Media and Communications Lead

Media and Communications Lead

Reference number: 11254

Closing date: 11pm - Friday 14th August 2026

• Full-time permanent role (1 FTE)
• Band 6 - salary commencing at $100,577.59 per annum + 12% superannuation (commensurate with experience)
• Monthly RDO available
• Hybrid working arrangements available

The Opportunity 

Moonee Valley City Council is seeking a proactive and experienced communications professional to join our Advocacy, Communications and Engagement team as Media and Communications Lead. This is an exciting opportunity to lead Council's media relations and storytelling activities, helping to build awareness of Council's services, programs, events and community outcomes.

Working closely with stakeholders across the organisation, you'll develop and deliver proactive media opportunities, manage reactive media issues and provide expert advice to support Council's reputation. You'll play a key role in identifying compelling stories, building strong relationships with media outlets and ensuring timely, accurate and effective communication with the community.

Supporting a wide range of initiatives, from advocacy campaigns and community programs to arts, culture and major events, you'll help amplify Council's achievements and strengthen community understanding of the work we do.

Key Responsibilities

• Managing Council's media relations activities, including proactive opportunities and reactive media enquiries. 
• Developing and implementing media strategies that support Council priorities and reputation. 
• Develop media releases for the Clocktower Centre, Incinerator Gallery and Council’s regular festivals and public art programs. Proactively pitching stories and interview opportunities to the arts media.  
• Manage the distribution of the weekly arts listing to media, promoting Council’s festivals, programs and events. 
• Preparing media releases, statements, speeches, briefing materials and other communications content. 
• Providing media advice and support to the Mayor, CEO, Executive and internal stakeholders. 
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with media representatives and key stakeholders. 
• Identifying and promoting positive stories across traditional and digital channels. 
• Supporting advocacy initiatives through strategic communications and media engagement. 
• Contributing to crisis and emergency communications planning and implementation. Monitoring media coverage, analysing trends and identifying opportunities to enhance Council's reputation. 
• Working collaboratively across the organisation to promote Council services, events and community outcomes.

Skills & Experience

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in communications, public relations, journalism or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience. 
• Experience developing and managing proactive and reactive media opportunities, including media releases, statements and issues management. 
• Demonstrated success developing and delivering communications and media plans that support organisational objectives. 
• Strong understanding of media relations, reputation management and strategic communications across traditional and digital channels. 
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, engaging and accessible content. 
• Experience developing and implementing media strategies and campaigns across a range of platforms and audiences. 
• Proven ability to build effective relationships, work collaboratively with stakeholders and contribute positively within a team environment. 
• Sound political judgement and the ability to provide considered media advice in complex or sensitive situations.

Next Steps

Applications must be submitted through our online system and should be in line with the Moonee Valley City Council Application Guide, including the submission of a response to the Key Selection Criteria. Applications that do not meet these requirements may not be considered.

For further information about the role, please contact Deveta Patel, Senior Coordinator Communications, on +61 9243 1202. If you'd like to view the Position Description, learn more about what we do, or find out why Moonee Valley City Council is a great place to work, visit our Careers website at https:https://mvcc.vic.gov.au/work/my-career/work-with-us/

Moonee Valley is a great place to live, work and visit. We are a local government within the north-west metropolitan area of Melbourne, providing a range of services to some 130,000 residents and over 10,000 businesses. 

Our 1,200 employees bring their differing backgrounds, experiences and unique perspectives to our collaborative environment, and are supported to share ideas, initiatives and talent, making a positive impact on our community for now and in the future.

Some of the great benefits of working at Moonee Valley City Council are flexible working conditions, learning and development opportunities, supportive leadership and various staff benefits.

Our Council offices are located in the heart of our vibrant, diverse community with great food, cafes and green spaces nearby. We have excellent public transport at our doorstep as well as cycling access for our employees.

At Moonee Valley City Council, we pride ourselves on having job opportunities which make a real difference in the community and having a workplace which values everyone’s unique skills and attributes.

Our Culture of Inclusion

If you are interested in the role but feel you may not meet the full range of selection criteria, we encourage you to contact us to discuss your experience and application for this position.

We don’t just accept difference - we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our services and our community. With a focus on inclusion, accessibility and flexibility, we'll support you at every stage of your career. We recognise the importance of balance and embrace work agility, understanding that this means different things to each and every one of our employees.

Moonee Valley City Council is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Child Safe employer and we value diversity and encourage people from different backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, people of any age or gender, people identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and/or queer (LGBTIQA+) and people with disability. If you have a reasonable adjustment, support or access requirement, we encourage you to let us know through your application or email **@mvcc.vic.gov.au or call 9243 1122.