Community Engagement Officer

City of Port Phillip; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 103,000 - 112,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working conditions

Paid parental leave

Health and wellbeing program

Job summary

The City of Port Phillip is seeking a dedicated engagement professional to design and deliver inclusive engagement that meaningfully informs Council decisions. You will strengthen links between the Council and communities, ensuring participation options for those facing barriers.

In this role, you’ll influence facilities, services, and planning to help create a liveable, inclusive city. Some evening/weekend work may be required with time off in lieu to balance extra hours.

Qualifications

• Relevant qualifications and/or professional experience in community engagement, communications, community development or related field.
• Experience planning, delivering and reporting on inclusive engagement projects with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate well and build relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and accessibility needs.
• Strong project coordination and organisational skills, including managing priorities and deadlines.
• Strong facilitation, presentation and writing skills, including analyzing feedback and preparing clear reports.
• Ability to work collaboratively and provide practical engagement advice across an organisation.
• IAP2 certification is highly desirable. Local government experience is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver inclusive, accessible and culturally responsive engagement for diverse communities.
• Bring Council's Neighbourhood Engagement Program to life from planning to delivery and evaluation.
• Independently plan, deliver and report on low- to medium-risk engagement projects with project teams.
• Coordinate how Council engages its Advisory Committees and Reference Groups.
• Build strong relationships with community organisations and networks to broaden participation.
• Turn community feedback into clear, accessible reports and insights for Council decisions.
• Support colleagues with practical engagement advice and resources, and help shape communications and requests for support.

Skills

Community engagement

Communication

Project coordination

Facilitation

Report writing

Collaborative work

IAP2 certification

Local government experience

Education

Relevant qualification or experience in community engagement / related field

Job description

• Salary Range Band 6 $102,620 - $111,855 plus 12% Super
• Full-time, fixed-term role until October 2027, covering a team member's leave
• Join a curious, creative team that loves to collaborate and try new things
• Design and deliver engagement that makes a real difference to Council decisions
• Flexible hybrid working, based at iconic St Kilda Town Hall

About the Organisation

The City of Port Phillip is an inner-city council with around 1000 employees who deliver more than 100 programs and services to our residents, businesses and visitors. These range from childcare and immunisations, to libraries, management of parks and open space, rubbish collection, road maintenance and more. City of Port Phillip has zero tolerance for child abuse and is a committed Child Safe organisation.

About the Role

This role is for someone who believes better decisions are made when communities are genuinely involved.

In this role, you’ll create meaningful opportunities for people to participate, strengthen connections between Council and the community, and champion inclusive engagement practices across the organisation. A key focus will be ensuring people who may face barriers to participation have the opportunity to be heard.

This is an opportunity to influence Port Phillip’s facilities, services, amenities and planning, helping create a liveable, inclusive and vibrant city.

If you’re passionate about people, participation and making a difference, we'd love to hear from you.

Some evening and weekend work is needed to meet community members where they are, with time off in lieu to balance extra hours.

Duties:

• Plan and deliver inclusive, accessible and culturally responsive engagement that helps diverse communities have their say, especially people who face barriers to taking part.
• Bring Council's Neighbourhood Engagement Program to life, from planning and logistics through to delivery and evaluation.
• Independently plan, deliver and report on low- to medium-risk engagement projects, working closely with project teams across Council.
• Coordinate how Council engages its Advisory Committees and Reference Groups.
• Build strong relationships with community organisations and networks to broaden participation.
• Turn community feedback into clear, accessible reports and insights that inform Council decisions.
• Support colleagues with practical engagement advice and resources, and help shape the team's newsletter, intranet content and requests for support.

Skills and Experience

• Relevant qualifications and/or professional experience in community engagement, communications, community development or a related field.
• Experience planning, delivering and reporting on inclusive engagement projects with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate well and build relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and with different communication and accessibility needs.
• Strong project coordination and organisational skills, including managing priorities, event logistics and deadlines.
• Strong facilitation, presentation and writing skills, including analysing feedback and preparing clear reports.
• Ability to work collaboratively and provide practical engagement advice across an organisation.
• IAP2 certification is highly desirable. Local government experience is desirable.

Culture

People enjoy working at the City of Port Phillip because we are a welcoming, healthy and inclusive workplace. We offer a vibrant and diverse work environment where our employees can develop both professionally and personally whilst planning and delivering a range of important services and programs to the community.

• We offer a workplace that accommodates your working style and needs.
• Be supported and empowered by a leadership team that is community-focused, with a strong desire for change and a culture that encourages teamwork and innovation.
• Training and development opportunities, study assistance, flexible working conditions, paid parental leave, an active social club, a health and wellbeing program with access to fitness gyms, pools and facilities, and a well-regarded Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Security Requirements and Professional Obligations

Pre-employment screening will apply to all appointments.

Prior to a formal letter of offer, preferred applicants will be asked to provide:

• Evidence of mandatory qualifications/registrations/licences,
• Sufficient proof of their right to work in Australia, and
• Sufficient proof of their identity.
• Complete a National Police Check completed via City of Port Phillip’s Provider.
• Evidence of a Working with Children Check (employee type with City of Port Phillip registered as the organisation).

The City of Port Phillip is an equal opportunity employer, committed to an inclusive and accessible environment where diversity is valued. We actively welcome and encourage candidates from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, First Nation and Torres Strait Islander candidates, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and candidates with a disability.

If you have accessibility requirements or require an adjustment to participate in our recruitment and selection process, please contact Yass Mustafa (Recruitment and Employee Experience Advisor) on phone [phone] *** or email: ***********@portphillip.vic.gov.au