Senior Communications Officer

Job Details

EMPLOYMENT TYPE - Ongoing Full time

LOCATION - ACT preferred

AFP BAND & SALARY - Band 06 ($107,559.00 - 118,673.00)

JOB REFERENCE NUMBER - 14253

This advertisement is to fill current vacancies and create a merit pool for future ongoing or non-ongoing vacancies arising over the next 12 months.

Did you know?

The mission of the Australian Federal Police is to provide dynamic and effective law enforcement to the people of Australia. It provides policing throughout Australia in relation to the prevention and detection of crimes against the Commonwealth, its laws and integrity, and community police services to the Community of the ACT.

Working for the AFP provides you with a diverse and rewarding career. Whether you immerse yourself in a position on the frontline, or provide critical operational or professional support, the work you do makes a big impact on the people of Australia. 

We recognise your contribution to our workforce and offer generous remuneration and conditions including:

• Six weeks (30 days) of paid annual leave per year + additional paid Christmas stand down 
• 4 extra days of mandatory rest leave per year 
• 18 days of paid personal leave per year
• Generous superannuation of 15.4%
• 18 weeks paid Parental Leave for Primary Caregiver (and 11 weeks for Secondary Caregiver) + additional unpaid leave entitlements for up until 24 months from the child’s date of birth or placement
• Generous salaries and incremental salary progression governed by the AFP Enterprise Agreement 
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangement that provides work/life balance
• Health & wellbeing services – with a focus on early intervention, education and prevention
• Access to ongoing training and professional development opportunities

Corporate Communications overview

Corporate Communications supports the delivery of strategic, creative executions that achieve the desired outcomes of raising awareness, driving behavioural change and supporting agency objectives.

Through a specialised range of skills and experience, Corporate Communications seeks to ensure clear and accessible messaging with internal and external audiences about the AFP's priorities, initiatives, campaigns and operational successes.

The section works in partnership with Strategic Communications, Marketing Communications, Media and other business areas to deliver creative executions ranging from one-off initiatives requiring design, photography, videography, web or intranet publishing and internal communications.

Corporate Communications is made up of the following areas:

• Enterprise Communications
• Digital Engagement
• Design
• Production.

This is a senior role in Enterprise Communications. From copyediting and corporate writing style management to channel management and uplift, Enterprise Communications connects business areas to the right communication support, improves current internal communication practices and identifies new initiatives to enhance internal communications for our people.

What is the role?

As a senior member in the team, you will report to the Team Leader Enterprise Communications. Working as part of a small team, you will lead the development, design and delivery of internal communications including:

• The Pulse – the agency’s weekly digital all staff newsletter
• AFP News Online – the agency’s daily internal news channel
• staff announcements and promotion of upcoming events
• education and training on internal communications channels and the correct application of the Australian Government Style Manual
• general brand guidance and AFP logo licensing management
• corporate merchandise management
• strategy development, implementation and continuous improvement
• internal channel management and uplift.

Your challenge is to strengthen our internal communications, making an impact with our employees.

You will bring ideas and expertise that fuels employee engagement, influences connectivity and culture, positively impacting all employees. Help us to improve what we do and introduce new ways of engaging our teams across Australia and the world.

A positive attitude, good interpersonal skills, leadership qualities and a desire to further develop your communication skills are a must.

What will you do?

Key accountabilities

• Editorial and content development: Writes clear, concise and engaging content. Leads and supports other business areas in writing impactful and engaging content that effectively describes and promotes our internal programs and initiatives.
• Quality assurance: Ensures communication messaging and materials are high quality, accurate, in the correct format and style and reflect the agency’s values and priorities.
• Channel management: Uses appropriate tools and channels to maximise the agency’s internal communications effectiveness and ensures consistent messaging, branding, imagery and identity.
• Best practice: Develops and manages appropriate governance and guidelines. Promotes the importance of accessibility, readability and other Australian Government writing standards, ensuring the agency meets these standards.
• Positive working relationships: Builds and maintains strong relationships with internal stakeholders.
• Leadership and mentoring: Leads and mentors more junior members in the team, supporting the team leader.
• Reporting: Develops, implements and measures the effectiveness of internal communication channels and measures with the goal of continuously improving internal communications to reach and engage employees.
• Continuous improvement: Works with the broader communication and ICT teams to explore/recommend new channels, technologies and process improvement.

