Social Media and Communications Officer

Job no: 0056826
Location: Dookie Campus (flexibility offered)
Role type: Full-time; Fixed-term until 30 June 2024
Faculty: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences
Department/School: Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub
Salary: UOM 6 – $89,182 – $96,536 p.a. plus 17% super

The University of Melbourne would like to acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Owners of the lands upon which our campuses are situated, the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung Peoples, the Yorta Yorta Nation, the Dja Dja Wurrung People. We acknowledge that the land on which we meet and learn was the place of age-old ceremonies, of celebration, initiation and renewal, and that the local Aboriginal Peoples have had and continue to have a unique role in the life of these lands.

About The Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub 
The Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (the Victoria Hub) connects farmers with the best science, regional agricultural experts, innovation and new practices. It is funded by the Australian Government, through the Future Drought Fund.

The Victoria Hub is led by the University of Melbourne, in partnership with universities, state government and regional community-based organisations. Agriculture Victoria is the state government partner, and university partners are Deakin University, La Trobe University, and Federation University.

To ensure the research is translated into on-the-ground action, the five community-based organisations form regional Hub Nodes. The Nodes deliver programs locally and create a feedback loop between farming communities and researchers. These farming groups are Mallee Regional Innovation Centre, Birchip Cropping Group, Riverine Plains, Food and Fibre Gippsland and Southern Farming Systems.

Further information about the Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub can be found at - https://vicdroughthub.org.au/

About the Role
The Victoria Hub is seeking an experienced Social Media and Communications Officer to help grow the reach of the Victoria Hub through the delivery of effective communications, in line with the strategic goal of increasing drought preparedness and resilience in farming communities, and improved innovation pipelines in agriculture more broadly.

Working closely with the Director and Knowledge Broker team, the incumbent will assist with the development and implementation of high-quality communications and media strategies, including writing and editing digital content for the Hub Newsletter, social media and University websites, coordinating the dissemination of communications across a range of platforms, liaising with news sources and managing interview and promotional opportunities as they arise.

The role will be expected to foster productive, collaborative relationships with Victoria Hub partners and with external stakeholders, government and media sectors, and coordinate accordingly to achieve cooperation and maximise communication opportunities.

The Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub headquarters is located at the University of Melbourne’s Dookie campus, however, some flexibility regarding location can be negotiated, including remote work from home.

Responsibilities include:.

• Engaging with Hub Nodes and Hub university partners to help to identify communication opportunities and coordinate communication delivery
• Managing the updating and maintenance of the Victoria Hub website as well as ongoing assessment of its useability and recording of user metrics
• Developing, administering and maintaining the Victoria Hub social media presence for various platforms
• Assisting in the creation and ongoing content for a Vic Hub podcast, including story ideas, guest co-ordination, scripting and protocols to maximise reach and impact
• Ensuring that media and communications content are within the budget as advised by the Director and is released within appropriate time frames

About You
The successful candidate will be an excellent writer and content creator with the ability to create engaging content for a range of audiences and channels – including, but not limited to: news stories, websites, socials, multimedia.

You have experience developing and implementing successful social media campaigns that can engage audiences and grow the reach of organisations, causes or people and demonstrated experience working with external media organisations.

An understanding of agriculture, drought and climate resilience or experience in translating complex scientific subject matter into accessible content will be highly regarded.

You will also have:

• A relevant degree with subsequent relevant experience in a similar communications role or an equivalent combination of industry experience and education/training
• Proven written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships with a range of stakeholders, handle sensitive information with sound judgement, effectively communicate and negotiate with internal and external stakeholders at all levels
• Excellent proficiency in the tools required to demonstrate best practice in the sector including but not limited to writing articles, newsletters, creating online content, social media, promotional collateral
• Excellent planning, organisational and time management skills. Ability to work to tight deadlines and deliver under pressure

To ensure the University continues to provide a safe environment for everyone, this position requires the incumbent to hold a current and valid Working with Children Check.

About the University
The University of Melbourne is consistently ranked amongst the leading universities in the world. We are proud of our people, our commitment to research and teaching excellence, and our global engagement.

Benefits of Working with Us
In addition to having the opportunity to grow and be challenged, and to be part of a vibrant campus life, our people enjoy a range of rewarding benefits:

• Flexible working arrangements, generous personal, parental and cultural leave
• Competitive remuneration, 17% super, salary packaging and leave loading
• Free and subsidised health and wellbeing services, and access to fitness and cultural clubs
• Discounts on a wide range of products and services including Myki cards and Qantas Club
• Career development opportunities and 25% off graduate courses for staff and their immediate families

To find out more, visit https://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers/staff-benefits .

Be Yourself
We value the unique backgrounds, experiences and contributions that each person brings to our community and encourage and celebrate diversity.  First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, females, people of all ages, with disabilities and culturally and linguistically diverse people are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the community in which we live.

Join Us!
If you feel this role is right for you, please submit your application including a brief cover letter, your resume and your responses against the following selection criteria^:

• Relevant degree with subsequent relevant experience in a similar communications role or an equivalent combination of industry experience and education/training
• Strong writer and content creator with the ability to create engaging content for a range of audiences and channels – speeches, scripts, articles, websites, social, digital assets
• Proven excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships with a range of stakeholders, handle sensitive information with sound judgement, effectively communicate and negotiate with internal and external stakeholders at all levels
• Excellent proficiency in the tools required to demonstrate best practice in the sector including but not limited to writing articles, newsletters, creating online content, social media, promotional collateral

^For information to help you with compiling short statements to answer the selection criteria and competencies, please go to http://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers/selection-criteria

We are dedicated to ensuring barrier free and inclusive practices to recruit the most talented candidates. If you require any reasonable adjustments with the recruitment process, please contact  us at [email protected] .

Applications close: 30 AUGUST 2022 11:55 PM AUS Eastern Standard Time

Position Description