geology and geography of Australia. We apply science and
technology to describe and understand the Earth for the benefit of Australia. We apply our diverse
professional expertise, our deep and trusted knowledge, our national-scale Earth observation
infrastructure and our strong partnerships, to the opportunities and challenges that face our nation.
Our culture
Our strength lies in our people, including our diversity in backgrounds, skills and experiences, and
the way we work together to respond to the emerging needs of our work. We value diversity in
gender, backgrounds, culture, and experiences of our employees and are committed to providing
an inclusive workplace culture that ensures everyone has equal opportunity to contribute,
participate and progress. Applications from people who reflect this diversity are encouraged.
Our workplace is committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees and offers a
variety of flexible working arrangements to enhance flexibility, including remote working
arrangements.
What we can offer you
When you work at Geoscience Australia you will have access to a range of benefits and the
opportunity to experience a workplace culture that truly values and promotes diversity, inclusion,
equity and belonging. To learn more about our competitive salary, free onsite parking, generous
flexible working arrangements and the role you can play in growing our culture . click here
Our team
The Communications function at Geoscience Australia supports the delivery of the organisation’s
strategic priorities through coordinated, high-quality communication and engagement.
This recruitment process will establish a merit pool for Communications Manager roles across key
areas of the Communications function, including:
Strategic Communications (Strategic, Engagement and Campaigns)
Internal Communications
Media and Ministerial Engagement
Design
Successful candidates may be placed in one of these areas depending on skills, experience and
organisational priorities, while contributing to a connected, enterprise-wide communications
function with a focus on coordination and consistency.
Duties
- The Communications Manager (EL1) supports the planning, coordination and delivery of
- communication strategies, engagement approaches, campaigns and services that align with
- organisational priorities.
- Operating with a degree of independence, the role works in close partnership with stakeholders
- across the organisation to provide communications advice, shape priorities and deliver work within
- established governance frameworks.
- In this role you will:
- Strategic Communications – Strategy, Engagement and Campaigns
- Lead or support the development and delivery of strategic communication and engagement
- plans, integrated campaigns, and communication activity for organisational priorities, major
- initiatives and publications.
- Contribute to enterprise communication planning, including forward planning, prioritisation,
- content coordination and alignment with organisational strategy.
- Develop messaging, narratives, positioning and content that align with enterprise priorities,
- organisational strategy and stakeholder needs.
- Work across channels, including digital, social, internal, media, ministerial and stakeholder
- engagement, to support coordinated communication outcomes.
- Provide strategic communication and engagement advice to business areas, including on
- audience needs, sequencing, risks, opportunities and dependencies.
- Internal Communications
- Develop and deliver internal communication strategies and products that support staff
- engagement and organisational change.
- Provide advice to business areas on internal communication approaches, messaging and
- timing.
- Produce high-quality internal content, including intranet articles, staff messaging and
- leadership communications.
- Support the planning and delivery of internal events championed by the CEO and Executive,
- in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including Strategic Communications where
- appropriate.
- Develop internal crisis communication plans, working closely with lead business areas,
- Strategic Communications and Media and Ministerial Engagement to ensure timely and
- consistent staff communication. Support alignment between internal and external
- messaging.
- Media and Ministerial Engagement
- Support media and ministerial communication activities, including drafting media releases,
- talking points and media responses.
- Liaise with stakeholders including ministerial offices and portfolio departments.
- Monitor media activity and contribute to issues management and reputational risk mitigation.
- Coordinate timely and accurate responses to media enquiries and emerging issues.
- Support the planning and delivery of ministerial visits and events, including coordination of
- logistics for on-site and remote engagements.
- Support the identification and delivery of ministerial communication opportunities, working
- with Strategic Communications and stakeholders to support alignment with organisational
- priorities and forward planning.
- Contribute to building media capability across the organisation, including developing media
- training and upskilling for staff and executives.
- Design
- Manage the design team’s workflow, including coordinating incoming requests, supporting
- prioritisation and ensuring work is delivered to agreed standards and timeframes.
- Provide expert advice on branding, design standards and user experience.
- Design and produce visual and digital communication products across a range of channels.
- Collaborate with internal teams to translate complex information into clear, engaging
- content.
- Develop and maintain templates and design assets to support consistency.
- Provide quality assurance across design products to ensure consistency, accessibility, brand
- alignment and fit-for-purpose communication outcomes.
- Across all roles
- Provide high-quality communication advice to stakeholders across the organisation.
- Build effective working relationships with subject matter experts and senior leaders.
- Ensure communication activities are aligned with enterprise priorities and governance
- arrangements.
- Translate organisational strategy and business priorities into clear communication objectives,
- narratives, plans and products.
- Engage early with stakeholders to support proactive planning and coordinated outcomes.
- Identify strategic communication and engagement opportunities, risks and dependencies
- across the organisation.
- Contribute to enterprise communication planning and prioritisation processes.
- Exercise sound judgement in managing sensitive or complex communication matters.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of communication practices, tools and processes.
- Leadership responsibilities
- Lead and manage a small team, setting priorities and allocating work.
- Provide coaching, feedback and development opportunities.
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing team culture.
- Support staff wellbeing and model APS Values and behaviours.
- To be successful in the role you will:
- Be collaborative, proactive and solutions-focused.
- Demonstrate strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
- Show sound judgement and the ability to manage competing priorities in a complex
- environment.
- Be comfortable working with ambiguity, shaping priorities and influencing stakeholders in a
- complex environment.
- Demonstrate the ability to translate strategic direction, stakeholder needs and organisational
- priorities into practical communication outcomes.
- Demonstrate the ability to provide strategic advice, not just deliver communication products.
- Possess strong written and verbal communication skills tailored to different audiences.
- Be committed to delivering high-quality outcomes and continuous improvement.
- Demonstrate strong leadership capability, people management skills and the ability to
- develop others.
- Required skills, knowledge, experience and/or qualifications
- Demonstrated experience in communications, media, public affairs, design, stakeholder
- engagement or a related field.
- Experience developing and delivering communication strategies, engagement plans,
- campaigns, communications products or strategic advice in a complex organisation.
- Strong writing, editing, strategic thinking and stakeholder engagement skills.
Eligibility / Notes
- To be eligible to apply for this position you must meet the below eligibility criteria.
- Be an Australian Citizen at the closing date of application.
- The successful applicant must be able to obtain, hold and maintain a security clearance of
- an appropriate level relevant to this role.
- Commencement of employment is subject to the successful applicant undergoing and
- satisfying pre- employment screening, which includes a police history check.
- Are you unsure about applying?
- Did you know that a Hewlett Packard internal report found that men apply for jobs when they meet
- an average of 60 per cent of the job requirements? Women and other people from diverse
- backgrounds tend to only apply when they check every box. If you think you have what it takes,
- but don’t necessarily meet every single point on what we are looking for, please still apply or get in
- touch with the contact officer to learn more about the role.
How to Apply
Please visit the of our website to submit your application via our e-Recruit system. careers page
Your application should include:
Your resume (no more than 3 pages)
A brief statement (no more than 700 words) outlining your transferable skills, experience and
capabilities related to the role and the value you would bring to Geoscience Australia.
If you have any questions regarding the roles, please contact Phillip Adams, Director Strategic and
Creative Communications on (02) 6126 8713 or [email protected]
To learn more about applying for roles within the Australian Public Services please review,
. ‘Applying for an APS job: cracking the code’