Engagement and Communications Officer

Shape your future. Serve your community. Belong to something bigger.

At Lismore City Council, we are delivering one of the most significant regional reconstruction efforts in Australia. Our Flood Restoration Portfolio (FRP) is a multi-year, once-in-a-career program rebuilding the community’s essential infrastructure following the 2022 natural disaster events, restoring essential roads, bridges, drainage, water and public infrastructure across the Lismore region. Lismore’s Northern Rivers location fosters an ideal work-life balance. It offers lush farmland, beautiful parks, a World Heritage-listed rainforest to explore, great restaurants, a diverse arts and cultural scene, and more—all just a stone’s throw from the Gold Coast, Ballina, and Byron Bay.

Today, Lismore is flourishing, and it's the perfect time to embrace and celebrate everything that makes the regional city so unique, while also being directly involved in shaping its future.

The Opportunity

We’re looking for an experienced Engagement \& Communications Officer who can take complex technical information and turn it into clear, engaging communications that keep our community, stakeholders and project teams informed. You’ll work closely with Project Managers, Contractors, and operational teams to communicate and manage project impacts, milestones and benefits while building strong relationships with residents, and key stakeholders. If you’re passionate about community engagement and enjoy working in a fast-paced infrastructure environment, we’d love to hear from you.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop and deliver communication and stakeholder engagement plans for civil infrastructure projects
• Work closely with Project Managers and contractors to understand project impacts and milestones
• Coordinate and oversee timely community notifications, media content, project updates and digital communications
• Translate technical and engineering information into clear, community-friendly content
• Build positive relationships with residents, businesses, government agencies and key stakeholders
• Support consultation activities, community meetings and stakeholder briefings
• Monitor community feedback and provide practical communication advice to project teams
• Ensure communications align with Council policies, legislative requirements and best practice.

What you'll need to be successful

• Tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline (i.e., Communications, community engagement, or Project management) is essential
• 5+ years of experience in project management, ideally on large-scale ground engineering projects
• Has experience in communications, stakeholder engagement or community relations
• Ability to manage contractors to meet timelines and quality of deliverables
• Can confidently simplify complex technical information into plain language
• Builds trusted relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Is organised and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Has excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Is comfortable working with technical professionals including engineers, contractors and project managers
• Thrives in a collaborative, solutions-focused environment

Please review theposition descriptionand use your resume and application responses to demonstrate your ability to fulfil the position's responsibilities.

Additional details

• Term Contract: contractedhours of work 35 hours a week/70 hours a fortnight up to 31 December 2027.
• Closing date: Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate pool is established.
• Location: The position will be primarily at our Flood Portfolio Office in Lismore. Flexible work options are available, working within operational requirements.
• Contact: If you would like to learn more about this opportunity, please don't hesitate to contact Jennifer McEwen, HR Business Partner, at 0428 522 907.
• Conditions of Employment: Conditions of employment are in the Local Government (State) Award and relevant Council policy, procedures, and agreements.
• Pre-employment Screening: Before employment, there may be a series of pre-employment checks that may include health assessments, validation of the right to work in Australia, validation of qualifications and licences, criminal history checks, psychometric assessments, and referee checks.
• Future Opportunities: This recruitment exercise may be utilised for vacancies and the possible establishment of a merit list for future opportunities within six months.

LismoreCity Council is a proud employer of a diverse workforce, welcoming applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those with disabilities. We are committed to fostering a diverse, flexible, and inclusive workplace that reflects the community we serve. We also welcome discussions about how our roles can be undertaken flexibly. Adjustments can be made throughout the application and selection process to support disabled applicants. If you would like to discuss adjustments, don't hesitate to get in touch with the People and Culture team on 02 6625 0500 or email [email protected]