APS6 Communications Adviser & EL1 Assistant Director, Communications and Engagement (multiple roles)

About the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner

Working with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) will put you at the forefront of data protection and access to information regulation. As an independent statutory agency, the OAIC’s work is of national significance and plays an important role in shaping Australia’s information handling landscape across the economy – from government, digital platforms and the online environment, to health, finance and telecommunications. Our mission is to uphold and promote Australia’s privacy and freedom of information laws.

We are an agency within the Attorney-General’s Department portfolio with responsibility for numerous statutory functions including:

• privacy functions under the Privacy Act 1988 and the Digital ID Act 2024, the My Health Records Act 2012 and in relation to the Consumer Data Right (CDR) under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, in particular, investigating breaches, handling complaints, conducting audits, developing codes, providing policy guidance and educating the public and industry on privacy
• freedom of information functions under the Freedom of Information Act 1982, in particular, review of decisions made by agencies and ministers, handling FOI complaints, monitoring and investigating agency compliance, providing policy guidance and educating government and the public on FOI rights
• information commissioner functions under the Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010 including reporting to the Minister regarding government policy and practice with respect to the collection, use, disclosure, management, administration or storage of, or access to, information held by government and the systems used.

Leadership roles in the OAIC

EL1 Assistant Director, Communications and Engagement is a leadership role. Leadership within the OAIC work as a united team, collaborating and supporting each other and staff in achieving outcomes for the Australian community, and ensuring the agency’s success.

You will demonstrate leadership that aligns with the values of the OAIC, which include:

• modelling and championing the OAIC’s Guiding Principles (‘4 Pillars’): being proactive, proportionate, purpose-driven and people-focused
• acting with integrity at all times and demonstrating alignment with the APS Values: Impartial, Committed to service, Accountable, Respectful, Ethical and Stewardship
• managing limited resources effectively and aligned to the OAIC’s regulatory priorities
• empowering and supporting staff to make lawful administrative decisions in accordance with the applicable statutory framework
• leading your team and directly contributing to communicating (internally and externally) and delivering on the strategic direction of the OAIC.

About the team

The OAIC’s Communications and Engagement team is responsible for developing and implementing the OAIC’s communications and stakeholder engagement strategies. The team’s focus is communicating the OAIC’s regulatory activity and its real-world impact through storytelling, delivering campaigns, and building strong relationships with stakeholders. The team’s areas of responsibilities include:

• promoting awareness of privacy and information access rights to the community and regulated entities
• managing the OAIC program of stakeholder events including International Access to Information Day and Privacy Awareness Week and supporting Commissioner and senior leaders’ participation in speeches and other external events.
• supporting the OAIC’s regulatory effectiveness by raising awareness of key regulatory actions and decisions
• maintaining and enhancing the reputation of the OAIC and other brand-related activities
• internal communications including maintaining the OAIC Intranet, internal newsletters and supporting All Staff Meetings
• external communications including maintaining the OAIC website, external newsletters, social media, corporate reports and surveys
• media management, including proactive media and issues management and compiling regular media round-ups
• managing campaigns and content delivery through digital, social media and stakeholder channels.

About the roles

Contribute to the OAIC’s communication strategies, support the OAIC’s regulatory effectiveness by raising awareness of key regulatory actions and decisions, ensure alignment with organisational goals, and manage relationships with key stakeholders, including media, government, and the broader community.

You will deliver initiatives across the responsibilities of the Communications and Engagement team. You will demonstrate a flexible and adaptive approach, and to be able to support a range of projects and responsibilities as part of a collaborative and multi-disciplinary team.

All roles require the following attributes:

• Ability to manage complex internal channels and translate complex information into an easy-to-understand format
• Ability to produce high quality and well-structured messages for a wide range of audiences, under limited direction
• Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse range of people, to achieve high-quality agency outcomes.

APS6 and EL1 key duties include: 

• developing and implementing communications and engagement strategies and plans
• advising teams across the OAIC on communications and engagement strategies and approaches aligned with the overarching OAIC communications and engagement strategy
• preparing and distributing a wide range of content, including media releases, blogs, speeches and presentations, social media content, newsletters, corporate reports and surveys, and intranet and other internal content
• coordinating speaking engagements, including triaging inbound invitations and developing event briefs
• supporting and coordinating stakeholder engagement activities
• media monitoring and leading or assisting with media enquiries when required
• representing the OAIC in interagency communications working groups and stakeholder forums/meetings as required
• other duties as required.

