The Media Adviser role is responsible for assisting Council to keep its community informed, and to promote community confidence in Council and its decisions. Through strategic and tactical media management this role strategically plans for and coordinates both proactive and reactive media opportunities, prepares briefings, develops speeches and other collateral for Councillors, and assists with media enquiries.
Key Responsibilities:
• Coordinate proactive and reactive media opportunities and manage daily media enquiries.
• Deliver our media strategy in conjunction with the executive team and Public Affairs Coordinator to maximise media coverage to build trust and confidence in the council’s work within the community.
• Provide expertise and advice in the areas of media relations and communication channels.
• Work closely with the Public Affairs coordinator, CEO, executive directors and senior managers to progress planned proactive media story placement and identified issues management.
• Liaise with identified media stakeholders to place stories.
• Undertake and disseminate daily media monitoring using software system.
• Create and periodically review key media systems including media monitoring and impact ensuring record management protocols are followed.
• Conduct in house media training for identified spokespeople, briefing them on specific key messages and risks ahead of interviews.
• Responsible for drafting CEO, Mayor, Councillor and Executive team speeches to ensure consistent reputational management
• Brief spokespersons, prepare speaking notes, press releases and facilitate approvals.
• Work closely with Senior Managers, Public Affairs, Communications and Internal Communications to identify issues and opportunities affecting the City of Stonnington and provide strategic advice and direction to the CEO, Mayor, Councillors and Executive Team.
• Support the CEO with tailored communications to the organisation and community as required
Join us in this full-time permanent role, offering a competitive salary range of $111,411 - $123,743, plus 12% superannuation and a monthly accrued day off.
What you’ll need to succeed:
• Proven experience and track record managing media in an issues rich environment.
• Proven experience in a communications team that delivers highly successful strategies, campaigns and initiatives, and/or 5-7 years’ experience as a journalist or editor.
• Strong network connections within the media industry
• Manage reactive and low-level daily media issues in a busy local government council setting, with assistance from your manager, including (but not limited to) the following issues: parking management, planning, development, public housing, fines, trees, community safety, heritage, waste.
• Assess reputational risk and provide recommendations and draft responses.
• This position works within a political environment and information developed may have an impact on Council and/or Councillors. Confidential and sensitive information must be managed appropriately with leadership.
• Manage crisis communications that represent an organisational reputational risk
• Provide media and issues briefings to the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, CEO and wider Council and executive team as required.
• Tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline (Journalism, Communications etc). Extensive experience as a journalist or communications professional in lieu of tertiary qualifications.
• Knowledge of local government operations and/or State Government highly desirable.
Enquiries
For enquiries relating to the role, please contact Jen Church Public Affairs Coordinator on jchurch@stonnington.vic.gov.au
For enquiries relating to the system and the application process, please contact a member of the Talent Acquisition team on 8290 1333.
Submitting your application
In your cover letter, we invite you to demonstrate how your skills and experience align with the requirements outlined in the Position Description, and to share what draws you to the opportunity to work with the City of Stonnington
The City of Stonnington is a child-safe, equal opportunity employer valuing diversity and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
Here at the City of Stonnington we aspire to be a leading local government authority and to do this we need the very best people who share our belief in community and who want to make a difference. We value everyone's contributions, lived experience and expertise. We provide an inclusive and respectful workplace culture where everyone is supported to thrive and be authentic. There is a variety of offerings available for our people, have a look at “Why Stonnington”.
If you have any support or access requirements, or would like to speak to someone about employment or an alternative processes, please contact Council’s Talent Acquisition team on 8290 1333.
To be eligible to apply for this position you must have an appropriate Australian or New Zealand work visa.
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