EL1 - Senior Strategic Communications Advisor, Telecommunications Deployment and Preparedness Branch

EL1 - Senior Strategic Communications Advisor, Telecommunications Deployment and Preparedness Branch

We actively seek to reflect the diversity of the Australian community in our workforce.  We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability and/or who are neurodivergent, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, including people of all genders and gender identities. We uphold gender equality as a core organisational value. If you’re interested in the role but feel uncertain, we still encourage you to apply if you feel your passions, transferable skills and valuable experience align with this position.

The Telecommunications Deployment and Preparedness Branch is focused on improving access to communication technologies across Australia. We provide strategic advice on digital inclusion, including for First Nations people and school students, telecommunications deployment policy, and communications about the safety of electromagnetic energy (EME).

The position is primarily responsible for developing, delivering and driving communication strategies that support the strategic plan and organisational objectives for the electromagnetic energy (EME) communications program.

You will work in partnership with subject matter experts and stakeholders to design and develop evidence-led communication programs.

You will collaborate with partners across the Communications Group (media, external and internal channel managers, brand and content teams, data and analytics) to provide seamless delivery of our communication programs.

You will be required to:

• Develop and implement integrated communication strategies and delivery plans for the EME communications program, and telecommunications deployment related matters, as appropriate.
• Develop strategic advice to provide to our senior management and internal colleagues, and to external partners, around messaging, narrative, engagement and communication strategy grounded in evidence and data and in response to performance analytics.
• Connect and collaborate with partners in the Communications Group, acting as the central point of contact to facilitate integrated communications planning and delivery.
• Build strong engagement with community, industry and government partners by keeping them updated, and encouraging them to provide feedback.
• Lead the development of high quality, relevant and audience-focused written content including web pages, reports, speeches, newsletters, executive materials and briefing notes. You will work with subject matter experts, stakeholders and end audience representatives to ensure content is written for the audience intended and delivered in a streamlined way, using the right channels for delivery.
• Engage with the department’s key policies and practices, record keeping systems and processes, strategic plans and reports, maintaining a high level of awareness and knowledge about internal and external policy shifts, and the legislative context within which we operate.

The successful candidate for this position will be able to demonstrate their capability against the Executive level 1 .

To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate your ability to:

• Develop and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders so that the work delivered meets the current and future needs of target audiences.
• Maintain a strong understanding of key reforms affecting telecommunications services and deployment to better address the challenges faced and tailor communication solutions that best meet the needs in specific scenarios (e.g. where, when and who to target a “there when you need it” communications approach).
• Maintain project focus and deliver tangible results whilst dealing with multiple stakeholders who have many competing priorities and timelines.
• Focus on delivery while being aware there are a number of projects, reforms and programs with messaging that competes for stakeholder attention.
• Perform role with a high level of autonomy and be accountable for the delivery of milestones and projects on time, within budget and to expectations in terms of quality, deliverables and outcomes.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts is committed to supporting the employment and career development of people with disability. Our participation in APS RecruitAbility means we will progress an applicant with disability to a further stage in the recruitment process, where they opt into RecruitAbility and meet the minimum requirements for the vacancy.

The RecruitAbility minimum requirements are listed above under ‘inherent requirements for the role’.

You will be asked to indicate if you wish to opt into RecruitAbility in the application form. You must tick the 'opt in' box to participate in RecruitAbility. Simply declaring that you have a disability will not automatically include you.

We provide reasonable adjustments such as access, equipment or other practical support at relevant stages of the recruitment process. Please advise in the application form or get in touch with the contact officer if you need any adjustments made. 

• Hold a Qualification in Communications/Communications related fields
• Demonstrated experience in strategic communications roles, including public relations / outreach activities
• Demonstratable subject-matter expertise in, and experience working on EME-related content
• Demonstrated experience in leading Commonwealth communication programs
• Demonstrated experience in providing high quality advice to Ministers

We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.

The department believes every role contributes to cultural safety and that building staff cultural capability helps us deliver better policies, programs and services for First Nations people and the broader Australian community.  Candidates will be required to demonstrate their willingness to develop their cultural capability as part of the assessment process. In making it a requirement across all roles in our department, we are taking a practical step in delivering our commitments under the Our Stories on Country Agreement and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy 2025–28.

