Lead the marketing and communications portfolio for one of Australia's most recognised and trusted social impact organisations.
At R U OK?, we're working towards a world where we are all connected and protected from suicide. Through our Ask R U OK? Any Day message, we encourage Australians to build connection and support one another through regular, meaningful conversations.
We're looking for an experienced marketing and communications leader to join our Executive Team and help shape the next chapter of our impact.
Reporting to the CEO, you'll lead our marketing and communications portfolio across brand, media, digital engagement, and marketing, ensuring our message reaches the right people, in the right places, at the right time.
It's a rare opportunity to contribute to a national movement that reaches millions of Australians each year and helps strengthen connection across communities.
About the role
As Marketing and Communications Director, you will:
- Lead the development and delivery of R U OK? integrated marketing and communications strategy.
- Advise the CEO and Executive Team on brand, reputation, communications, engagement, opportunities, and risk.
- Protect and strengthen one of Australia's most recognised and trusted charity brands.
- Lead and develop a high-performing team spanning communications, marketing, digital engagement, and media.
- Grow audience reach, engagement, and participation through campaigns, digital channels, partnerships, and media.
- Use audience insights, data, and evaluation to focus effort and maximise impact.
- Contribute to organisational strategy, culture, and performance as a member of the Executive Team.
This is a senior leadership role in a small organisation with a big mission. While you'll provide strategic direction and leadership, this is not a role that sits above the work. You'll be expected to actively contribute to delivery and support the team hands-on,
particularly during major campaigns, peak periods and high-profile activities.
About you
You are a thoughtful, experienced leader who can turn strategy into action and bring people with you. You bring:
- Significant senior leadership experience in marketing and communications.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and organisation-wide strategy.
- Expertise across brand, communications, media, digital engagement, and audience growth.
- Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
- Experience managing reputation, issues, and sensitive communications.
- The ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on leadership.
- A passion for purpose-driven work and creating meaningful impact.
Experience in health promotion, behaviour change, public health, social impact, or another purpose-led setting will be highly regarded. Why join us?
- Join the Executive Team of a nationally recognised charity.
- Shape the reach, relevance, and impact of one of Australia's most trusted social impact brands.
- Hybrid working arrangements based in Barangaroo, Sydney.
- Not-for-profit salary packaging advantages.
- Birthday leave, loyalty leave, and Summer Fridays.
- A values-driven, collaborative and purpose-led team.
- Meaningful work that contributes to suicide prevention and community wellbeing.
A note about working with us Working in this space is meaningful and rewarding and can involve stories and experiences that are emotionally challenging at times. Lived experience is welcomed and respected.
We support the wellbeing of our people and value empathy, compassion, psychological safety, and healthy boundaries.
How to Apply
If you are interested in the role, please visit the R U OK? careers webpage via the Apply button (or at ruok.org.au/work-with-us ) and review the Position Description. Then, email your cover letter and CV to
[email protected]. Please respond to the following three questions in your cover letter:
1. Strategic leadership & impact
Tell us about a time you developed and led a marketing and/or communications strategy that contributed to a significant organisational outcome. What was the challenge, what did you do, and how did you measure the impact?
2. Leadership & influence
This role leads five direct reports and works closely with the CEO and Executive Team. Describe a time you brought together a multidisciplinary team or influenced senior stakeholders to deliver a complex or high-priority outcome. What was your leadership approach and what did you learn?
3. Judgement & reputation
Tell us about a time you managed a sensitive, high-risk or potentially reputational issue. How did you assess the situation, what advice or action did you take, and what was the outcome?
R U OK? is committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, abilities, identities and experiences, including people who are neurodivergent and/or living with disability. Lived experience is valued.
Applications close Monday 26 October, 5pm AEDT.
- Applicants must have the unrestricted right to work in Australia to be considered for this role.
- We are managing this recruitment directly and are not accepting unsolicited candidate referrals from recruitment agencies.
Join us and inspire more people to Ask R U OK? Any Day, because a conversation could change a life.
📌 Marketing and Communications Director (Sydney)
🏢 R U OK?
📍 Sydney