About the Role

This is a Fixed Term Position until the 13th of October, 2025.

Join our dynamic Media team in the pivotal position of Media Adviser, where your contributions will be essential to our success. In this dynamic role, you'll thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment, showcasing your ability to work both independently and collaboratively to craft compelling narratives. Working closely with a variety of internal and external stakeholders, you'll play a vital role in delivering captivating content on operational and policy matters, as well as ensuring seamless communication of crucial network updates which are to benefit Victorians. Candidates will need to showcase their expertise in media issues management or bring significant journalism experience, accompanied by strong writing, storytelling, relationship-building, and critical thinking skills. 

Success in this role hinges on your capacity to convey complex information clearly and accurately in simple language within tight deadlines while maintaining composure under pressure. If you're ready to make a meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply and become an integral part of our innovative and dedicated team.

To access the Position Description, please click here

Position Outcomes / Accountabilities 

• Apply sound research and written communications skills to produce accurate, easily understood media materials, such as responses, releases, event briefs and Questions and Answer (Q and A) documents, to tight deadlines.
• Develop and implement media relations projects and initiatives and contribute to strategies for key Departmental business areas, projects and programs as defined by an account management portfolio.
• Provide sound media and communications advice to senior managers in order to carry out media interviews and briefings, providing coaching on key messaging, tone and media delivery.
• Exercise professional independent judgement to identify proactive media opportunities and escalate emerging media and reputational issues and contribute to managing or mitigating them.

Key Selection Criteria  

We are seeking an experienced Media Adviser to join our Communications team at the Department of Transport and Planning. In this role, you will be responsible for managing media relations, preparing communication materials, and addressing media inquiries. You will have a proven ability to promote the department’s objectives through strategic communications across various channels.

The ideal candidate will have excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience delivering information for large scale public viewership. You will demonstrate creativity and be able to think beyond traditional media strategies, while also maintaining strong time management skills and the ability to work both independently and within a team.

Key to this role is your ability to foster effective relationships with stakeholders and internal teams, contributing to a culture of collaboration. You will also have a keen sense of political and organisational awareness, enabling you to support the development and delivery of impactful communication strategies.

We value adaptability, and you should be comfortable adjusting to changing priorities while maintaining a high standard of work. Leadership skills are also essential, as you will occasionally guide other team members in order to help drive the department’s media strategy forward.

If you are a proactive communicator with a flair for strategic media communication, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity to contribute to the Department of Transport and Planning’s success.

Qualifications and Experience

Mandatory 

• An appropriate tertiary qualification or equivalent experience in journalism, public relations, communications or a similar discipline.

 Desirable 

• A willingness and ability to travel to locations within metropolitan and regional Victoria is required.
• A willingness and ability to work out of hours, including participating in an on-call media roster is required.

What we offer

• Meaningful work making Victorian communities more accessible and liveable 
• Professional growth and development opportunities across the department and the wider Victorian Public Services
• A hybrid working model focused on collaboration and teamwork
• Optimal work-life balance initiatives including flexible working arrangements
• Opportunity to work across multiple urban and suburban hubs
• We prioritise the development of a safe and inclusive culture

Culture Value

We are an equal opportunity employer, embracing a diverse range of applicants such as veterans, and people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, LGBTQIA community members, individuals with disabilities and/or health conditions, as well as those from varied faith and cultural backgrounds. At our department, we prioritize the development of a safe, inclusive, and high-performance culture through shared actions and behaviours that align with our strategy and direction. This empowers our employees to effectively contribute to our goals.

How to Apply

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If have any issues, click here for Quick Reference Guide on how to apply.

Applications close 11.59pm on Wednesday 9th of October, 2024

Please include a resume and cover letter. All applications must be submitted through the online portal. We’re unable to consider email or manual applications at this time. 

For further information about the role please contact Sam Gowers – Media Manager via Sam.Gowers@Transport.vic.gov.au. 

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Transport and Planning will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know by phone or email if you need any adjustments to fully participate in the recruitment process. If you require the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g., large print) due to viewing difficulties or other accessibility needs, we are happy to accommodate.