Communications Coordinator

State School Teachers' Union of WA; Perth; On-site; AUD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The State School Teachers' Union of WA is seeking a Communications Coordinator to provide strategic leadership of SSTUWA’s communications, media, publications, digital platforms and public relations. You will work with senior officers and staff to develop clear, professional communications that support industrial, advocacy and membership objectives.

Leading the Communications team, you will oversee media relations, campaigns and digital content, ensuring brand consistency and impact across

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, media or a related discipline, or significant relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic communications, media, public relations or a related professional field.
• Demonstrated experience leading or managing a communications team or function.
• Demonstrated experience developing and delivering integrated communications strategies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement SSTUWA’s communications strategy and annual communications priorities.
• Provide strategic communications and media advice to the Senior Officers, Executive and relevant committees.
• Lead and develop the Communications team, ensuring high-quality, timely and professional outcomes.
• Establish priorities, manage competing deadlines and foster a collaborative and productive team environment.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen SSTUWA’s public profile and member engagement.
• Lead SSTUWA’s media and public relations activities.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with journalists and media organisations.
• Coordinate media enquiries, interviews, media releases, statements, opinion pieces and other public communications.
• Prepare and support authorised spokespersons for media engagement.
• Monitor media coverage and provide advice on emerging issues and reputational risks.
• Develop communications strategies and materials to support SSTUWA campaigns, industrial priorities and advocacy.
• Work with industrial, organising and other teams to communicate complex issues clearly and effectively.
• Develop compelling member and public-facing content, including stories and case studies.
• Ensure communications are coordinated across media, digital, publications and other channels.
• Provide strategic oversight of SSTUWA’s website, social media, e-news and other digital platforms.
• Lead the development and publication of high-quality digital content.
• Oversee Western Teacher, E News and other key SSTUWA publications.
• Ensure communications are consistent, accessible, accurate and aligned with SSTUWA’s brand and style.
• Monitor digital engagement and use data and audience insights to improve communications.
• Develop, edit and oversee high-quality communications including articles, media releases, speeches, statements, newsletters, web content and social media.
• Support officers, staff and members to develop effective communications.
• Translate complex industrial, education and policy issues into clear and accessible content.
• Ensure appropriate approval, editorial and quality-control processes are maintained.
• Develop and monitor the communications budget.
• Coordinate communications projects, timelines and priorities.
• Oversee external suppliers including designers, printers, media and communications providers.
• Ensure value for money and compliance with SSTUWA policies and delegations.
• Provide reports and advice to the Senior Officers, Executive and relevant committees.
• Provide communications and media training and support to officers and staff.
• Build effective relationships across SSTUWA.
• Contribute to organisational planning, professional development and continuous improvement.
• Maintain confidentiality, professional standards and sound judgement in all aspects of the role.
• Willingness to work outside normal office hours when reasonably required for media, campaigns and significant SSTUWA activities.
• Current valid driver's licence.

Skills

Strategic communications

Media relations

Digital communications

Leadership

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Editorial/content development

Crisis communications

Education

Tertiary qualification in communications/journalism/public relations/marketing/media or related discipline

Job description

The Communications Coordinator provides strategic leadership of SSTUWA's communications, media, publications, digital platforms and public relations. The position works closely with the Senior Officers, elected representatives and staff to develop and deliver clear, professional and effective communications that support SSTUWA's industrial, advocacy, campaign and membership objectives. The position provides specialist advice on media, communications, campaigns, public relations, issues management and organisational reputation.

Key responsibilities

1. Strategic Communications and Leadership

Develop and implement SSTUWA’s communications strategy and annual communications priorities.

Provide strategic communications and media advice to the Senior Officers, Executive and relevant committees.

Lead and develop the Communications team, ensuring high-quality, timely and professional outcomes.

Establish priorities, manage competing deadlines and foster a collaborative and productive team environment.

Identify opportunities to strengthen SSTUWA’s public profile and member engagement.

2. Media and Public Relations

Lead SSTUWA’s media and public relations activities.

Develop and maintain effective relationships with journalists and media organisations.

Coordinate media enquiries, interviews, media releases, statements, opinion pieces and other public communications.

Prepare and support authorised spokespersons for media engagement.

Monitor media coverage and provide advice on emerging issues and reputational risks.

3. Campaigns and Advocacy

Develop communications strategies and materials to support SSTUWA campaigns, industrial priorities and advocacy.

Work with industrial, organising and other teams to communicate complex issues clearly and effectively.

Develop compelling member and public-facing content, including stories and case studies.

Ensure communications are coordinated across media, digital, publications and other channels.

4. Digital Communications and Publications

Provide strategic oversight of SSTUWA’s website, social media, e-news and other digital platforms.

Lead the development and publication of high-quality digital content.

Oversee Western Teacher, E News and other key SSTUWA publications.

Ensure communications are consistent, accessible, accurate and aligned with SSTUWA’s brand and style.

Monitor digital engagement and use data and audience insights to improve communications.

5. Content and Editorial

Develop, edit and oversee high-quality communications including articles, media releases, speeches, statements, newsletters, web content and social media.

Support officers, staff and members to develop effective communications.

Translate complex industrial, education and policy issues into clear and accessible content.

Ensure appropriate approval, editorial and quality-control processes are maintained.

6. Budget, Suppliers and Projects

Develop and monitor the communications budget.

Coordinate communications projects, timelines and priorities.

Oversee external suppliers including designers, printers, media and communications providers.

Ensure value for money and compliance with SSTUWA policies and delegations.

7. Organisational Contribution

Provide reports and advice to the Senior Officers, Executive and relevant committees.

Provide communications and media training and support to officers and staff.

Build effective relationships across SSTUWA.

Contribute to organisational planning, professional development and continuous improvement.

Maintain confidentiality, professional standards and sound judgement in all aspects of the role.

Selection Criteria

1. Qualifications and Experience

Tertiary qualification in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, media or a related discipline, or significant relevant professional experience.

Demonstrated experience in strategic communications, media, public relations or a related professional field.

Demonstrated experience leading or managing a communications team or function.

Demonstrated experience developing and delivering integrated communications strategies.

2. Professional Skills

Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.

Strong media, public relations and digital communications capability.

High-level editorial and content development skills.

Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet tight deadlines.

Sound judgement, discretion and a high level of attention to detail.

Demonstrated ability to provide strategic communications advice to senior leaders.

Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and autonomously.

Demonstrated ability to lead, support and develop a professional team.

Ability to foster a positive, respectful and productive workplace.

Demonstrated initiative, adaptability and commitment to continuous improvement.

Understanding of or experience working in a member-based, advocacy, not-for-profit or similar organisation.

Experience developing communications for campaigns, stakeholder engagement or organisational initiatives.

Experience in public education, industrial relations, public policy, advocacy or related fields.

Experience in issues management and/or crisis communications.

About you

Willingness to work outside normal office hours when reasonably required for media, campaigns and significant SSTUWA activities.

Current valid driver's licence.

Conditions of Employment

Employment Status: Permanent, FTE 1.0 (75 hours per fortnight).

Salary: $137,981 per annum, (Level 7), plus an additional 4% superannuation.

Employment Conditions: Administrative Services Staff of the State School Teachers’ Union of W.A. Conditions of Employment Agreement 2024.

Reports to: General Secretary and the Comms Portfolio Senior Officer

About us

The State School Teachers' Union of W.A. (SSTUWA) represents State School Teachers and TAFE Lecturers across W.A. It is one of the largest trade unions in Western Australia, providing a wide range of industrial, professional and value-added services. The SSTUWA is the public education union of WA.