Senior Communications Advisor

The Healing Foundation · Brisbane or Canberra (hybrid) · 12-month fixed term

The role

You’ll oversee a major national campaign to lead, from creative development through to the day it lands.

There’s a small team working with you, including two advisors, and a director who will trust you to use your skills and experience to deliver a quality campaign. If you’ve been after something you can execute nationally, this is it.

Why it’s worth a look

A few things stand out. You’ll project manage a national campaign, creative direction, the project plan and agencies, all of it. The leadership style is closer to “here’s the brief, go” than anything heavily managed, with support there if you need it. You’ll be building something longer term too, with two communication advisors also leading their own projects who’ll look to you for coaching, not just task allocation.

The opportunity

The Healing Foundation has a big moment coming up on the calendar. The 30th anniversary of the Bringing them home report in 2027 is a key historical moment and opportunity for collective healing, connection, shared responsibility, education and action. 

It provides an occasion for survivors to been seen, heard and validated for the injustices that they have faced.

It also offers an opportunity for the community, schools, governments, cultural institutions and sporting organisations to connect, learn and increase their understanding of the experiences of survivors and the ongoing impacts.

A national campaign is starting to take shape, and we’re looking for a communications specialist to carry it through.

There’s already good momentum behind it. Comms planning templates, project briefs, and a steering committee are ready to go, and the director wants to ensure time for briefing and time to get up to speed.

You’ll be able to lead a small and talented team of communications specialists, to guide them in their work, ensure work is on messaging and on brand, and tailored to reach key audiences through our channels and media. 

What you’ll get stuck into

• Project manage a major national multi-media campaign through to delivery and reporting
• Brief and manage external agencies and suppliers, and hold them to deadline and budget
• Collaborate on events tied to the campaign to ensure alignment of branding and messaging
• Build relationships with partners, government and the board and reference groups guiding the work
• Shape the communications plan, keep the brand consistent, and plan what gets released and when
• Oversee the broader communications calendar to plan external communications in various channels to our audiences, working closely with two advisors who develop and distribute content
• Coach and develop two advisors, and manage them day-to-day so they can do their best work on their projects
• Multi-task on various priorities whilst keeping focused on what can be achieved across the team.

You’ll probably love this role if…

You’re working in communications and you’ve delivered a national or major campaign before. Ideally, you’ve done that in-house, so you understand what it’s like to sit inside an organisation and see something through, rather than handing it off once the creative is approved.

You like being trusted to get on with things. You’re organised, you’re deadline-driven, and you’re focused on finding solutions to overcome challenges. You’re comfortable working independently, but you know how to prioritise your work and allocate team resources effectively to deliver.

You’ve got experience managing people in a small team. You can delegate without micromanaging, and you know how to read the room when someone needs a nudge of energy or a bit of calm.

Experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Community matters here. This is genuinely part of doing the job well.

What you’ll get in return

Real autonomy is probably the biggest one. The leadership style is open and energetic, firm but fair, the kind of manager who’ll tell you when she doesn’t have the answer either and work it out with you.

It’s hybrid, based out of either Brisbane or Canberra, with a mix of at-home work. You’ll still be part of a small team that works closely together and collaborates well.

There’s also the opportunity to work on a campaign at a pivotal moment for Stolen Generations survivors. You’ll work with a variety of stakeholders and partners to guide this campaign to execution.  

There’s a genuine investment in your growth here. The director is committed to supporting your professional development, building your skills and confidence as you take on more responsibility.

The practical stuff

• Location: Brisbane or Canberra
• Arrangement: Hybrid
• Employment type: Fixed term, 12 months, full-time (38 hours per week)
• Award: SCHADS Award
• Salary: Competitive, to be discussed based on experience
• Reports to: Director of Communications
• Direct reports: A small team of advisors
• Start date: Aiming for 26 October 2026

Interested?

If you’re reading this and thinking it sounds like you, get in touch, we’d genuinely like to hear from you. You don’t need to tick every box here. Real campaign experience, the confidence to run with a brief, and a genuine desire to build something that lands matters more than a perfect match on paper.