Media and Communications Senior Manager

Accpa; Perth; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Wesfarmers is seeking a Deputy to the Head of Media and Public Affairs to shape strategic communications across the Group milestones and act as a trusted media contact.

You will lead media engagement, oversee issues and crisis communications, and help deliver major announcements, internal communications and reputation strategies across national, state and regional media.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or related field.
• Extensive experience in external and internal corporate communications.
• Proven ability to write, edit and review market-sensitive material under tight deadlines.
• Strong judgement on reputational risk and ability to act decisively.

Responsibilities

• Media engagement: serve as a key media contact for the Group, building relationships with journalists across national, state and regional media.
• Lead issues and crisis communications across the Group, its divisions and Corporate Office functions.
• Shape and deliver strategic communications for milestones, including half- and full-year results, AGM and ASX announcements.
• Support internal communications across the Corporate Office in partnership with the Internal Communications Advisor.
• Contribute to public affairs and reputation work with mitigation and response strategies.
• Review content for quality and consistency across digital, internal and external channels; provide media training to senior leaders.
• Provide leadership continuity for the team and act as the day-to-day contact for communications requests.

Skills

Media relations

Crisis communications

Stakeholder engagement

Writing and editing

Strategic communications

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications or related

Job description

• Deputy to the Head of Media and Public Affairs
• Shape strategic communications through Group milestones
• Act as a trusted media contact

About your team

Our Corporate Affairs team has broad responsibilities, deeply aligned with Wesfarmers reputation, including corporate communications, Group corporate reporting, government relations, oversight of the Group’s reconciliation ambition, oversight of the Group’s sustainability policies and objectives, community partnerships, stakeholder engagement and the Wesfarmers Arts program.

About you

You bring substantial experience in external and internal corporate communications, underpinned by strong writing and editing skills. You understand the obligations and governance rhythms of a listed company and are comfortable producing and reviewing market-sensitive material to a high standard and on deadline.

With a strong grasp of the Australian media landscape across print, broadcast and digital, you are a credible media contact, confident in reactive engagement, and offer a proven track record in this capacity.

Just as important is your judgement and ability to make decisions quickly whilst weighing reputational risk. You'll have worked through issues and crises before, and you arrive with the capability and confidence to provide timely, accurate support as required.

What you’ll do

As deputy to the Head of Media and Public Affairs, you'll be a senior voice within the team, leading and supporting across:

• Media engagement: act as a key media point of contact for the Group, managing incoming requests and building relationships with journalists across national, state and regional media
• Issues and crisis communications: play a lead role across the Group, its divisions and Corporate Office functions
• Strategic communications: help shape and deliver key Group milestones, including half and full-year results, Strategy Briefing Day, AGM and ASX announcements
• Internal communications: supports internal communications across the Corporate Office through content and production in partnership with the Community Partnerships & Internal Communications Advisor
• Public affairs and reputation: anticipate emerging issues and collaborate on the creation of mitigation and response strategies
• Quality and consistency: act as first reviewer of content across digital, internal and external channels, deliver media training to senior leaders
• Leadership: support continuity of the team's external and reputation work and serve as the day-to-day contact for communications requests across the business

What you’ll need

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Political Science or a related discipline (preferred)
• Depth to career in media, communications or public relations, ideally within a large, complex or listed company, or at a senior level in journalism or agency
• A strong grasp of the Australian media landscape across print, broadcast and digital
• Proven track record managing media relationships and contributing to issues and crisis communications
• Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills with consistent standards of quality and accuracy
• Sound, independent judgement on reputational risk
• Composure under pressure and a collaborative, proactive approach
• Confidence applying AI and digital tools to communications work

About Wesfarmers

As one of Australia’s largest listed companies, we’re proud of our longstanding contribution to Australians.

We continually reinvent ourselves and invest in the businesses we own and operate, including leading retailers like Bunnings, Kmart, Target, Officeworks and Priceline. We also have an online offering, including OnePass and the Group shared data asset.

Our work doesn’t stop there, we operate in the industrials sector which supplies the nation with chemicals, energy and fertilisers, and industrial and safety products. And we participate in an integrated lithium joint venture, including the operation of a mine and concentrator and the development of a refinery.

Join the team at Corporate Office which provides support and advice across the Wesfarmers Group

The Corporate Office provides corporate services and support to the autonomous businesses within the Wesfarmers Group, enabling the achievement of Group objectives.

It leads capital allocation and portfolio management for the Group and focuses on leveraging and enhancing the Group’s reputation to support attraction and retention of talent, securing investment opportunities and maintaining a low-cost capital.

To do this, we need great people, working together and role modelling our values and ways of working.

Our culture

We’re focused on results, but we’re a business that cares. Here we are less about titles and more about everyone playing a valuable role. We provide autonomy and space with freedom to operate, quickly learning from mistakes because we know they are part of the way forward. We’re curious, open minded, and collaborative. And although we’re thought leaders, we’re humble, and willing to share knowledge and learn from one another.

We know that diversity fosters greater innovation and better customer connection, so we strive to create an inclusive and diverse work environment.

For brief enquiries please contact Wesfarmers Corporate Talent Acquisition via [e-mail]

We’re hiring the best and the brightest talent. Let’s start to explore the possibilities of achieving great things together.

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