Director, Climate Media Centre

The Climate Media Centre is a strategic communications project of the Climate Council that draws attention to the wide-ranging impacts of climate change, as well as the many benefits of clean energy solutions in Australia.

As a nimble and reactive media relations hub, the Centre connects journalists with a variety of talent, timely and relevant information, and concise commentary. We aim to share stories that surprise, inform and engage all types of audiences.

The Centre plans and executes strategic communications that personalise and localise the human and community impacts of climate change, seizes upon critical moments as they arise and synchronises many voices for greater impact.

We also train and support a growing number of influential spokespeople, beyond the usual suspects. This is all about making firefighters, doctors, farmers and renewable energy entrepreneurs the face of climate change.

The human cost of climate change is too great to ignore, and we believe that sharing compelling stories on this issue is a crucial part of shifting public opinion.

The role

The Director is responsible for managing the high volume of work that the Climate Media Centre team generates on behalf of its army of spokespeople. You’ll manage three staff members and be responsible for driving the ongoing success of the Centre in finding new and innovative ways to personalise, humanize and localize climate change to connect with different audiences all over Australia.

The Centre is a project of the Climate Council, and this is a critical leadership position that will help shape the public discourse on the biggest issue of our time.

Key responsibilities of the role include:

• Staff management: Equipping high-performing staff with everything they need to keep developing and succeeding in their roles
• Media: Overseeing and driving a suite of proactive media work, as well reactive media response to issues of the day, while also playing an active role in the execution including writing releases, launching reports, and pitching stories
• Strategy: Anticipating gaps and opportunities in the Centre’s work, and guiding team strategy and workload to match
• Communications: Developing strategic communications advice and guidance, and ensuring best practice is reflected in all the Centre’s materials
• Reputation: Maintaining the Centre’s excellent reputation, and relationships with key stakeholders including spokespeople, journalists, suppliers and other agencies
• Project management: Responsible for budget, contracting, evaluation and reporting to clients, CEO and Board.

About you

As a media junkie, you’ll have faultless news judgement that allows you to spot a headline opportunity from a mile off. As someone plugged into politics, you also have an ability to think strategically on complex issues, and be able to stay one step ahead of the debate.

You are a collaborator at heart with a can-do attitude, who enjoys working with a high-performing team to get results.

You’ll have demonstrated experience in driving and coordinating both reactive and proactive media programs, with an emphasis on purpose and impact. Those who have worked in highly political and contested spaces will be viewed favourably.

You have strong media contacts and a proven ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships with a wide variety of individuals and organisations.

Key requirements:

1) You are an amazing communicator:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a senior media, communications, journalism and/or campaigning role. Media advocacy experience will be viewed favourably.

• An excellent understanding of the Australian media and political landscape, and challenges of communicating complex issues to the public.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to act as the public face of the project, and write for a broad range of audiences and channels within tight timelines.

2) You have excellent interpersonal skills:

• Capacity to develop and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders including journalists, editors, producers and influencers
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop media talent, and provide sound advice on rapidly unfolding issues or situations.

3) You are a doer and a leader

• We are a small team so you must be a doer, as well as a manager, leader and strategic thinker. This isn’t a job for someone who doesn’t like to get their hands dirty.
• Capacity to develop and support high-performing team members while leading by example.
• Strong planning and management skills, with ability to juggle competing needs, identify and achieve objectives, and work to tight deadlines

4) You have strong passion, and personal drive

• Passion for the work, because it matters
• Proven ability to work in dynamic and fast-paced work environments with autonomy
• Entrepreneurial flair that will drive a need and desire to succeed.

The rewards

As Director of the Centre – the buck stops with you. In this highly sought-after role, you’ll be responsible for driving the continued success of this project with plenty of opportunity for growth and loads of autonomy.

The Centre is an innovative and boundary-pushing project of the Climate Council. This is an opportunity to work with some of the best climate communicators, researchers and experts in the world. Best of all, you’ll play a leading role in shaping the public discourse on the biggest issue of our time.

A competitive package will be agreed with the successful applicant.

To apply, please email your CV and cover letter/email to jobs@climatecouncll.org.au, using the job title as the subject line.