Office for Early Childhood Development

Job reference: 863905

Location: 5000 - ADELAIDE

Job status: Long Term Contract

Eligibility: Open to Everyone

Why work with us

The Office for Early Childhood Development was created to champion change and to help build a system that gives all South Australian children a flying start to life.

Guided by the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care, the Office for Early Childhood Development is the steward of the early childhood development system in South Australia.

The Office is tasked with a significant responsibility: bringing together a holistic, connected system for early childhood development across South Australia, with the goal of reducing the rate of children entering school developmentally vulnerable. Critical to this is the roll-out of universal 3-year-old preschool from 2026, giving every child access to 2 years of teacher-led, play-based early learning before school.

About this role

Are you a strategic communicator who thrives on influence, collaboration and delivering results?

We're looking for an experienced communications professional to lead the communications strategy for the Office for Early Childhood Development, partnering with senior leaders and stakeholders to deliver clear, compelling and influential communications.

This is an opportunity to shape complex messages, lead strategic communication planning, provide trusted advice, and create meaningful engagement across a wide range of audiences. Success in this role requires agility, ability to lead in a fast – paced environment, sound judgement, and a strong focus on measuring impact and continuously improving communication outcomes.

Your Key Responsibilities

- Lead a team of communications Business Partners to deliver strategic communication plans and campaigns that support organisational priorities and drive meaningful outcomes.
- Lead a high-performing team and cultivate a culture of collaboration,



accountability and excellence.
- Forecast and coordinate communications priorities to support the successful delivery of organisational objectives and outcomes.
- Lead the communications team to deliver high-quality, audience-focused content across a range of channels, using insights to drive engagement and impact.

Please see the attached Position Description for the full key outcomes for this role.

About you

You're a strategic and influential communications leader with a proven ability to deliver high-impact communications in complex and fast-paced environments. You combine exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills with strong judgement, initiative and political acumen. A team-oriented and inspiring leader, you build high-performing teams, foster trusted relationships and confidently navigate competing priorities to achieve organisational objectives.

Highly organised and outcome-focused, you excel at leading a team across multiple projects, balancing diverse stakeholder needs and delivering results to tight deadlines. You use audience insights, strategic thinking and a solutions-focused approach to drive engagement, support change and continuously improve outcomes.

To be successful in this role, we are looking for someone who brings:

- Strategic Communications Expertise – Proven ability to develop and deliver impactful communications strategies that influence, engage and achieve measurable outcomes.




- Leadership and Influence – A collaborative and inspiring leader with experience building high-performing teams and driving results in complex, fast-paced environments.
- Project Delivery and Planning – Strong project management skills, with the ability to lead multiple priorities, manage risk and deliver successful outcomes on time and to a high standard.

Role Benefits

- A role with real influence and impact
- Opportunities for professional development and career growth within the public sector
- Work with senior officials across government and early childhood sectors.
- Be part of an agency with a clear mission to improve the lives of South Australia’s children and families.
- Access to valuable salary sacrifice benefits like car leases, portable electronic devices, mobile phones, airline lounge memberships, self-education expenses, and more. Ask us about how you can make your salary go further working at the OECD.
- Access to flexible working arrangements to get that work life balance.

Application Instructions and Information: Applications should be made through the IWorkForSA website. Applicants must submit a CV, Pre-employment Declaration, and a cover letter outlining their suitability against the attached position description.

Remuneration

ASO8 - $130,046 - $134,965 (1.0 FTE) per annum, plus superannuation.

Additional Note

This is a full-time 2-year long term contract role (1.0 FTE) with potential to be made ongoing.

Enquiries

Enquiries can be directed to [email protected]

Special Conditions

For all other special conditions please refer to the attached position description.

Applications close: 22/11/2026 11:45 PM

Attachments

- Position Description - ASO8 Principal Communications Lead.pdf
- Pre-Employment_declaration_vl233.pdf

Flexibility Statement The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.

📌 Principal Communications Lead (Adelaide)
🏢 Office for Early Childhood Development
📍 Adelaide