Strategic External Communications Lead

The Salvation Army; Darwin; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NFP salary packaging

Flexible working conditions

Health, fitness and financial benefits

Job summary

The Salvation Army in Darwin is seeking an External Communications Lead to guide the division’s communications strategy and build official relationships with government and community partners across Australia.

This full-time role is based in the Darwin Regional Administrative Office and focuses on strengthening community connections and ensuring impactful, compliant public messaging across multiple channels.

Qualifications

• Diploma in Business, Marketing, Public Relations, or related discipline (preferred).
• Experience engaging and influencing at executive and senior leadership levels.
• Strong relationship-building skills to develop trusted partnerships across stakeholders.
• Media relations experience with proven ability to represent and promote an organisation.
• Confident public speaker with experience presenting to diverse audiences.
• Experience across multiple channels (CMS, social media, print, radio).
• Understanding of not-for-profit or charitable sector is highly regarded.
• National Police Check.
• Valid Drivers license.
• Working with Children’s Check.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of The Salvation Army’s Communications strategy across the Division, ensuring alignment with mission, vision, and brand.
• Provide strategic communications advice, briefings, and updates to Divisional and Territory leadership.
• Build and maintain influential relationships with Local, territory, and Federal Government stakeholders.
• Drive community engagement initiatives that strengthen The Salvation Army’s presence and impact across the Division.
• Develop and manage media relationships, partnering with national communications teams on proactive and reactive media activity.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to support fundraising campaigns, schools engagement programs, and major organisational events.
• Identify and leverage strategic partnerships, networks, and opportunities that support advocacy, fundraising, and mission outcomes.
• Maintain key stakeholder engagement records and provide insights that inform government and community relations activities.
• Monitor emerging issues, reputational risks, and public interest topics, developing appropriate mitigation and response strategies.
• Ensure all communications, publications, and media activities comply with legislation, organisational policies, values, and industry standards.

Skills

Executive stakeholder engagement

Relationship building

Media relations

Public speaking

Multi-channel communications

CMS knowledge

Not-for-profit experience

Education

Diploma in Business/Marketing/Public Relations

Tools

CMS

Job description

The Salvation Army in Darwin is seeking an External Communications Lead to guide the division’s communications strategy and build official relationships with government and community partners across Australia.

This full-time role is based in the Darwin Regional Administrative Office and focuses on strengthening community connections and ensuring impactful, compliant public messaging across multiple channels.