Senior Communications & Engagement Lead — Hybrid & Flexible

Anglican Community Services; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 118,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

The Blakcademy, part of the University of New South Wales, is seeking a Community Engagement and Communications Lead to drive partnerships and engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Based at UNSW Kensington with hybrid work, you will lead community engagement, develop partnerships, and translate stakeholder input into curriculum and learning design, with regular travel to rural campuses.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification with experience or equivalent competence.
• Experience in community engagement, partnerships and communications with Indigenous communities.
• Ability to work in culturally safe, respectful and accountable ways.
• Ability to build trust across cultures and sustain collaborative relationships with Elders and health organisations.
• Excellent written, verbal and facilitation skills for diverse audiences.
• Experience translating community input into practical improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead community engagement and partnerships across metropolitan and rural campuses.
• Develop and sustain reciprocal relationships with Elders and community members.
• Inform curriculum content and learning design with community priorities.
• Travel regularly to rural campuses and community locations.
• Plan engagement activities and events and develop cross-channel communications.

Skills

Community engagement

Partnership development

Communications

Cultural safety

Stakeholder management

Event planning

Education

Tertiary qualification

Experience or equivalent competence

Job description

Why join us

The workspace is designed around flexible locations and remote support to encourage a healthy balance of both field, office and home work environments.

Blakcademy Community Engagement and Communications Lead (Identified)

Sydney University of New South Wales

• Employment Type: Full‑time (35 hours a week)
• Duration: Continuing
• Remuneration: $118k - $128k base (+17% super and a leave loading)
• Location: UNSW Campus, Kensington (Hybrid working)
• Travel: Ability and willingness to travel regularly to rural campuses and community locations and to attend functions or events outside normal working hours when required. An open driver’s licence is required

Blakcademy, Faculty of Medicine & Health

The Blakcademy is the Faculty of Medicine & Health’s First Peoples Academy, leading First Peoples education, student success, research, and community partnerships. Through self‑determination, cultural capability, and anti‑racism, the Blakcademy works to improve First Peoples health outcomes and ensure graduates are prepared to provide culturally safe and equitable healthcare.

The Opportunity

Play a key role within the Blakcademy in leading community engagement, partnership development and communications that strengthen the Faculty’s accountability to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The role develops and sustains respectful, reciprocal relationships with Elders, community members, health organisations and other stakeholders across the Faculty’s metropolitan and rural footprint. It creates clear pathways for community priorities and advice to inform curriculum content and how learning is designed and delivered with regular travel to rural campuses and community locations required.

Key skills and experience required:

• Relevant tertiary qualification with subsequent relevant experience or equivalent competence gained through any combination of education, training and experience.
• Experience in community engagement, partnership development and communications, including experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations.
• Demonstrated understanding of contemporary issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the ability to work in ways that are culturally safe, respectful and accountable.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust, work across cultures and sustain collaborative relationships with Elders, community members, senior leaders, health organisations and diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal and facilitation skills, with the ability to communicate sensitively and adapt complex information for different audiences.
• Demonstrated experience translating community advice and stakeholder input into practical improvements in programs, curriculum, policy or service delivery.
• Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to exercise sound judgement, manage competing priorities and deliver high‑quality outcomes with a high level of autonomy.
• Experience planning engagement activities and events and developing communications across digital, print and stakeholder channels, with a high level of attention to detail.

Full details can be found in the position description.

Pre‑Employment Checks

As part of our recruitment process candidates may be required to undergo pre‑employment screening, which may include reference checks, qualification verification, right‑to‑work verification, and criminal history screening where relevant to the role. Compliance with the necessary combination of these checks is a condition of employment at UNSW.

Applications close: Tuesday 17th November before 11.30pm Sydney time.

UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff. The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.