Media and Communications Specialist

HorizonOne Recruitment Pty; Canberra; Hybrid; AUD 117,000 - 131,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

2 days WFH per week

Canberra-based role

Job summary

HorizonOne Recruitment Pty is seeking a Media and Communications Specialist for a labour hire contract in Canberra. You will lead media activity, act as the first point of contact for media enquiries, and work closely with executives. The role covers crisis communications, media plans, and developing relationships with Canberra journalists.

You will draft press releases and speeches, train spokespeople, and produce multimedia content while overseeing after-hours media needs and regular reporting.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in marketing, communications or related discipline, or equivalent experience
• Experience in media/public relations including crisis and issues communications
• Strong writing, proofreading and editing skills across releases, statements and internal comms
• Experience with online communications, including website content and social media
• Sound judgement in preparing spokespeople and managing media at events
• Ability to plan and prioritise competing deadlines
• Full working rights in Australia

Responsibilities

• Lead proactive and reactive media activity for the organisation
• Be the primary contact for all media enquiries
• Draft media releases and holding statements
• Develop media plans to anticipate risks and issues
• Prepare spokespeople for interviews, press conferences, and launches
• Organise media training for spokespeople
• Build relationships with journalists and media outlets
• Lead crisis communications as part of the Incident Management Team
• Manage after-hours on-call roster
• Produce multimedia content and social media responses
• Write speeches for the executive and internal comms
• Produce regular media reports and upload releases to website

Skills

Media relations

Crisis communications

Writing & editing

Speaker preparation

Press conference management

Journalist relations

Social media management

Content creation

Deadline management

Education

Marketing/Communications degree or related discipline

Tools

Website content

Social media platforms

Job description

Our client is a Canberra-based organisation delivering essential community services that households and businesses across the region rely on every day.

Its work is closely followed by local media and the community, particularly during service disruptions and incidents, which makes clear, timely and accurate public communication central to how it operates.

The Opportunity

Our client is seeking a Media and Communications Specialist to join its Communications and Engagement team on a labour hire contract until 30 January 2027.

You will be the organisation’s primary point of contact for the media, owning everything from media releases and holding statements to spokesperson preparation and media reporting.

This is a hands‑on role with ownership: you will be the person journalists call, and the person the executive relies on when an issue breaks.

• Work directly with the executive, including writing speeches and all-staff communications
• Build real crisis and issues communications experience as part of the organisation’s Incident Management Team
• Work across media, social and multimedia content, from press conferences and campaign launches to video and photography assets
• Develop working relationships with Canberra journalists and media outlets

The Role

You will lead the organisation’s proactive and reactive media activity and act as the first point of contact for all media enquiries.

Your key responsibilities will be:

• Responding to media enquiries and drafting media releases and holding statements
• Developing media plans that anticipate risks and issues
• Preparing spokespeople for interviews, press conferences and campaign launches, and organising their media training
• Building relationships with journalists and media outlets
• Leading crisis communications as part of the Incident Management Team, and managing the after‑hours on‑call roster
• Producing multimedia content and leading social media responses to community enquiries
• Writing speeches for the executive and all‑staff communications
• Producing regular media reports and uploading approved releases to the website

The Ideal Person

You have worked in a media‑facing communications or public relations role. You write quickly and cleanly, and you know how to get the right answer from the right person internally when a deadline is looming.

You will bring the following skills and experience:

• A tertiary qualification in marketing, communications or a related discipline, or equivalent experience
• Demonstrated media and public relations experience, including crisis and issues communications
• Strong writing, proofreading and editing skills across media releases, holding statements, speeches and internal communications
• Experience with online communications, including website content and social media channels
• Sound judgement in preparing spokespeople and managing media at events and press conferences
• Close attention to detail and the ability to plan and prioritise competing deadlines
• Full working rights in Australia

Salary

• $85/hr – $95/hr + 12% Super
• Labour hire contract until 30 January 2027
• Canberra based role only
• Work from home up to two days per week

HorizonOne is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and we encourage applications from people of all cultures, capabilities and backgrounds.