Head of Marketing Communications

Black Dog Institute; Randwick; Hybrid; AUD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work (1-2 days in office)

Flexible hours & 9‑day fortnights

Salary packaging: up to $15,900 + meal

Pet friendly workplace

Wellbeing and gifted annual leave

Job summary

Black Dog Institute in Randwick, NSW, seeks a Head of Marketing & Communications to lead branding, voice and impact for Australia’s leading mental health research institute. You will develop and deliver integrated marketing, brand and communications strategies that strengthen our reputation, grow engagement, support fundraising, and amplify research and translational programs.

This role reports to the Director, Fundraising & Marketing and requires extensive senior leadership experience, strong

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in marketing, communications, brand or corporate affairs.
• Proven ability to develop and deliver integrated marketing strategies at scale.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams across marketing, communications, media, digital and brand.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute the Institute's brand, marketing and communications strategy.
• Align priorities with research impact and translational outcomes.
• Provide counsel to senior leaders on reputation and stakeholder engagement.
• Oversee content strategy, media relations and thought leadership.
• Manage budgets, resources and external agencies.

Skills

Senior leadership

Marketing & communications strategy

Stakeholder engagement

Analytics & performance data

Budget management

Written & verbal communication

Job description

• Salary breakdown: $135,000.00 - $165,000,00 + Superannuation + Salary Packaging ($15,900.00 + Meal & Entertainment expenses)
• Randwick Location - access to UNSW parking
• Hybrid work (1-2 days in office per week)

About the Institute

Located on the lands of the Bidiagal Clan of the Dharawal Nation (Randwick, NSW), Black Dog Institute is the only Medical Research Institute in Australia to investigate mental health across the lifespan, our aim is to create a mentally healthier world for everyone. For the past 20 years, we have been at the forefront of mental health research. Leveraging our own research, we have developed an image and workplace that is reflective of our values and mission. Our work is used to distributed through the public and is used to drive evidence informed change across the mental health sector, setting the foundation for a brighter and healthier future for all.

• Hybrid work, 1-2 days per week in office (choose your days, consistent team collaboration days where possible)
• 35 hour work week, flexible hours agreements & 9-day fortnights
• Salary Packaging: $15,900.00 of your base salary tax free & up to $2650.00 meal & entertainment
• Family first, people first culture, we put our research into action at work to make sure we maintain mental health and wellbeing at work
• Pet friendly workplace
• Leave benefits including public holiday swap, gifted annual leave, and wellbeing leave

Head of Marketing & Communications

Lead the brand, voice and impact of Australia's leading mental health research institute.

At 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 fully participate in the process.

We warmly encourage applications from First Nations peoples, culturally and racially diversecommunities, 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 you don’t meet every listed requirement, we still encourage you to apply as your lived experience and insights are important to us.

Accessibility

If you have accessibility requirements or require information in an alternative format, please email [e-mail] or phone [phone]

Privacy

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