Strategic Communications Coordinator

Ongoing Full Time

Our Region
Ingham is uniquely positioned just over an hour north of Townsville and approximately three hours south of Cairns and is within the tropical paradise of the Hinchinbrook Shire. With Ingham at its centre, the region is surrounded by rugged mountain ranges, giant waterfalls, the Great Barrier Reef, wild beaches and tropical islands. It’s a place where breathtaking scenery, unique wildlife, world-class fishing experiences, delicious, locally sourced food, inspirational art and 60,000 years of culture are all weaved into one incredible story: The Hinchinbrook Way.
  
Our Council
Hinchinbrook Shire Council is proud to be one of the largest employers in the region, with a diverse team of around 200 people working across technical, administrative, operational, and senior management roles. We’re committed to creating a fair, flexible, and supportive workplace where our staff can thrive while enjoying the unique attractions and vibrant community life of Hinchinbrook. With benefits such as a nine-day fortnight for most roles, generous superannuation, and leave entitlements, we offer opportunities to grow your career while embracing the lifestyle you love. By joining us, you’ll be part of an organisation that values its people, promotes collaboration, and strives to make a lasting, positive impact on the Hinchinbrook community.
  
What Council Offers:
 

• 72.5-hour fortnight with roster variations depending on the position (9-day fortnight - RDOs in accordance with Council policy)
• Up to 12.5% Superannuation employer contribution for contributing members
• 5 weeks annual leave plus 17.5% annual leave loading
• 15 days paid sick/parental leave
• Salary Packaging options
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Accredited Mental Health First Aid Officers
• Annual Flu vaccinations + Skin Checks
• Corporate Uniforms (annual allowance) and PPE supplied

The Opportunity
Hinchinbrook Shire Council is seeking a dynamic and motivated Strategic Communications Coordinator to lead the development and delivery of innovative brand marketing and communications campaigns that enhance our public profile and promote The Hinchinbrook Way tourism brand.

This exciting opportunity will see you take charge of media relations, internal and external communications, and the creation of corporate publications and marketing materials. You'll bring your skills in copywriting, proofreading, and digital content creation to life across Council’s social media platforms, websites, and advertising channels.

A key focus of the role is the implementation of targeted media and communication campaigns that strengthen relationships with the community, key stakeholders, and regional partners. You’ll also play a pivotal role in the oversight of the Communications Strategy for the Recovery Action Plan in response to the 2025 Flood Event in Hinchinbrook.

In addition to your communications expertise, you will work closely with the Economic Development and Tourism Coordinator to elevate the Hinchinbrook Region's economic development and tourism profile. The role also includes building a strong partnership with Townsville Enterprise Limited (TEL) to leverage joint marketing and tourism campaign opportunities.
  
Key Responsibilities
 

• Develop and implement effective strategic promotional campaigns and materials for internal and external communication initiatives across multiple media platforms and sites, ensuring all communication is of the highest standard.
• Lead the coordination, development, review and implementation of strategies, plans, policies and procedures, including (but not limited to) the marketing strategy, internal and external communication plans, and the branding style guide to ensure alignment with current best practices.
• Coordination of Hinchinbrook Life Newspaper content on behalf of Council.
• Prepare reports for Council outlining internal and external engagement, key issues, and the performance of communication deliverables and channels.
• Coordinate Council’s media activities, including liaising with media outlets, handling enquiries, and preparing responses, while also building and maintaining trusted relationships to support the delivery of highly effective strategic communication and engagement outcomes.
• Prepare and distribute media releases, publications and internal and external organisational communications.
• Strengthen existing media networks and relationships, positively promoting Council’s reputation.
• Develop and implement policy, procedure and strategy relating to media and communications.
• Administer Council’s websites and intranet ensuring all content complies with Council’s image and contains accurate, relevant and up to date information.
• Design, collate, edit and review a wide range of Council publications and communications, including corporate documents, internal and external materials, media releases, and content for both digital and traditional media platforms.
• Build a collaborative working relationship with the Economic Development and Tourism Coordinator to enable progression of initiatives from the Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan in order to attract investment, support local business, enhance tourism opportunities and build partnerships with key stakeholders.
• Research, analyse and prepare targeted investment, development, tourism and events marketing promotions and public relations material
• Lead the delivery of The Hinchinbrook Way branding through the development of periodic media campaigns, while managing and enhancing its website and social media presence.
• In collaboration with the Economic Development and Tourism Coordinator, support the development of Tourism packages in conjunction with regional operators.
• Any other duties as required as reasonably within the limits of the employee’s skills, competence and training.

See the Position Description for a more extensive list of key responsibilities.

Our Ideal Candidate
We are seeking an experienced communications professional to lead the development and delivery of strategic brand, media, and marketing campaigns that strengthen the public profile of Hinchinbrook Shire Council and promote The Hinchinbrook Way tourism brand.
  
You will have a strong understanding of brand, media, and public relations, supported by a background in journalism, communications, or marketing. With experience in creating and delivering engaging content across a range of platforms, you’ll be tech-savvy, highly organised, and self-motivated, with a proactive approach to managing competing priorities and leading communication initiatives.
  
As a collaborative leader, you will be capable of inspiring and supporting your own team, while building strong relationships across internal departments, community groups, and external stakeholders. A clear understanding of how communications contribute to regional development and tourism will be key to your success in this role.
  
Key Selection Criteria
If our values resonate with you ‘Integrity, People Focused, Excellence and Sustainability’ and you possess the following qualifications and experience, read below about how to apply:
 

• A Bachelor of Journalism or similar communication / marketing related degree qualification.
• A minimum three (3) years journalism, communication or public relations experience.
• Demonstrated experience in and understanding of brand, media, communications and public relations within the local government environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills with a proven ability to prepare information for publication.
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite (including Indesign), Microsoft Office Suite and previous experience with website development, online content management systems and social media.
• Exceptional personal initiative, self-motivation and drive with the ability to prioritise competing deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage appropriately with a range of stakeholders from different backgrounds.
• Current Queensland ‘C’ Class Drivers Licence (minimum P1).

General Salary Information:
This position is classified as Level 7 under the Hinchinbrook Shire Council Local Government Officers (Stream A) Certified Agreement.

The salary will be between $106,584 - $113,000 per annum plus superannuation.

The Selection Process
We welcome candidates to inform us of any adjustments they may need to ensure a supportive and inclusive recruitment experience and workplace environment. Hinchinbrook Shire Council is an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and disadvantaged job seekers to apply.

Celebrating the rich diversity of our community, we are dedicated to attracting and employing people who reflect the community we serve. We value and respect the unique contributions of our employees and are committed to fostering an inclusive and safe workplace where everyone is supported to reach their full potential.

Please note that only individuals with the right to work in Australia are eligible to apply. As part of the recruitment process, the preferred candidate will need to undertake a National Police Check and pre-employment medical assessments, which may include drug and alcohol testing, to confirm their ability to meet the role's inherent requirements.

How to Apply 
To apply, submit your application online by clicking 'Apply For Job' and follow the steps. Please provide:
 

1. A current resume
2. A cover letter addressing the “Our Ideal Candidate” section (max. 2 pages).

Applications close on Thursday 17 April 2025 at 5.00pm AEST

Applications that do not meet the above requirements may not be shortlisted. The advertisement will be closed either when a successful applicant is identified or on the application close date, whichever is sooner.
  
For More Information:
Thank you for your consideration and interest in this position. For a confidential discussion, enquiries can be initiated with the CEO via Human Resources Manager Jodi Spencer on 07 4776 4613. Apply For Job