Communications Officer

Communications Officer (The Kirby Institute)

• Employment Type: Full-time (35 hours a week)
• Duration: 12 Month Fixed Term contract
• Remuneration: $103,866 base, plus 17% superannuation and leave loading
• Work rights required: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Candidates must hold full rights to work in Australia to be considered for this position.
• Location: Hybrid, Kensington, Sydney

About The Kirby Institute:

The Kirby Institute is a world-leading health research institute at UNSW Sydney. We work to eliminate infectious diseases, globally. Our specialisation is in developing health solutions for the most at-risk communities. Putting communities at the heart of our research, we develop tests, treatments, cures and prevention strategies that have the greatest chance of success.

Details of the role

The Communications Officer is primarily responsible for communicating the research of the Kirby Institute to its stakeholders and the public, through media releases, website stories and content, social media, e-newsletters, and event coordination. In addition, this position provides some written communications support for the Director of the Kirby Institute including correspondence, speeches, reports, and other forms of written communication.

The communications team within the operations unit is primarily responsible for ensuring that KI has a visible, engaging, and agenda-defining presence in the media and among key stakeholders (e.g. community groups, policy makers and funding bodies), that the results and implications of KI research is communicated to relevant audiences, and that the Institute’s brand is leveraged to garner support. This is achieved through the development and execution of strategies that will deliver the objectives of the KI communications plan.

The role of Communications Officer reports to the Communications & Engagement Manager and has no direct reports.

Some key skills required:

• A degree in media, communications, journalism or an equivalent combination of relevant training and experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills with a proven capacity to research and effectively promote complex scientific content.
• Experience writing media release and pitching stories to media outlets.
• Demonstrated experience developing content for different target audiences, and the ability to write, edit and proof materials with strong attention to detail.
• High level interpersonal skills, including experience working with high level internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in hosting and coordinating events in both online (Microsoft Teams and Zoom) and face to face formats.
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team with the ability to prioritise own workload.
• Knowledge or experience in the key issues and stakeholders in health research, health policy, public health, medical research, or international development.

Please refer to the position description for full details.

UNSW Benefits and Culture

• 17% Superannuation and leave loading​
• Flexible working ​
• Additional 3 days of leave over the Christmas Period​
• Access to lifelong learning and career development ​
• Progressive HR practices​

More information on the great staff benefits and culture can be found here.

Pre-Employment Checks:

Aligned with UNSW’s focus on cultivating a workplace defined by safety, ethical conduct, and strong integrity preferred candidates will be required to participate in a combination of pre-employment checks relevant to the role they have applied for.

These pre-employment checks may include a combination of some of the following checks:

• National and International Criminal history checks
• Entitlement to work and ID checks
• Working With Children Checks
• Completion of a Gender-Based Violence Prevention Declaration
• Verification of relevant qualifications
• Verification of relevant professional membership
• Employment history and reference checks
• Financial responsibility assessments/checks
• Medical Checks and Assessments

Compliance with the necessary combination of these checks is a condition of employment at UNSW.

How to apply:

Please click on Apply now to apply online. Applications should not be sent to the contact listed below. Please provide a resume and a separate document addressing the skills and experience listed in the Position Description. A copy of the Position Description can be found on JOBS@UNSW.

Contact

Frank McHenry, Talent Acquisition Associate
E: f.mchenry@unsw.edu.au

Applications close: Tuesday 28th April before 11.30pm Sydney time

Position Description