Job No: PSC2222643
Location: Parkes
Employment Status: Full-Time No. of Vacancies: 1 Closing Date: 6 Sep 2026 AEST
Lead Council's communication, engagement and grants functions and help shape how we connect with our community
Provide strategic advice that strengthens Council's reputation, builds community trust and supports informed decision-making
Identify opportunities to secure external funding and advocate for projects that deliver meaningful outcomes for our community
Enjoy a competitive salary circa $108,951 - $125,293 plus superannuation and a range of great benefits with salary negotiable for an exceptional candidate
About the Opportunity
Parkes Shire Council is seeking an experienced Manager Communications and Grants to lead Council's communications, community engagement, grants and advocacy functions.
This is a key leadership role providing trusted, high-level advice to the Mayor, General Manager and Executive Leadership Team on communications, community sentiment, emerging issues, media, stakeholder engagement and reputational risk.
You will lead Council’s approach to communicating with and engaging the community, ensuring our messaging is clear, contemporary and aligned with Council’s priorities. You will also oversee Council’s strategic approach to external funding and advocacy, identifying opportunities to secure investment that supports the delivery of priorities within Council’s Integrated Planning and Reporting framework.
Working collaboratively across the organisation, you will lead a high-performing team, build strong relationships with key stakeholders and drive continuous improvement in how Council communicates, engages and connects with the community.
More specifically, your responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Lead Council’s Communications and Engagement function and deliver contemporary strategies aligned with Council’s strategic priorities.
Provide trusted strategic advice to the Mayor, General Manager and Executive Leadership Team on communications, media, community sentiment, emerging issues and reputational risks.
Lead effective community and stakeholder engagement, building strong relationships across the community, government, media, industry and key partners.
Oversee Council’s internal and external communications, media relations, digital channels, key messaging and issues and crisis communications.
Use community insights, media monitoring and digital analytics to measure effectiveness and continuously improve Council’s communication and engagement practices.
Lead Council’s strategic approach to external grants and advocacy, identifying funding opportunities and overseeing high-quality grant applications.
Manage and develop the Communications and Grants Team, fostering collaboration, capability and a high-performing culture.
About You
You will bring strong strategic communications expertise, exceptional stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to confidently operate in a senior leadership environment. More specifically, you will bring:
Relevant tertiary qualifications in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, Business or a related discipline.
Significant experience in strategic communications, community engagement, media relations and/or stakeholder management.
Demonstrated experience providing high-level strategic advice to senior executives and elected officials.
Strong understanding of reputation management, issues management, media and crisis communications.
Proven ability to develop and implement effective communication and engagement strategies that build trust and support organisational priorities.
Demonstrated experience identifying and securing external funding, with knowledge of government grants and advocacy highly regarded.
Exceptional written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages for diverse audiences.
Strong political and organisational awareness, sound judgement and the ability to confidently manage sensitive and emerging issues.
Proven leadership experience, with the ability to develop a collaborative, responsive and high-performing team.
A proactive and innovative approach to improving communication, engagement and organisational capability.
Additionally, the following skills and background will be highly valued:
Demonstrated understanding of grant application processes in the NSW public sector, preferably in Local Government context
Completion of IAP2 Certificate of Engagement
Additional qualification in leadership and management or related field.
Knowledge of the role, functions, and responsibilities of Local Government.
Benefits
The appointment will be in accordance with the Local Government (State) Award and Parkes Shire Council's policies and conditions of employment.
The role has been evaluated as being Grade 17 of the Council's salary structure and offers a competitive salary circa $108,951 - $125,293 (depending on skills and experience) plus super and salary packaging options to increase your take-home pay. Salary may be negotiable for an exceptional candidate.
Benefits of working at Council include:
Fortnightly Rostered Day Off (RDO)
Superannuation 12%
Four weeks of Annual Leave per year
One week of My Leave per year
Access to Long Service Leave after five years
Access to salary packaging options through Salary Packaging Australia (SPA)
Wellness Programs and Health and Wellbeing initiatives
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Flexible working arrangements available
Relocation assistance includes 40% reimbursement of removalist costs upon commencement and a further 40% reimbursement after 18 months of service.
Relaxed regional lifestyle
Work/Life balance
And more!
In addition, we value work-life balance and offer opportunities for training and professional development. We encourage and support our employees in further developing their knowledge, skills, and capabilities through tuition fee support and study days for employees studying towards tertiary or vocational qualifications.
Parkes Shire Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer that fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion. We welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds and experiences, as we believe in building an inclusive work environment that reflects the community we serve.
About Parkes Shire Council
Since its establishment in January 1981, Parkes Shire Council has earned a reputation as an innovative, progressive organisation with a proven ability to deliver outstanding outcomes for our community. As a two-time winner of the AR Bluett Memorial Award - the state's oldest and most prestigious local government award - we take pride in our culture of continuous improvement and excellence.
Embracing a LEAN philosophy across our organisation and operations, we're constantly looking at how we can do things better in order to maximise the value we deliver. We are committed to developing and retaining a skilled, energetic and professional workforce to ensure that we continue to provide the best possible services, facilities and infrastructure to our community.
We strive to provide a flexible, safe and inclusive work environment for our people, and are proud to have achieved formal accreditation under ISO 45001, the internationally recognised standard in Occupational Health and Safety.
If you're seeking a challenging and rewarding career, a range of lifestyle benefits, and an opportunity to contribute to a high-performing organisation, then we're the right place for you.
For more information, please visit our website: www.parkes.nsw.gov.au
Ready to Apply?
If you're ready to make a meaningful impact and join a team that values safety, innovation, and community, we'd love to hear from you. !
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Privacy Acknowledgment
Parkes Shire Council is collecting your personal information as part of the recruitment process. The information is collected under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW) and the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW).
Some of the information is required by law, if you choose not to provide it Council may be unable to proceed with your application. The information you provide will be used to assess your suitability for employment and may be shared with relevant staff involved in the recruitment process. Your information will be stored securely in our corporate recruitment software system, and will not be disclosed except as permitted by law or, where notice has been given or consent has been obtained.
You have a right to access and correct your personal information held by Council. Requests can be made by contacting Council via our email address
[email protected].
For more information on how Council collects and uses personal information please see the Privacy Statement on our website.
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