Executive Director Corporate Affairs

the original; Sydney; On-site; AUD 260,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is seeking a senior communications leader to join its executive team as Executive Director, Corporate Affairs.

You will provide strategic leadership across communications, media, digital and stakeholder engagement, advising the Secretary and Executive Leadership Team, and guiding crisis response to protect and enhance the department's reputation.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in strategic communications in a large organisation.
• Ability to provide authoritative strategic advice to senior executives.
• Experience managing reputational risk in political environments.
• Proven capability to build cross-government relationships.
• Tertiary qualifications in communications or related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across communications, media, digital and stakeholder engagement.
• Advise the Secretary and Executive Leadership Team on high‑profile issues.
• Lead stakeholder engagement with government, industry and communities.
• Oversee crisis communications and reputation management.
• Direct a team and manage a multi‑million dollar budget.

Skills

Senior leadership

Strategic communications

Media and digital

Stakeholder engagement

Crisis management

Team leadership

Public relations

Education

Public relations degree

Job description

The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is seeking an exceptional senior communications leader to join its executive team as Executive Director, Corporate Affairs.

The department is responsible for a broad and highly visible portfolio spanning climate change, the transition to net zero, energy, water, the environment, biodiversity, national parks and Aboriginal cultural heritage.

This is an outstanding opportunity to lead the corporate affairs function of a large, complex and purpose-driven organisation, shaping how the department communicates and engages with government, stakeholders, industry, media and communities across NSW.

About the opportunity

As Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, you will provide strategic leadership across the department’s communications, media, digital and social media, marketing and strategic stakeholder engagement functions.

Reporting to the Deputy Secretary, Strategic Policy, Science and Engagement, you will be a trusted adviser to the Secretary, Deputy Secretary and Executive Leadership Team, helping navigate complex and high-profile issues and ensuring communications are timely, coordinated and aligned with government and departmental priorities.

You will lead an integrated approach to corporate affairs that strengthens stakeholder relationships, builds organisational communication capability and protects and enhances the department’s reputation.

A critical part of the role will be providing executive leadership during emerging issues and crises, ensuring the department is prepared to respond with clear, accurate and coordinated communications.

What you’ll bring

We are looking for an accomplished and influential executive who can operate confidently in a complex, fast-moving and highly visible environment.

• Extensive senior leadership experience across strategic communications, media, digital, social media and stakeholder engagement in a large and complex organisation.
• A demonstrated ability to provide authoritative strategic advice to senior executives and lead communications responses to complex, sensitive and high‑profile issues.
• Exceptional judgement and the ability to anticipate and manage communications, stakeholder and reputational risks in a dynamic political and policy environment.
• A strong track record of building trusted relationships across government, industry, communities and other stakeholder groups.
• The ability to influence at the highest levels, translating complex government and organisational priorities into compelling, coordinated communications.
• Proven experience leading, developing and inspiring high‑performing teams.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.

Why this role?

Few corporate affairs roles offer this breadth of scope or opportunity for impact.

You will help shape communications and stakeholder engagement across issues that matter deeply to the people and communities of NSW, while leading a function that operates at the centre of departmental decision‑making.

The environment is complex and demanding. The successful candidate will need to balance competing priorities and tight timeframes, build trusted relationships with Ministerial Offices and government partners, and navigate matters attracting significant media, industry and community interest.

The position leads up to five direct reports and has responsibility for managing a divisional budget of approximately $20 million.

Key Knowledge and Experience

• Extensive experience in leading strategic communications, media, digital, social media, and stakeholder engagement in a large and complex organisation.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic advice to senior executives and leading communications responses to complex, sensitive and high‑profile issues.
• Experience leading and developing high‑performing teams and building collaborative relationships across government, industry, community and stakeholder groups.

DCCEEW conserves and protects the state’s natural environment. It manages the NSW national park estate, including its rich and diverse biodiversity and Aboriginal cultural heritage for future generations.

DCCEEW also ensures sustainable management of water resources across the state, to support the environment, communities and industry.

We acknowledge the ongoing custodial responsibilities of the Aboriginal peoples of NSW to care for Country and water and are committed to establishing meaningful partnerships with Aboriginal peoples in the management of the environment.

Our goal is to build a workforce that not only represents but also understands and serves the diverse communities of New South Wales. We are committed to making our state a vibrant and inclusive place to live, work, and thrive for everyone. Our workforce represents people of all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disabilities, the LGBTQI+ community, and people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.