NEMA Media Adviser

Description:

National Emergency Management Agency:
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was established on 1 September 2022 as a single, accountable Commonwealth authority that delivers a whole-of-nation approach to reducing disaster risk, planning, preparing for, responding to and recovering from all hazards across the emergency management continuum.

NEMA works closely with local communities as well as state and territory Governments to deliver the best outcome for communities across Australia. To help communities respond and recover, while preparing Australia for future emergencies, we:

• Fund programs and initiatives, big and small, that help communities in times of emergency, as well as to recover and prepare, including through disaster recovery funding and the Disaster Ready Fund to help reduce the risk and impact of disasters;
• Work with communities, industry and non-government organisations by connecting local Regional Support Officers and other NEMA staff right around Australia, to share lessons learnt, provide awareness on navigating Government services, and gain community and industry-led ideas and concepts to inform strategic policy and planning;
• Provide national leadership to share knowledge, situational awareness, and trends in disaster efforts to inform, guide and shape the national picture and decision-making at the Commonwealth, state and local Government level - including through policy development and strategy to improve risk reduction, resilience and recovery; and
• Provide round-the-clock all-hazards monitoring and operational coordination for domestic and international emergencies, including supply chain disruptions, critical infrastructure outages, biosecurity risks and widespread cyber-attacks, and through supporting preparedness and response activities, including through the operationalisation of the Australian Government Crisis Management Framework.

Overview of the Branch and Section:
The National Emergency Management Agency's (NEMA) Media, Communications and Engagement Branch provides expert public communication, internal and executive communication, stakeholder engagement and media advice to promote ministerial and Agency priorities, policies and programs. The Branch delivers all media management and external engagement functions including but not limited to; media support for Ministers and the Executive, social media, graphic design, video production, speechwriting, internal communication, external and strategic communication campaigns.

The Media and Crisis Communications team provides high level expertise and advice in media, crisis communications and public affairs to Agency senior leadership, and the offices of the Minister for Emergency Management and the Prime Minister. The position also provides day to day leadership of the Media and Crisis Communications team.

About the role:
As the Media Adviser you will provide media, crisis communications, public affairs advice and support for the Agency.
You will work closely with your Media, Communication and Engagement Branch colleagues and across the Agency, including the offices of the Coordinator-General and Deputy Coordinators-General. You will work across the Agency and with key external stakeholders, including the office of the Minister for Emergency Management, other Commonwealth Ministers, state and territory government departments and members of the media. As such, you will have sound communication and interpersonal skills, which will allow you to engage effectively with stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds and levels of seniority.
You must be able to participate in the Media, Communication and Engagement Branch on call roster, and be willing to be recalled at short notice to meet operational needs. You must be able to undertake interstate travel and at times you may also be required to work from the Australian Government's National Situation Room.

At times staff within NEMA may be required to work outside of standard business hours, particularly during the high-risk weather season.

Our ideal candidate:
Our ideal candidate will have previous experience as a journalist and/or in government media roles.

A key aspect of the role is to have demonstrated skills and experience in media, crisis communications and public affairs, including media monitoring and reporting; the development of media releases, responses and talking points; and understanding the specific needs of different mediums (i.e. online, broadcast and traditional print).

You will need to demonstrate your ability to work in a fluid and fast-paced environment including during a crisis. You must be able to manage multiple priorities and be resilient, responsive and flexible.

We encourage applications from First Nations people, people with disability, LGBTQIA+ people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, mature age people and people from other diverse backgrounds. We are committed to providing a working environment that values diversity and inclusion and supports staff to reach their full potential.

The key duties of the position include
Specific duties/responsibilities:

• Under direction, provide media and communications support in a fast-paced and rapidly evolving crisis situation
• Supporting team members to ensure timely delivery of high quality materials
• Project managing media strategies and individual media materials within tight deadlines
• Sound written and verbal communication skills to draft media releases, speeches and other media products.

Role requirements/qualifications:

• A Degree in Media, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism or related discipline is desirable.