Key challenges

• Maintaining attention to detail, processes and procedures, while working in a dynamic, high-pressure environment involving multiple stakeholders and a diverse range of activities.
• Understanding the issues and differences inherent in communicating within a geographically disparate agency.
• Supporting transformational change given the range of internal stakeholders across the agency.
   

Knowledge, skills and attributes

• Excellent attention to detail, proofreading and editing skills (strong grammar and spelling) including experience in translating complex information into plain English, particularly in the digital space.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to develop productive working relationships.
• Expertise in digital skills, including data analysis and online communication platforms, along with a proven track record of quickly adapting to new software and programs.
• Demonstrated initiative in identifying and resolving problems or complex issues and working collaboratively to develop solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines while balancing competing tasks and priorities.
• Strong understanding of and demonstrated application of the Australian Government Style Manual, readability and accessibility standards.
• Self-motivated, persuasive, priority-driven and collaborative.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Consistently demonstrates strong business acumen and judgment.

Essential Requirements

• Minimum of 5-7 years’ work experience in a communications, marketing or related field.
• Tertiary qualification/s in communications, marketing or related field will be highly regarded.
• Mentoring and team management experience.
• A security clearance (NV1) or the ability to obtain one.
• Must be an Australian citizen at the time of application.
• The strong preference is for this role to be based in Canberra so applicants may need to be willing to relocate.

Selection Criteria

• Achieve results
• Communicates with influence
• Contributes to strategic thinking
• Cultivates productive working relationships
• Shows personal drive and integrity

Application

Please submit the following documents via our Jobs portal prior to the closing date and time:

• Resume/CV - This will form the basis for determining your suitability against the position requirements and give the panel a clear outline of your current knowledge and qualifications along with previous experiences. Please include your work history, responsibilities and achievements.
• Applicant pitch (maximum two pages). Ensure your pitch tells us why you are the best fit for the role, with examples that demonstrate your capabilities addressing the selection criteria, role requirements and work level standards for the role. 

Only complete applications will be considered. Please review and ensure the uploaded documents are correct for this application after submitting your application.

Employment Suitability

Should you successfully progress from the application stage all applicants must:

• Complete an Employment Suitability Questionnaire (ESQ) and provide a traffic history check and proof of Australian citizenship. This aids in the assessment of your character and your ability to comply with the AFP's professional standards both in an official and private capacity. Please review our AFP Character Standards to ensure that you meet our requirements before you submit your application. Applicants will not receive feedback if they are unsuccessful at this gateway.
• Have your fingerprints taken if an offer of employment is made.
• Undertake mandatory drug testing for illicit drugs. This sample could include; urine, saliva or hair.
• Satisfactorily undertake a security clearance to the level specified for the position.  

Recruitment Process

Applicants who have demonstrated their suitability for employment through their resume and application, may be invited to a formal interview and any other relevant additional assessment. Using the relevant AFP work level standards as a guide, you may be asked a range of questions to demonstrate your skills and abilities. These could include behavioural based scenario questions. Read our guides for applicants to find out how to prepare for your interview.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

At the AFP we value the different perspectives, approaches and lived experiences of our people, and recognise that our collective intelligence and diversity is what makes us stronger. As such, we encourage applications from people from all walks of life, including people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, First Nations people, women, the LGBTQI community and people with disability.

Contacts and Closing Information

Contact Officer:  Rachael Roberts,

Contact Officer Phone:  02 51266504, ​

Contact Officer Email:  rachaele.roberts@afp.gov.au

Applications Close: 11:59pm (AEDT) 02/04/2025

To view other employment opportunities, please visit our career site.

www.afp.gov.au