Classification: Senior Officer Grade C
Salary: $127,597 - $136,873 plus superannuation
Position No: 17860
Directorate: Education
Advertised (Gazettal date): 06 August 2026
Contact Officer: Michelle Dunne Breen on [email protected] or 0403 846 380
Details: The Education Directorate’s Communications and Engagement team is seeking an engagement-focussed Assistant Director to join us for maternity leave cover. We are a passionate, collaborative, and high-performing team, looking for an enthusiastic person keen to hit the ground running.
This position provides communications and engagement support across a range of school infrastructure projects from new school builds, modernisations and expansions and the school maintenance program. This work is part of the ACT Government’s $800 million investment in ACT public school infrastructure. This position also provides support across the wider communications and engagement team when needed.
DIRECTORATE OVERVIEW
The Education Directorate delivers quality public school and early childhood education to
shape every child’s future and lay the foundation for lifelong development and learning.
We deliver high-quality education across 91 public schools educating more than 50,000 students from early childhood through to year 12.
Our workforce consists of more than 8000 staff, including 7200 school-based staff.
We also regulate the early childhood sector and register non-government schools in the ACT. Our Strategic Plan 2022-2025 explains our vision, mission, values and strategic focus.
BRANCH AND TEAM OVERVIEW
The Communications and Engagement team leads the internal and external communications priorities and strategy for the Education Directorate.
We build trust and confidence in the ACT Education Directorate and ACT public education through engaging, informative, and compelling communications.
Working closely with Education Support Office line areas and ACT public schools, the team devises targeted communication and engagement strategies and campaigns to deliver the right message, to the right people, via the right channel, at the right time.
The Assistant Directors play key roles in telling the stories of the students and staff working in ACT public schools; our commitment to equity and inclusion for all students; engaging with school communities and the wider community in programs and policies that affect them; and celebrating the significant investment from the ACT Government to build, upgrade and expand public schools.
THE ROLE
Under broad direction of the Director Strategic Communications, or Director Communications and Engagement – Infrastructure, and Senior Director Communications and Engagement, you will:
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Develop, implement and evaluate communications and engagement strategies for public-facing audiences to support business priorities and outcomes.
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Produce high-quality content for a range of audiences supporting communications strategies for directorate projects and programs such as promotional copy, media releases and content for digital channels both owned and external.
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Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders including line areas, schools, Education Support Office staff and senior executives.
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Provide advice and support to directorate line areas about best-practice communications, encouraging innovation and efficiency.
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Work with directorate line areas to streamline and produce quality, accessible content for the Education Directorate website.
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Work as part of the broader Communications and Engagement team, fostering a positive and supportive culture.
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Understand and work within the ACTPS Code of Conduct and ACTPS values of respect, integrity, collaboration and innovation, and model behaviour consistent with the ACTPS Respect Equity and Diversity framework.
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Support and participate in best-practice communications and engagement response at the Public Information Coordination Centre (PICC) in times of a Territory emergency.
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Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification that contribute to the directorate.
We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where people with diverse thoughts, lived experience, and perspectives can thrive and contribute their unique talents to the ACTPS and ACT community. We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, veterans, younger and older workers, and people with diverse genders, sexes and sexualities to apply.
Eligibility/Other Requirements:
COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS
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Prior to commencement, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a pre-employment National Police Check.
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Qualifications in the fields of communications and engagement and/or IAP2 are highly desirable.
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All team members of the Communication and Engagement team are required to hold a Working with Vulnerable People card.
Note: This is a temporary position available from 1 October 2026 until 30 September 2027 for a period of 12 months.
An order of merit will be established from this selection process and may be used to fill future identical vacancies over the next 12 months.
This position will be filled on application, interview and referee reports.
How to Apply: Please supply a two-page pitch addressing the Selection Criteria, along with your curriculum vitae and the contact details of two referees.
SELECTION CRITERIA
In a two-page pitch, please address the following criteria:
Behavioural Capabilities
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Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering communication and engagement strategies including establishing priorities and managing associated issues.
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Ability to collaborate and negotiate effectively with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
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Display behaviours that are consistent with the ACTPS values of Respect, Integrity, Collaboration and Innovation.
Professional / Technical Skills and Knowledge
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Excellent communication skills (oral and written) with the ability to communicate complex topics in plain English for a variety of audiences.
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Highly developed interpersonal and liaison skills, with the ability to work with a diverse range of stakeholders and as part of a team.
High-level organisational skills with the capacity to work under pressure and meet tight timeframes.
Applications should be submitted .
Note: Under the ACTPS employment framework you may be placed in another role where required for the efficient administration of the service.
Where an offer of employment is for a fixed-term period, any related temporary contracts within the Territory will be issued in compliance with the requirements and applicable exceptions outlined in the Fair Work Act.
The ACT public service is committed to closing the gap, underpinned by the belief that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services that affect them, better life outcomes are achieved. More information can be found here ACT Closing the Gap Implementation Plan - ACT Government Transparency Portal.
#LI-DNI
This is a temporary position available from 1 October 2026 until 30 September 2027 for a period of 12 months.
