The Uniting Church in Australia is seeking a highly skilled National Manager, Media and Communications to manage implantation the strategy for media and communications. This is a unique opportunity to work at the heart of a national faith-based organisation, enabling leadership across governance, pastoral presence, and public representation.

About the Role

The Uniting Church in Australia is seeking a highly skilled National Manager, Media and Communications to provide leadership and manage the implantation the strategy for media and communications. This is a unique opportunity to work at the heart of a national faith-based organisation, enabling leadership across governance, pastoral presence, and public representation.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the Assembly Strategic Plan, leading and advising on national communications.
• Lead of a high performing team that engages regularly, strategically and in innovative ways to grow internal and external audiences and effectively communicates the Assembly’s role, vision, work and values.
• Be the communications lead for high level strategic advice and input on media issues, including crisis media management, government relations and organisational risk
• Support Assembly leaders, particularly the President and General Secretary, to make timely and effective contributions to the national UCA audience and wider public discourse.
• Develop a pro-active media strategy and maintain constructive relationships with media.
• Be the communications lead for the Triennial Assembly, which encompasses developing and managing of the Triennial Assembly Communications plan and publish content during the meeting.
• Advise and oversee strategy and management for Assembly websites.
• Develop and strengthen effective relationships and collaboration across the agencies of the church, particularly between Assembly, Synod and agency communications teams.
• Undertake additional duties as directed by the President.

About You

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Media or Communications and/or another relevant discipline
• Experience in developing a strategic approach and offering leadership in media and communications for a complex organisation with multiple stakeholders on a national level.
• Experience in providing high level advice and guidance to senior executives in relation to issues management, media and communication.
• Experience in leading a high performing team and building media and communications capacity within an organisation.
• Highly developed relational skills and the ability to work with organisational complexity and across cultures to develop effective working relationships and outcomes.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive, collaborative relationships with other Assembly employees and all Councils of the Church, including its agencies and partners.
• A high-level understanding of the Australian media landscape and political system and experience in engaging with government and public policy.
• Detailed understanding of regulatory compliance for publication in respect of copyright, privacy and other areas and the ability to develop policies that guide organisational compliance and external engagement.
• Excellent copywriting and editorial skills and the ability to write/produce online content through a range of channels.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of the UCA, its councils, its theology and commitment to social justice and its approach to public policy debate.
• Experience in the Church or not for profit sector.

Why Join Us?

The Uniting Church in Australia – National Assembly offers a collaborative, values-driven work environment with a strong sense of purpose. We support work-life balance and professional growth through:

• A hybrid work culture.
• A convenient CBD-based office location.
• Opportunities for ongoing learning and development.
• Being part of a diverse and inclusive organisation committed to justice, reconciliation, and service.
• A supportive team environment that encourages innovation, initiative, and continuous improvement.
• The chance to contribute meaningfully to the mission and work of the Uniting Church in Australia and its partner agencies.

About Uniting Church and the National Assembly

The Uniting Church is one of the largest Christian denominations in Australia. Across the country more than 1,500 congregations worship at a Uniting Church including many congregations that worship in languages other than English. Our churches can be found deep in the heart of our cities, rural towns and regional and extended regions of Australia. The Uniting Church is organised not by a hierarchy, but by groups of people, lay and ordained, meeting together, usually making decisions by consensus, in each area of the Church's life. Alongside this we have a network of community services across 1,600 sites nationwide.

The Assembly is the national council of the Church, led by the President of the Uniting Church, with a General Secretary as chief executive officer. It has three agencies:. Frontier Services supports our ministry in remote Australia, UnitingCare Australia supports advocacy work of the network of community service agencies of the Church and UnitingWorld which leads our relief and development work, particularly in Asia and the Pacific.

The Assembly leads the national work of the Uniting Church in areas of theology, public advocacy, international and ecumenical relationships, governance and regulations and promoting the mission of the Church. It also works closely with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress as part of our covenant relationship.

How to Apply

Applications close Friday 28 November.

Send enquiries and applications to Suzanne Urquhart: suzanneu@nswact.uca.org.au