You need to have three things to do this job:

1. A belief in your gut that by transforming food systems, we can meet society’s greatest challenges.
2. Strong copywriting.
3. A hunger to learn.

We’re Sustain. A think & do network of citizen farmers, researchers, policy experts and community connectors on a mission to build better food systems. You can read about our impact principles and strategic approach here.

We’re looking for a mid-level comms all-rounder to lead our always-on and project communication needs.

This is a varied role with a big emphasis on learning and growing through hands-on action under the guidance of our Strategic Communications Manager. It is ideal for that communications professional looking to step-up, do purposeful work and who isn’t afraid to make a few mistakes.

A day in the life

• Community management. In early 2025, we launched The Australian Food Network (AFN) – a place for Australia’s food system change-makers to gather. This live community space hosts movement-building conversations, collective learning experiences and more. As the key host of the AFN, you’ll manage day-to-day life here (e.g. posting content, facilitating discussions and preparing community meet-ups) and lead the co-design and implementation of platform’s future strategy.
• Digital marketing. The nuts and bolts of Sustain’s communications needs comms. You’ll manage our social media channels, draft community emails and update the website.

• Project support. Sustain works at multiple leverage points in the food system. Our focus areas include a community farm collective, political advocacy, impact research, consulting & capacity building, supporting community food initiatives, peer-to-peer networking in the AFN and a range of events. As our comms lead, you’ll support each of these teams to design and deliver their projects. This work varies – you might help the consulting team publish some research, the farm team engage with local schools and businesses, or the advocacy team run a campaign like Vote for Food!

• Learning. For the right person, this role is a crash-course in modern impact comms. Through short online courses (which we’ll usually cover), on-the-job training and consistent support and guidance, you’ll leave with the ability to market your own mission.

Your Experience and Skills

• While mid-level comms experience is preferred, what we really care about is your attitude and ability to learn. We’re after the kind of person who may well leave in a few years to pursue their own purpose after a fair exchange – your hard work and dedication to our mission, for first-hand experience of impact comms and marketing. We’re OK with that.
• A proven track-record of interest & action in food system transformation is a must-have. We can teach you the mechanics of impact marketing, but we can’t teach drive and passion for systemic transformation in food.

• The ability to write clear and compelling copy is fundamental to this role. You will live in your inbox and on the AFN, our social media channels and websites.

• You’ll be able to work independently and google your way around problems and challenging tasks (with plenty of support from the team too).

• Experience with basic design (Canva), website management, Mailchimp and Meta platforms & Linked-In, business development and communications campaign strategy is preferred.

Mentorship and Progression

• For the remainder of 2025, you’ll be mentored by our Strategic Communications Lead Daniel Eb. Daniel is a writer, purpose-marketer, social impact project founder and published a Nuffield scholarship report on citizen-connected agriculture. Food system transformation is his jam and if provided with coffee and the occasional beer, he can be likable.
• Daniel has recently re-developed Sustain’s communications infrastructure and strategy. It will be your job to understand, refine and then lead this work into the future. The right candidate will develop into Sustain’s Strategic Communications Lead in their own right.

Salary and benefits  

• Contract: A part-time 12-month contract (with a 3-month probationary period), with the possibility of a full-time role and contract extension for the right person, contingent on the outcome of major grants.
• Hours: 0.6 FTE / 22.8 hrs per week 

• Rate: $80,000 – $85,000 per annum pro rata (0.6 FTE), plus 12% superannuation. Salary packaging up to $15,900 pa (pro rata) for general living expenses. 

• Place of work: This role is remote/in-person hybrid. The Sustain team meets for 1-2 days a week at our office and urban farm (currently in Preston though a move to a new location is scoped for later in 2025).  

Apply

To submit your application please click 'Apply Now' by the closing date.