Senior Communications Officer - Bushfire Recovery

Band 8 - Full Time 2-year Fixed Term Contract
Work in a supportive, team environment
Based in Alexandra or hybrid arrangements are available.

Make a significant difference in our community!

Help lead the strategic communications that support Murrindindi Shire’s long‑term bushfire recovery. In this senior role, you will shape how vital recovery information is communicated to our community, ensuring clarity, trust and confidence during an evolving and high‑impact recovery period. Your expertise will guide our organisation’s recovery messaging, support informed decision‑making for leaders, and strengthen how we engage with residents, partners and government agencies.

About this opportunity

The Senior Communications Officer – Bushfire Recovery provides strategic leadership and expert advice for Council’s bushfire recovery communications. You will be responsible for developing and overseeing implementation of recovery communication strategies, leading issues and reputation management, and supporting the Executive Team, Mayor, Councillors and the Manager Fire Recovery with high‑level communication guidance.

Operating in a complex and sensitive environment, the role ensures recovery communications are trauma‑informed, community‑centred and aligned with Council’s recovery objectives, emergency management arrangements and advocacy priorities. You will provide leadership to the Communications Officer – Bushfire Recovery and work closely across Council and with external recovery partners.

In this role you will:

Strategic leadership and advisory

• Lead development, implementation and review of Council’s Bushfire Recovery Communications Strategy.
• Provide high‑level strategic advice to the Executive, Mayor, Councillors and senior leaders on risks, issues and opportunities.
• Ensure recovery messaging aligns with advocacy, engagement and service delivery priorities.
• Strengthen community trust, confidence and transparency in all recovery communications.

Issues, risk and reputation management

• Lead identification and management of emerging community, political and reputational risks.
• Oversee complex or sensitive content relating to fatalities, property loss, clean‑up, funding decisions and service impacts.
• Prepare and approve key messages, briefing notes, talking points and holding statements.
• Coordinate whole‑of‑Council recovery communication responses with internal leaders.

Media and stakeholder communications

• Provide oversight of recovery‑related media engagement, positioning and spokesperson preparation.
• Build strong relationships with media outlets, government communication teams and recovery agencies.
• Support proactive media opportunities aligned with recovery milestones and community needs.
• Represent Council in recovery communications forums and inter‑agency groups.

Leadership and coordination

• Provide functional leadership to the Communications Officer – Bushfire Recovery and other communications support.
• Allocate work, set priorities and guide staff to deliver high‑quality outputs in time‑sensitive environments.
• Mentor and support staff working in high‑pressure recovery contexts.
• Ensure strong coordination between recovery communications and broader Council communication functions.

Governance, evaluation and improvement

• Ensure compliance with Council policies, legislation, accessibility standards and funding requirements.
• Oversee monitoring and evaluation of communications effectiveness using analytics and community feedback.
• Support post‑event reviews and contribute to organisational learning in emergency communication.

What will you bring:

By joining our team, ideally you will have:

• Tertiary qualifications in communications, public relations, journalism or a related discipline, with substantial experience.
• Demonstrated senior‑level experience in strategic communications, ideally in emergency response, recovery or high‑impact community environments.
• Proven expertise in complex issues and reputation management, including advising senior leaders.
• Strong understanding of trauma‑informed and community‑centred communication principles.
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of executive‑level briefings and media materials.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor and coordinate staff in high‑pressure environments.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship‑management skills, including experience with government agencies and media.

What we offer

Murrindindi Shire is situated on Melbourne's peri-urban fringe and encompasses the charming rural townships of Alexandra, Eildon, Kinglake, Marysville and Yea. The Shire benefits from great natural beauty and tourist attractions such as Lake Eildon, picturesque national parks, the Great Victorian Rail Trail and access to Victoria's snowfields. We are located within proximity to Melbourne, a lovely 60 to 90 minute drive from Melbourne, depending on your route. 

We offer a supportive flexible work environment, including the opportunity to work from home, with ongoing professional development and a range of employee benefits designed to promote a positive work/life balance.

How to apply

For more information about the role, please contact Anna Cullen - Manager Customer Experience on (03) 5772 0333.

Applications should contain a cover letter and resume, and address the key selection criteria set out in the Position Description. Please note, applications that do not address the selection criteria may not be considered. 

You can submit your application and any accompanying attachments:

• online – you will receive an email notification confirming your submission
• by email to [email protected]
• or post them to Murrindindi Shire Council, PO Box 138, Alexandra 3714.

Applications close at 11.45 pm, Sunday 8 March 2026

Conditions of employment are in accordance with the Murrindindi Shire Council’s Enterprise Agreement.  It is also a condition of employment that the successful applicant:

• Provides evidence of eligibility to work in Australia
• Undertakes a Police Check and, where applicable to the role, provides a current Working with Children Check