Senior Communications Officers, Communication Education & Engmt

Agency Purpose

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is an independent statutory authority established by the Australian Government to maintain an impartial and independent electoral system for eligible voters through active electoral roll management, efficient delivery of polling services, and targeted education and public awareness programs.

The AEC’s values and commitments

The AEC values and commitments are an essential component of our operating environment and frame how AEC staff work. The AEC's focus is on electoral integrity through the values of quality, agility and professionalism.

About the Team

The Communication, Education and Engagement Branch is responsible for a dynamic and diverse work program, with voter-centric projects, and enthusiastic and dedicated teams committed to ensuring all eligible Australians can actively and meaningfully participate in our democracy, and to achieve outcomes that continue to sustain trust in electoral processes.

Strategic Communication helps deliver targeted communication and public awareness plans and programs. This helps ensure communication with voters and stakeholders is consistent across all channels, easy to understand, and customised for voters who may need more support to participate.

Communication (campaigns) team plans and delivers multi-phase national campaigns for federal election events. This includes managing research, creative development, paid media placement and public relations activities that ultimately ensure all eligible voters can have their say at election time.

Electoral Education develops and delivers strategic education initiatives that promote understanding of Australia's electoral system and processes. We support informed and meaningful participation by providing impartial, accessible, and evidence-based electoral education to a range of voting audiences.

Community Engagement contributes to the evidence base to shape and refine services and supports that respond to diverse voter needs and expectations, builds electoral knowledge, and improve equity of access to electoral participation.

The Opportunities

This is an exciting opportunity to join the AEC and contribute to work that has a direct impact on Australia's democratic processes.

If you're passionate about Australia's democracy and using your expertise to help people enrol and vote, we have the role for you. We are seeking creative and skilled professionals to contribute to some of the Australian Government's most visible and impactful activities.

All positions will report to an Assistant Director (EL1) and work under limited direction. There will be additional responsibilities before and during an electoral event, including managing and responding to a significant increase in both the volume and urgency of work.

Senior Communication Officers, Strategic Communication

You will deliver and support activities that inform and engage voters throughout the electoral cycle. You will develop and implement communication plans, support community and stakeholder outreach, and provide advice to AEC business areas. Working in a dynamic environment, your communication expertise, creativity and sound judgement will help you manage competing priorities and contribute to complex or sensitive activities. You will ensure communications are clear, accurate and consistent, and delivered through the most effective channels to maximise reach and impact.

Senior Communication Officer, Communications (campaigns)

You will deliver national campaign activities to inform voters of their rights and responsibilities in the lead-up to and during federal electoral events. Your work will range from procuring and managing external suppliers to reviewing campaign messaging and creative products and contributing to paid media planning. Your ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver outcomes under pressure will be highly valued as part of this small, busy and committed team.

Senior Project Officer, Electoral Education

You will contribute to the development and delivery of contemporary programs and resources that support meaningful participation in Australia's democracy. Working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, you will develop accessible and inclusive learning experiences for diverse audiences, manage projects and partnerships, and support the continuous improvement of resources that build understanding of Australia's electoral system and processes.

Senior Project Officer, Community Engagement

You will manage a range of projects to plan and deliver evidence-based, accessible community engagement initiatives for priority groups, including culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with disability, and young people. You will develop and manage key internal and external relationships, working collaboratively with stakeholders and partners to identify opportunities, foster cooperation, and achieve outcomes.

To excel you’ll have:

We are seeking a motivated and capable professional who can demonstrate the skills, knowledge and experience required to perform successfully in this role.

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving capability by using research and evidence to identify innovative and effective approaches, and plan, deliver, manage and evaluate activities that achieve outcomes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to create engaging, accessible resources, tailor messages and approaches for diverse audiences, and draft formal briefs and project reports.
• Demonstrated project management skills, including managing multiple activities and competing priorities, developing tender documentation, managing procurement and selection processes, overseeing suppliers and contract performance, and delivering outcomes on time and within budget.
• Proven ability to build and maintain productive stakeholder relationships by collaborating with AEC business areas, suppliers, stakeholders and external partners, providing trusted advice, support and solutions.
• Ability to apply initiative and sound judgement by taking ownership of work, operating autonomously and within a team, and proactively identifying and addressing potential issues.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain resilience under pressure by remaining calm, adaptable and focused during periods of high workload, including federal elections and other electoral events.
• A collaborative approach in contributing to team success by supporting leaders and colleagues, sharing knowledge, mentoring junior staff and effectively managing upwards when required.

Mandatory requirement

• Must hold a qualification or 3 – 5 years’ experience in communication, marketing, advertising, public affairs, education or community engagement.

Eligibility

• AEC employees must be Australian citizens.
• Any person who is, and seen to be active in political affairs, and intends to publicly carry on this activity, may compromise the strict neutrality of the AEC and cannot be considered.
• Applicants are required to consent to, undergo, obtain and maintain a character clearance.
• Applicants are required to consent to, undergo, obtain and maintain the security clearance required for this role.

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