Manager Communications and Engagement

Osborne Richardson; Queensland; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Osborne Richardson is partnering with a regional council in Central Queensland to appoint a Manager Communications & Engagement. This is a senior contract role running until February 2027.

Reporting directly to the CEO, you’ll lead the council’s communications and community engagement functions, set the strategy and run consultation so that residents, community groups and stakeholders are informed, heard and involved in council decisions.

Qualifications

• Experience leading communications, community engagement and stakeholder engagement functions.
• Strong knowledge of strategic communications, media relations and best-practice engagement frameworks such as IAP2.
• Proven people leadership and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Confident advising and engaging with executives, elected members, government agencies and community groups.
• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline and/or significant experience in a similar leadership role.
• Experience in local government or a similarly complex stakeholder environment, plus crisis or emergency communications, is highly regarded.
• Current Queensland C class driver’s licence.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement and evaluate council’s communications and community engagement strategies.
• Provide expert advice to the CEO and senior leadership, and communications support to the Mayor.
• Lead media relations, public information campaigns, reputation management and corporate brand.
• Oversee community consultation and stakeholder engagement, including Community Reference Groups.
• Oversee digital channels, including the website, social media and online engagement platforms.
• Lead internal communications, including CEO messages and organisation-wide updates.
• Lead and develop the Communications & Engagement team.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic communications

Media relations

Stakeholder engagement

Crisis communications

Executive briefing

IAP2 engagement framework

Education

Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline

Job description

Osborne Richardson is partnering with a regional council in Central Queensland to appoint a Manager Communications & Engagement. This is a senior contract role running until February 2027.

Reporting directly to the CEO, you’ll lead the council’s communications and community engagement functions. You’ll set the strategy and run consultation so that residents, community groups and stakeholders are informed, heard and involved in council decisions.

It’s a hands-on leadership role with real influence. You’ll advise the CEO and senior leadership, support the Mayor with briefings and media, and lead a small team across corporate, digital and internal communications.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement and evaluate council’s communications and community engagement strategies
• Provide expert advice to the CEO and senior leadership, and communications support to the Mayor
• Lead media relations, public information campaigns, reputation management and corporate brand
• Oversee community consultation and stakeholder engagement, including Community Reference Groups
• Oversee digital channels, including the website, social media and online engagement platforms
• Lead internal communications, including CEO messages and organisation-wide updates
• Lead and develop the Communications & Engagement team

About You

• Demonstrated experience leading communications, community engagement and stakeholder engagement functions
• Strong knowledge of strategic communications, media relations and best-practice engagement frameworks such as IAP2
• Proven people leadership and the ability to manage competing priorities
• Confident advising and engaging with executives, elected members, government agencies and community groups
• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline and/or significant experience in a similar leadership role
• Experience in local government or a similarly complex stakeholder environment, plus crisis or emergency communications, is highly regarded
• Current Queensland C class driver’s licence