Senior Communications Officer in Canberra

HorizonOne is partnering with a Commonwealth agency committed to advancing Australia’s national interests and delivering meaningful outcomes. This branch plays a key role in delivering strategic communications and engagement activities, ensuring partnerships, stakeholders and collaborators are central to the planning, delivery and promotion of the agency’s work.

This is a Senior Communications Officer (APS 6 equivalent) position available on a 6-month labour hire contract. You’ll join a small digital communications team and take on a hands-on content role, turning research and technical material into stories for a range of audiences. Alongside the digital work, you’ll support campaigns, media, events and corporate publications, so the role offers breadth rather than a single channel.

You’ll have the chance to:

• Write and publish across the full digital mix: web pages, news stories, blogs, feature articles, social media and e-newsletters
• Work directly with researchers and subject matter experts to turn complex work into stories people want to read
• Contribute to campaigns, media activity, events and annual corporate publications, not just one channel
• Domestic and international travel may be required as part of the role

The Role

You’ll produce and publish public-facing content across the agency’s digital channels and support the wider communications program. You’ll be:

• Drafting, designing and publishing content across the website, social media channels and e-newsletters, and help monitor and evaluate how each channel is performing
• Publishing web pages, blogs, news stories, landing pages, project pages, reports and campaign content
• Contributing to the ongoing development of the agency’s web presence so it stays user-focused and fit for purpose
• Helping plan, procure and produce content in line with the content calendar and publishing priorities
• Managing subscriber engagement, including maintaining list segmentation, building and scheduling e-newsletters, and responding to social media queries
• Supporting communication campaigns, media and public relations activity, events and stakeholder communications
• Researching and fact-checking content with subject matter experts before it goes out
• Supporting the development of annual corporate publications, including the operational plan and annual review
• Creating or sourcing graphics and infographics to illustrate content.

The Ideal Person

You’re an experienced communications professional who can take complex research or technical material and make it clear and engaging for a general audience. You’re comfortable working with limited supervision in a small team, juggling several channels and deadlines at once. You will bring the following skills and experience:

• Experience in a digital communications role, including developing, editing and producing science or research stories for different audiences and platforms
• Experience coordinating content production across a team of contributors
• Sound judgement when researching and verifying information from technical experts, and the ability to explain complex information simply
• Strong internal stakeholder skills and the ability to provide communications advice in a complex environment
• Project management skills and the ability to deliver creative solutions within tight timeframes
• The ability to adapt quickly as communication needs change, and to manage competing priorities

It’s also desirable if you have:

• A tertiary qualification in communications, marketing, digital media or a related field
• Experience working in communications within government

Salary / Rate

$65/hr – $75/hr + Super

6-month labour hire contract

Canberra-based

An Australian citizenship is essential for this role. HorizonOne is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and we encourage applications from people of all cultures, capabilities and backgrounds.