Communications Officer

Salary:                                  $1,598.15pw plus 11% Superannuation

Position Status:                   Permanent Full Time

Hours of Work:                    8am to 4:45pm, 35hour week working a nine day fortnight 

Closing Date:                       5.00pm Sunday 26 May 2024  

About Cowra & Council

Cowra is located within beautiful Central NSW on the banks of the Lachlan River. It is approximately one hour from the regional hubs of Bathurst and Orange, two hours from Canberra and four hours from Sydney. The town is situated at the intersection of three state highways; the Mid-Western Highway, the Olympic Highway and the Lachlan Valley Way, making it a central hub for travel, freight and logistics.

Covering 2810 square kilometres, the shire includes a number of small villages which feed into the Cowra township and contribute to the shires’ agricultural and cultural growth. These villages include Billimari, Darbys Falls, Gooloogong, Morongla, Noonbinna, Wattamondara, Woodstock and Wyangala. Cowra is a town with deep historical ties to Japan and is regarded as a centre for peace. Its public identity became a part of World War II history with the Cowra Breakout of 1944. This tragic event in the town’s history led Cowra to focus on promoting the values of friendship and reconciliation, something which the town still projects today.

Not only is Cowra a historical town, it is a town with a love for food and wine. It is surrounded by vineyards and grazing rich farmlands with quality restaurants and cafes, and also includes endless water and camping opportunities with Wyangala Dam only a short drive away. Cowra is a growing community with a number of primary and high school education options, health centres, sporting clubs, community groups and limitless weekend activities. It is the perfect place to raise a family, study, work or retire.

Cowra Council employs over 200 full time equivalent staff, our vision is to be a leading, innovative and creative community, proud of our place in history and offering opportunity with the best of country living. The region enjoys a range of economic, social, educational and health services with a welcoming community that embraces new members from all backgrounds. We strive to provide, maintain and extend Council services to improve the quality of life for residents throughout the Shire. We aim to actively lead, facilitate and foster sustainable development and wealth generating opportunities through agricultural, industrial, commercial and tourism growth.

About the Opportunity 

Council is seeking a communications specialist to join our team! This position will work independently and plays a key role in promoting and sharing Council services, activities and events through various print and media platforms.

In this role you will identify, develop and implement a range of proactive communication activities across a diverse range of portfolios. You will develop communications for a variety of audiences and channels including newsletters, website, social media, press releases, media kits and more. You must be able to juggle multiple priorities, think strategically and have great people management skills not to mention exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

To be successful in this role you’ll have a tertiary qualification in communications with experience in a similar role. You will have well developed digital media and design skills and be able to demonstrate exceptional written communication skills and the ability to work within tight deadlines. You will need to be customer oriented and thrive in a continually evolving and innovative environment. This position requires you to be proactive in building relationships with various stakeholders. Applicants must possess a current Class C Driver Licence and have the ability to work flexible hours as required to ensure the appropriate communications coverage at Council events including weekends and public holidays.

Position Details

• $1,598.15pw plus 11% Superannuation

• 8am to 4:45pm, 35hour week working a nine day fortnight

• Employment conditions are in accordance with the Local Government (State) Award

• Candidates must have the right to live and work in Australia to apply for this position

Position Description

Please click on the link for a full copy of the Position Description.

For further enquiries please contact General Manager, Paul Devery on 0407 674 489.

How to Apply

Before you apply for this position, please read the position description carefully to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position. You will be required to answer questions relating to the selection criteria on the online application below, your answers will be accessed and rated, so please ensure you take time in providing your answers and give examples of demonstrated experience when requested as well as supplying details of Certificates, Licences and Tickets.  

You will also be asked to attach your current resume which should include two employment related referees. Please note that you cannot submit your application without attaching your resume. A cover letter is not mandatory, however may be added if so desired.

Cowra Council is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion.  If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise at time of application.  

Applications Close: 5.00pm Sunday 26 May 2024

Pre-employment Screening

In the event you are shortlisted for an interview, and are then selected to progress to the next stage following interview, you must be prepared to undergo the following pre-employment screening processes as part of the selection process:

• A pre-employment physical examination, including hearing, drug & alcohol assessments.
• Please include two referees in your resume for reference checking purposes - please ensure your referee details are current.
• Provide the applicable Working with Children Check number if the role applied for requires a Working with Children Check.
• Council may also check authenticity of certificates and qualifications.

Privacy Statement

As part of the recruitment process, Cowra Shire Council will be collecting information about you. This information is private information for the purposes of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act. This information will be included in the recruitment file and only accessed by members of the Recruitment Selection Panel. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

Council aims to ensure fair, equitable and non-discriminatory consideration for all applicants, regardless of sex, ethnic or racial origin, or physical disability.