About the Treaty Authority

The Treaty Authority is a new independent entity with a mandate to facilitate the formation of treaties between the State of Victoria and First Peoples in Victoria. The Authority has been referred to as the “independent umpire” in Treaty negotiations.

The Authority’s work is grounded in Aboriginal culture, lore and law and led collectively by a panel of five Members committed to Aboriginal self-determination and empowerment. It engages with a broad cross-section of stakeholders, including the Victorian Government, the First Peoples’ Assembly and Traditional Owners in Victoria. It plans to grow its team as it establishes and delivers its functions and Treaty negotiations develop.

About the Role

The Authority aims to appoint a highly experienced and strategic Media and Communications leader to create the Authority’s brand and manage its public relations and broad communications needs. This is an opportunity to build an identity and communications strategy for a new organisation from the ground up.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of developing and implementing comprehensive communication strategies that enhance organisational visibility, engage stakeholders, and drive organisational objectives. This role requires exceptional leadership skills, creativity, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

For now, the role will report to the Members. In time, as the organisation grows, the position will report to a CEO or equivalent.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.

Key duties

• Devise and implement a comprehensive communications strategy.
• Provide proactive and responsive high-quality strategic communications advice to the Members.
• Establish and lead a team of communication professionals (in time), providing mentorship, guidance and support to ensure the successful execution of communication initiatives.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for media relations, including managing enquiries and coordinating public appearances.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including media contacts.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure alignment and consistency in messaging across all channels.
• Oversee the development of the Authority’s visual identity - grounded in First Peoples’ cultures in Victoria - and the creation of key assets such as branding, website, stationery, templates etc.
• Produce clear and effective content and messaging across various channels to explain the important role and functions of the Authority, and its place in the Treaty ecosystem, to enable relevant parties to understand and access its services.
• Maintain a public profile through various media channels that builds public trust in the role of the Authority.
• Oversee the monitoring of media and managing any crisis communications, providing timely and effective responses.
• Manage the production of a timely and clear public record of the Authority’s key decisions and actions.
• Lead internal systems of communications for Members and staff to share information and updates.
• Oversee the production of various organisational reports and products, including annual reports.
• Assist with the establishment and maintenance of the Authority’s stakeholder database and required publication/communication platforms.
• Manage external providers as required.

Selection criteria

• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate business objectives into effective communication strategies.
• Experience with Victoria’s Aboriginal communities and organisations.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate a diverse team of professionals.
• Proficiency in media monitoring and analysis tools, and experience with social media management platforms.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a keen eye for detail and a commitment to quality.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, with a high level of adaptability and resilience.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience managing sensitive media coverage.
• Significant experience producing various media products from printed reports to websites.
• Strong project and time management skills.
• Degree-qualified or equivalent experience.