We’re looking for a media consultant to join our dynamic team in Sydney, to help our clients engage with the public to influence policy, shift opinion and win campaigns.

Essential is a strategic communications agency working primarily with member and not-for-profit organisations. We’re looking for a media consultant to join our dynamic team in Sydney, to help our clients engage with the public to influence policy, shift opinion and win campaigns.

The position would suit a journalist looking to make a move into consultancy, an NGO media adviser wanting broader experience, or even a corporate comms professional looking for more meaningful work.

You will be organised and comfortable in a fast-paced environment with challenging deadlines. You will show initiative and ensure tasks are followed through to the end. You will have a keen interest in politics and social advocacy. Most importantly, you will be enthusiastic and excited to learn new skills.

For this position, expertise in earned media including both proactive and reactive media management will be highly regarded.

The position will be appointed at either the junior or senior consultant level, according to the skills and experience of the successful candidate.

If you feel you meet most, but not all, of the selection criteria, please do not be dissuaded from applying.

About Essential

Essential is a strategic communications agency working primarily with member and not-for-profit organisations. At Essential, we value fairness, equity, social justice and respect. For over 25 years, we have been working with clients who share our values to promote positive social change.

We are driven to make organisations stronger through integrated, evidence-driven communications. Our winning campaigns engage and activate the public, influence progressive policy outcomes and shift public opinion.

Essential delivers integrated support for our clients across market research, campaign strategy, earned media, digital media, fundraising, advertising and production. Our research and communications strategy methodology has been developed, tested and refined over our 25-year history.

About the role

Working for a range of clients, you will provide day-to-day delivery of communications services, using all forms of print, electronic, social and digital media under the direction and management of Essential's Account Managers. While we expect there to be a focus on earned media, flexibility and a broad range of responsibilities will keep the role interesting and varied.

The range of clients and issues on which you'll work will help you build your career in strategic communications, as well as helping to win serious and lasting change on behalf of some great clients.

Skills and experience

• You’ll be a good writer, capable of creating and curating engaging content, writing quickly and effectively in a range of styles and formats.
• You’ll have a thorough understanding of the media landscape, including outlets and networks, press galleries, distribution tools and strategies.
• You'll understand the value of earned media in integrated campaigns and how media tactics interact with paid, owned and social media execution.
• You’ll have an understanding of communications strategy and how to draw together a range of communications tactics into a broad campaign.
• You’ll possess excellent people skills and present professionally to clients.
• You’ll be diligent, results-oriented and show strong initiative, ensuring tasks are followed through to the end.
• You’ll be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with challenging and competing deadlines.
• You’ll be highly motivated with great initiative. You’ll enjoy working in a team as well as being able to work individually when required.
• You’ll have a good understanding of the progressive social and political environment that Essential works in and a commitment to our values of fairness, social justice, curiosity and respect.

Benefits and perks

Essential offers:

• Attractive package with six weeks annual leave.
• Salary range of $63k-$90k depending on skills and experience
• Central CBD location close to public transport
• Flexible working from home policy