Principal Communications Lead

Office for Early Childhood Development; Adelaide; Híbrido; AUD 120.000 - 160.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Flexible working arrangements

Salary sacrifice benefits

Descripción de la vacante

The Office for Early Childhood Development in South Australia is seeking an experienced communications leader to shape and deliver the strategic communications program. You will partner with senior leaders and stakeholders to influence outcomes and drive clear, compelling messages across diverse audiences.

This role demands agility, sound judgement, and the ability to lead a multidisciplinary team. You will oversee planning, measurement of impact, and continuous improvement of communications

Formación

• Proven ability to develop and deliver impactful communications strategies that influence, engage and achieve measurable outcomes.
• A collaborative and inspiring leader with experience building high-performing teams and driving results in complex, fast-paced environments.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, risk and deliver on time to a high standard.

Responsabilidades

• Lead a team of communications Business Partners to deliver strategic communication plans and campaigns that support organisational priorities and drive meaningful outcomes.
• Lead a high-performing team and cultivate a culture of collaboration, accountability and excellence.
• Forecast and coordinate communications priorities to support the successful delivery of organisational objectives and outcomes.
• Lead the communications team to deliver high-quality, audience-focused content across a range of channels, using insights to drive engagement and impact.

Conocimientos

Strategic communications

Leadership and influence

Project management

Descripción del empleo

The Office for Early Childhood Development was created to champion change and to help build a system that gives all South Australian children a flying start to life.

Guided by the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care, the Office for Early Childhood Development is the steward of the early childhood development system in South Australia.

The Office is tasked with a significant responsibility: bringing together a holistic, connected system for early childhood development across South Australia, with the goal of reducing the rate of children entering school developmentally vulnerable. Critical to this is the roll-out of universal 3-year-old preschool from 2026, giving every child access to 2 years of teacher-led, play-based early learning before school.

About this role:

Are you a strategic communicator who thrives on influence, collaboration and delivering results?

We're looking for an experienced communications professional to lead the communications strategy for the Office for Early Childhood Development, partnering with senior leaders and stakeholders to deliver clear, compelling and influential communications.

This is an opportunity to shape complex messages, lead strategic communication planning, provide trusted advice, and create meaningful engagement across a wide range of audiences. Success in this role requires agility, ability to lead in a fast – paced environment, sound judgement, and a strong focus on measuring impact and continuously improving communication outcomes.

Your Key Responsibilities:

• Lead a team of communications Business Partners to deliver strategic communication plans and campaigns that support organisational priorities and drive meaningful outcomes.
• Lead a high-performing team and cultivate a culture of collaboration, accountability and excellence.
• Forecast and coordinate communications priorities to support the successful delivery of organisational objectives and outcomes.
• Lead the communications team to deliver high-quality, audience-focused content across a range of channels, using insights to drive engagement and impact.

Please see the attached Position Description for the full key outcomes for this role.

About you:

You're a strategic and influential communications leader with a proven ability to deliver high-impact communications in complex and fast-paced environments. You combine exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills with strong judgement, initiative and political acumen. A collaborative and inspiring leader, you build high-performing teams, foster trusted relationships and confidently navigate competing priorities to achieve organisational objectives.

Highly organised and outcome-focused, you excel at leading a team across multiple projects, balancing diverse stakeholder needs and delivering results to tight deadlines. You use audience insights, strategic thinking and a solutions-focused approach to drive engagement, support change and continuously improve outcomes.

To be successful in this role, we are looking for someone who brings:

• Strategic Communications Expertise – Proven ability to develop and deliver impactful communications strategies that influence, engage and achieve measurable outcomes.
• Leadership and Influence – A collaborative and inspiring leader with experience building high-performing teams and driving results in complex, fast-paced environments.
• Project Delivery and Planning – Strong project management skills, with the ability to lead multiple priorities, manage risk and deliver successful outcomes on time and to a high standard.

A role with real influence and impact

Opportunities for professional development and career growth within the public sector

Work with senior officials across government and early childhood sectors.

Be part of an agency with a clear mission to improve the lives of South Australia’s children and families.

Access to valuable salary sacrifice benefits like car leases, portable electronic devices, mobile phones, airline lounge memberships, self-education expenses, and more. Ask us about how you can make your salary go further working at the OECD.

Access to flexible working arrangements to get that work life balance.

Additional Note:

This is a full-time 2-year long term contract role (1.0 FTE) with potential to be made ongoing.

For all other special conditions please refer to the attached position description.