EL1 additional key duties include: 

• developing monitoring and reporting frameworks to track the effectiveness of engagement efforts, providing reporting on outcomes to leadership and Commissioners
• assisting with the development of stakeholder engagement and channel and content strategies for the OAIC.
• leading and developing your small team, including providing mentoring and developmental opportunities
• coordinating stakeholder engagement for cross-agency initiatives, including overseeing stakeholder events
• for media-specific roles: undertaking media monitoring and assisting the Director with media enquiries when required
• for corporate publications roles: coordinating and delivering corporate documents including annual reports, corporate plans and other high-value documents within timeframe and to a high standard
• for stakeholder engagement roles: developing communications campaigns and content for executive leadership, in a short timeframe and to a high standard.

Job specific capabilities, skills & experience

We are seeking applications from candidates who have:

• strong communication, drafting and editing skills
• a proven ability to work independently and within a team to meet strategic outcomes and statutory timeframes
• the ability to plan, manage and organise their own workload and adapt to ever-changing priorities and deadlines, with project management experience highly desirable
• an excellent work ethic and demonstrated understanding of the need for confidentiality and handling of sensitive information.

The following are also highly desirable for EL1 roles:

• Proven ability to manage multiple complex internal and external communications projects and business processes to deliver high-quality outcomes
• Exceptional written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels
• Innovative and creative approach to problem-solving, with a focus on achieving strategic objectives.

You will maintain a high level of integrity and abide by the APS Code of Conduct.

Security requirements

You must be able to obtain and maintain a Baseline security clearance.

Position location

The OAIC operates a hybrid work model with a combination of remote working and office attendance.  Whilst the OAIC office is located in the Sydney CBD (and preferred), we will consider candidate applications from all other locations within Australia.

The OAIC values face-to-face interaction and fostering connection between our people and with our stakeholders. The OAIC’s hybrid work model expects in office attendance when the type of work or task is better suited to being completed from an office, for example, staff inductions and onboarding, planning days, relationship building activities and project or collaborative work.

Remuneration and benefits

APS6: $100,215 – 111,702 per annum plus 15.4% superannuation

EL1: $126,299 – $135,101 per annum plus 15.4% superannuation

Note: An employee will generally commence on the base increment point of their relevant classification salary range, unless otherwise agreed by a delegate in consideration of salary matching (existing APS staff) or in recognition of exceptional skills, experience, qualifications or expertise.

Terms and conditions of employment are set out in the OAIC’s Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027.

The OAIC is committed to enabling its people to perform at their best and offers the following benefits:

• Opportunity to work at the cutting edge of privacy and data protection, paving the way for future career opportunities.
• Access to ongoing professional development, with a capability framework to guide skill enhancement.
• Genuine flexibility to help achieve a balance between work and home life.
• Additional paid leave over the Christmas to New Year period as well as access to other leave (e.g. for study or moving).
• Contribution to your wellbeing through subsidies for eye health, flu vaccinations and a wellbeing allowance.

The OAIC is committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage and welcome applications from people living with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and mature age people.

Eligibility

• Section 22 of the Public Service Act 1999 requires that APS employees must be Australian citizens.
• There are restrictions on employment of people who have, within the previous 12 months, accepted a redundancy benefit from an APS agency or a non-APS Commonwealth employer.
• For the duration of your employment with the OAIC you will be required to obtain and maintain an Australian Government security clearance as outlined above and meet required background, identification and character checks.
• All duties are to be performed in accordance with the APS Code of Conduct and APS Values and OAIC policies, including Workplace Diversity and Work Health and Safety. Under section 25 of the Public Service Act 1999 the OAIC may re-assign the duties of an employee from time to time.

How to apply

1. Please complete the application form found at the end of this job pack as part of your submission.
2. Please provide a single page application response (one A4 page-pitch) addressing your interest, motivation and fit for the role. Your pitch should include the use of practical and professional examples as relevant to the role and the job specific capabilities, skills and experience outlined above.
3. Please email your application form, CV (maximum 3 pages) and one-page-pitch as three separate documents to: jobs@oaic.gov.au.
   Please format your email subject line and name your application document(s) as follows:
   First name Last Name - OAIC-2026-017 – APS6/EL1, Communications and Engagement