Australia Head of Communications & Reputation

MetLife Insurance; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

MetLife Australia is seeking a Director, Head of Communications to lead the end-to-end communications strategy across internal and external audiences, protect and enhance company reputation, and support enterprise objectives.

Reporting to senior executives, you will partner across functions, steer media relations, executive communications, and employee engagement, and leverage data-driven insights and AI to optimise impactful messaging.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in corporate communications, reputation management and media relations.
• Strong commercial acumen translating business strategy into communications that deliver results.
• Trusted advisor with credibility to partner with senior executives.
• Advanced AI fluency using AI-enabled tools to enhance outcomes.
• Strong judgement managing reputational risk and crisis communications.

Responsibilities

• Serve as trusted advisor to Australia Leadership Team across media relations, executive communications, employee communications, reputation management, issues management, crisis communications, community investment, and MetLife Foundation initiatives.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive reputation strategy that enables the relevant, key strategic priorities for the company, through communications impact that strengthens trust, enhances MetLife's brand, and supports business priorities across key stakeholder groups.
• Drive high-impact external communications programs across earned, owned, social, digital, broadcast, and marketing channels to increase visibility, credibility, and influence.
• Create and adapt compelling content for diverse audiences, ensuring consistency of messaging and alignment with MetLife's enterprise narrative and strategic priorities.
• Partner closely with the Marketing team to align messaging, narratives and campaign activity across channels, ensuring communications and marketing efforts are coordinated, consistent and mutually reinforcing.
• Anticipate, assess, and mitigate reputational risks, partnering with business leaders and subject matter experts to manage issues effectively.
• Drive and enhance employee engagement through a combination of strategic internal communications and targeted activities, ensuring employees receive relevant, timely and engaging communications that connect local priorities with regional and global initiatives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including media, industry bodies, community partners, and senior leaders, to amplify MetLife's voice and influence.
• Identify opportunities to leverage MetLife Foundation investments and community partnerships to strengthen social impact and reputation outcomes.
• Leverage data, stakeholder insights, reputation measurement tools and market intelligence to evaluate impact, inform decision-making and continuously optimise communications strategies.
• Provide strategic communications counsel across enterprise priorities, including business strategy, people and culture initiatives, regulatory and public affairs matters, investor-related communications, and corporate issues management.
• Partner across functions to support enterprise events, strategic initiatives, and change programs.
• Demonstrate advanced AI fluency by leveraging AI-enabled tools and data‑driven insights to enhance communication strategy, stakeholder engagement, content development, media monitoring, reputation management, and productivity.
• Champion responsible AI adoption within communications practices, ensuring content is accurate, compliant, audience‑focused, and aligned with MetLife's governance and risk standards.
• Continuously identify opportunities to use AI to improve communication effectiveness, accelerate delivery, and generate actionable stakeholder insights.

Skills

Corporate communications

Reputation management

Media relations

Executive communications

AI fluency

Job description

MetLife Australia is seeking a Director, Head of Communications to lead the end-to-end communications strategy across internal and external audiences, protect and enhance company reputation, and support enterprise objectives.

Reporting to senior executives, you will partner across functions, steer media relations, executive communications, and employee engagement, and leverage data-driven insights and AI to optimise impactful messaging.