- Fixed term contract for 12months, Full time
- Join the Strategic Communications & Advocacy team

Hume City Council is one of Australia’s fastest growing and culturally diverse councils. We put the customer and our community at the centre of all that we do, ensuring our services are efficient and accessible.

TheSenior Public Affairs Leadprovides senior strategic communications, publicaffairsand publicity support to advance Council’s advocacy,reputationandorganisationalpriorities.

Reporting directly to theManagerStrategic Communications, the Senior Public Affairs Lead provides senior public affairs, publicity and strategic communications support for Council’s advocacy,reputationandorganisationalpriorities. The role works under the direction of the Manager Strategic Communications and collaborates closely with theGovernment Relations and Advocacy unitto support advocacy campaigns, stakeholder communications, strategic mediaopportunitiesand profile-building activity.

The position also supports theManagerStrategic Communications on ELT-facing communications, high-impactorganisationalprojects, issues management and emerging priorities. The role provides senior communications advice and delivery support but does not have independent authority over Council’s advocacy agenda, government relations activities, publicpositioningor strategic communications priorities.

What you’ll be doing:

- Provide strategic communications and public affairs support for Council’s Government Relations and Advocacy priorities.
- Lead publicity, profile-building and strategic media opportunities that promote Council’s priorities, achievements and advocacy agenda.
- Provide high-quality strategic communications advice, briefings, messaging and materials for the Executive Leadership Team, Councillors and senior stakeholders, working closely with the Corporate Communications and Reputation team to ensure consistent messaging, proactive reputation management and alignment with organisational objectives.
- Deliver high-impact communications projects and initiatives aligned to organisational priorities.




- Collaborate with the Corporate Communications and Reputation team to identify emerging issues, manage communication risks and develop proactive messaging strategies that protect and enhance Council's reputation
- Strengthen Council’s reputation, influence and visibility with government, industry, media, community and key stakeholders.
- Provide strategic issues management and communications advice on sensitive, complex or high-profile matters.
- Act as a senior strategic communications resource to the Manager Strategic Communications, supporting the preparation and delivery of advice, briefings, messaging, publicity opportunities and communications responses for ELT, Councillors, government stakeholders and other senior audiences.
- Work flexibly across the Strategic Communications function and broader organisation to support emerging priorities as required

The skills and experience you’ll bring to the role:

- Exercising sound professional judgement in preparing public affairs, publicity and strategic communications advice.
- Identifying communications risks, opportunities and issues requiring escalation to the Manager Strategic Communications.
- Interpreting complex policy, advocacy, project or operational information and translating it into clear, compelling and audience-appropriate communications.
- Developing recommendations for strategic messaging, public positioning, publicity opportunities and stakeholder communications.
- Ability to manage multiple high-priority public affairs, publicity and strategic communications projects within agreed scope, timelines and approval processes.
- Ability to plan, coordinate and deliver communications activity that supports advocacy, reputation, publicity and organisational priorities,



under the direction of the Manager Strategic Communications.
- Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear, accurate and persuasive materials for senior leaders, Councillors, stakeholders, media and the community
- Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across Strategic Communications, Government Relations and Advocacy, Executive Services, service areas and project teams.

Required Certifications & Qualifications

- Tertiary qualifications in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Affairs, Government Relationsor equivalent demonstrated skills and experience in strategic communications, public affairs,journalism,publicity, mediarelationsor reputation management.Current driver’s licence.

Why Hume City Council?

A leader in local government, we’re committed to creating an inclusive and collaborative work environment that is guided by our values:

We’re better, every day: We give things a go and value progress over perfection. We have permission to go for it and are expected to reflect and learn.

We’re in it together: At Hume, everyone matters. We Welcome and include all. Respect and safety are expected.

We show up: We empower and trust others and own our work. We rise to the challenges and are expected to do what we say we will.

All for Hume: We strive to achieve our best for the Hume Community. We are proud and passionate about working towards better outcomes and expect they are at the centre of everything we do.

We offer a competitive salary package, career development opportunities, and a supportive work environment.

A child safe organisation and an equal opportunity employer. Council encourages people of all ages, people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTIQA+ people and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply.

All candidates will be required to undertake background and probity checks including Reference Checks, Working with Children Check, and a Criminal Record Check.

Job Location

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📌 Senior Public Affairs Lead (Melbourne)
🏢 Hume City Council
📍 Melbourne