Head of Marketing and Communications

Black Dog Institute; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Black Dog Institute is seeking a Head of Marketing & Communications to lead integrated marketing, brand and communications strategy. You will partner with senior leaders, researchers and lived experience representatives to raise awareness, engage audiences and support fundraising.

You will manage a multidisciplinary team and drive measurable impact across communications, media and content. The role calls for strategic vision, strong governance and budget management, with a focus on

Qualifications

• Extensive senior leadership experience in marketing, communications, brand or corporate affairs.
• Demonstrated success developing integrated marketing and communications strategies at scale.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams across marketing, communications, media, digital, content and brand.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to influence executives.
• Experience using audience insights, analytics and performance data to drive outcomes.
• Exceptional written, verbal and presentation skills.
• Strong commercial, operational and budget management capability.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the Institute's brand, marketing and communications strategy.
• Align marketing priorities with organisational goals and translational outcomes.
• Provide strategic counsel to senior leaders on reputation and stakeholder engagement.
• Strengthen brand awareness and audience engagement.
• Lead customer experience, audience segmentation and journey mapping.
• Drive growth in acquisition, retention, advocacy, participation and revenue.
• Lead media relations and public profile initiatives.
• Elevate researchers and leaders' voices.
• Oversee issues and crisis communications planning.
• Lead content strategy and editorial planning.
• Oversee development of stories showcasing research and community impact.
• Manage production of major publications, including the Annual Report.
• Lead, mentor and inspire a high-performing team.
• Establish performance frameworks and analytics.
• Manage budgets, resources and external agency partnerships.

Skills

Senior leadership experience

Integrated marketing strategy

Stakeholder engagement

Analytics & performance data

Budget management

Job description

Lead the brand, voice and impact of Australia's leading mental health research instituteAt Black Dog Institute, we're driven by a vision of a mentally healthier world. Through world-leading research, translation, education and clinical services, we work to improve mental health outcomes for people in Australia and globally. As our Head of Marketing & Communications, you will lead the development and delivery of integrated marketing, brand and communications strategies that strengthen our reputation, grow engagement, support fundraising success, and amplify the impact of our research and translational programs.This is a rare opportunity to shape the public profile of one of Australia's most respected mental health organisations while leading a talented multidisciplinary team and partnering closely with senior leaders, researchers and lived experience representatives.

Head of Marketing & Communications

Lead the brand, voice and impact of Australia's leading mental health research instituteAt Black Dog Institute, we're driven by a vision of a mentally healthier world. Through world-leading research, translation, education and clinical services, we work to improve mental health outcomes for people in Australia and globally. As our Head of Marketing & Communications, you will lead the development and delivery of integrated marketing, brand and communications strategies that strengthen our reputation, grow engagement, support fundraising success, and amplify the impact of our research and translational programs.This is a rare opportunity to shape the public profile of one of Australia's most respected mental health organisations while leading a talented multidisciplinary team and partnering closely with senior leaders, researchers and lived experience representatives.

The opportunity

Reporting to the Director, Fundraising & Marketing, you'll be responsible for setting and executing organisation-wide marketing, communications and brand strategies that support awareness, engagement, fundraising, policy influence, research impact and product adoption. You'll act as a trusted adviser to executives and leaders across the Institute, providing strategic guidance on communications, reputation management, media engagement and stakeholder relations.

Key responsibilities

Strategic leadership

• Develop and lead the Institute's brand, marketing and communications strategy.
• Align marketing priorities with organisational goals, research impact and translational outcomes.
• Provide strategic counsel to senior leaders on reputation, stakeholder engagement and communications.

Brand, marketing and customer engagement

• Strengthen brand awareness, positioning and audience engagement.
• Lead customer experience, audience segmentation and journey mapping initiatives.
• Drive measurable growth in acquisition, retention, advocacy, participation and revenue outcomes.

Media, communications and thought leadership

• Lead media relations and public profile initiatives.
• Elevate the voices of researchers, subject matter experts and organisational leaders.
• Oversee issues and crisis communications planning and response.

Content and storytelling

• Lead organisation-wide content strategy and editorial planning.
• Oversee development of compelling stories showcasing research, fundraising and community impact.
• Manage production of major publications, including the Annual Report.

Leadership and performance

• Lead, mentor and inspire a high-performing marketing and communications team.
• Establish performance frameworks, reporting and analytics to inform decision-making.
• Manage budgets, resources and external agency partnerships.

About you

We're looking for a strategic, collaborative and values-driven leader who brings:

• Extensive senior leadership experience in marketing, communications, brand or corporate affairs.
• Demonstrated success developing and delivering integrated marketing and communications strategies at organisational scale.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams across marketing, communications, media, digital, content and brand functions.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to influence executives and senior decision-makers.
• Experience using audience insights, analytics and performance data to drive outcomes.
• Exceptional written, verbal and presentation skills.
• Strong commercial, operational and budget management capability.

Highly regarded

• Experience in health, mental health, medical research, higher education or purpose-led organisations.
• Understanding of trauma-informed, evidence-based and lived experience-informed communication approaches.
• Familiarity with government, policy or research environments.

Inclusion at BDI

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible recruitment experience where all candidates can fullyparticipatein the process.

We warmly encourage applications from First Nations peoples, culturally and raciallydiversecommunities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and others from underrepresented backgrounds.

We recognise that not everyone has had equal access to opportunities, and valuable skills and perspectives can be gained through diverse life experiences.

If this role excites you but youdon’tmeet every listed requirement, we still encourage you to applyasyourlived experienceand insights are important to us.

Accessibility

If you have accessibility requirements or require information in an alternative format, pleaseemail ***************@blackdog.org.au

Privacy

We respect your privacy and confidentiality. We only provide information to other staff where it is needed to arrange workplace adjustments.

Commencement of employment with the Institute is subject to the completion of relevant pre-employment checks, include reference checks, a National Criminal History Check, and other role-specific requirements.
These checks are conducted in line with the Institute’s commitment to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all employees, and check outcomes are reviewed and applied fairly and in accordance with the inherent requirements of the role