As an Executive Level 1 you will be expected to:

• Lead the integration of cultural considerations into work area outcomes.
• Build trusted relationships with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander stakeholders. 
• Champion cultural capability within teams and challenges culturally unsafe practices.

We are dedicated to fostering personal and professional development, empowering individuals to set goals, acquire new skills, and cultivate unique qualities that define who they are. We believe that this not only leads to a more fulfilling and happier life but also enhances the overall quality of our work. Some of the benefits we offer include:

• Through our investment in learning and development opportunities, and a positive performance culture, we provide diverse career pathways for our people to enable their mobility and adapt in a rapidly changing world.
• Networking opportunities across the department and wider APS through daily engagement with working groups and internal and external stakeholders. 
• Improve your leadership skills, through the department’s Professional Coaching Scheme and tailored leadership opportunities for staff members.
• We offer generous leave entitlements of 20 days personal circumstances leave per year, with one month’s accrual of leave credited on commencement and 150 hours of paid annual leave (based on a full-time employee), plus a range of other miscellaneous leave options to support you. 

Join our department and embark on a journey of growth, fulfilment, and well-being. Experience personal and professional development, prioritise your health, and be part of a vibrant and positive culture that empowers individuals and drives exceptional performance.

Employment with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts is subject to conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999 including:

• Citizenship: candidates must be an Australian citizen at the time of submitting your application. 
• Health Assessment: The preferred candidate may be required to undergo a medical examination conducted by the department’s preferred medical provider.
• Security Clearance:

  The successful candidate must be able to obtain and/or maintain a security clearance at Baseline Clearance Level.  You must be willing to disclose all relevant and required information.  You must have lived in Australia, or have a checkable background, for at least the preceding five years for Baseline Vetting clearances.  More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) website

  .
• Police check: The successful candidate must complete an Australian Federal Police criminal history check.
• Integrity and Performance check: The successful candidate must satisfy the requirements in an Integrity and Performance check which is completed by your most recent employer.

Applications for this opportunity close at 11.59pm AEST, Sunday 23 August 2026.

Prior to preparing your application for the department, please read our Artificial intelligence (AI) in recruitment at the department principles. The principles aim to help you use AI in a way that supports your application and maintains fairness and transparency while maintaining your integrity as a candidate. They outline what is and isn’t acceptable use of AI in APS recruitment.

In applying for this position, you are not required to address individual selection criteria. Rather, you should provide in a PDF document a statement of no more than two (2) pages outlining your background, capabilities and experiences and how these align with the advertised role.

You should also provide a tailored CV in PDF, no more than three (3) pages. The capabilities and behaviours required to be successful for this role are identified in the ‘inherent requirements for the role’ section.

Your application should be received through the department’s online recruitment system prior to the closing date and time to be considered. 

If you experience any issues with the system please contact the recruitment team on 02 6136 8*** or via email at ***********@infrastructure.gov.au to discuss an alternative way to submit your application.

Please advise the contact officer if you require adjustments during the recruitment process. We recognise and value diversity as our strength and promote a culture of inclusion to enhance our work performance and the wellbeing of our employees. We are committed to systems that are accessible, inclusive and safe for all. If you need any further information about accessibility and inclusion at our department, please contact ***************@infrastructure.gov.au.

A selection panel will be established to assess your suitability against the advertised role.

If a merit pool is established it will be valid for 18 months from date it first appeared in the APS Gazette.

Applications open: 11 August 2026

Applications close: 23 August 2026

Application shortlisting: 28 August 2026

Further assessments: Week starting 31 August 2026

Selection report finalised: Week starting 14 September 2026

Offers and announcements: Week starting 21 September 2026

The above is indicative only, please reach out to the contact person if you have any questions on the recruitment process or timeframes.

Your application will be assessed against the inherent requirements of  the role, the Work level standards and in comparison to other candidates who applied. Once the entire applicant pool has been assessed, the panel will create a shortlist of applicants. If your application is shortlisted, you may be asked to undertake further assessment, this may include work sample testing, interviews and reference checks.

Work with us. Apply now!