Communications and External Affairs Manager 

The role  

The Communications and External Affairs Manager is a senior role responsible for shaping, strengthening and safeguarding the reputation and public voice of Greater Melbourne Foundation. The role leads brand, communications, external affairs and advocacy positioning to advance the Foundation’s purpose, as outlined in Strategy 2030. 

The role is accountable for strengthening reputation and relevance across key audiences, ensuring the Foundation is recognised as a trusted civic voice and leader in effective philanthropy for social justice and equity. It builds public understanding and trust in the Foundation, helping to create the conditions for participation in community philanthropy and growth of funds under management. 

Key responsibilities 

• Lead the Foundation’s communications across brand, media, content and external affairs, ensuring a clear, consistent and credible public voice 
• Develop and deliver strategic communications and engagement that builds public awareness, understanding and trust in the Foundation, its purpose and its role in Greater Melbourne 
• Lead and deliver external affairs across three distinct tiers (foundation leadership, sector enablement, and community impact) with the appropriate approach and level of proactivity for each 
• Work closely with the Impact Team to ensure external affairs activity reflects community need, lived experience and the issues affecting Greater Melbourne, and with the Narratives and Storytelling Lead to ensure narratives support external and public affairs goals 
• Manage media relations, proactive media engagement, issues management and reputational risk response 
• Translate internal content, research and community insight into external-facing communications for media, the Foundation’s supporter community and the public 
• Support and advise the CEO and senior leaders on public positioning, including messaging, speeches, media engagement and reputation risks 
• Lead and develop a small team and external contractors, setting clear priorities and ensuring coordinated delivery across all the Foundation’s communication channels 

Key selection criteria  

• Strong capability in developing and delivering strategic communications that drive public awareness, build trust and create the conditions for audience growth and participation  
• Deep understanding of external and public affairs, including experience designing and delivering multi-tiered approaches spanning organisational leadership, sector advocacy and elevation of community voice 
• Experience in external affairs and issues-based communications, including managing proactive and reactive media, public commentary and reputational risk 
• Experience developing and using communications to support revenue or growth objectives, including building pipelines, shifting audience perception or increasing engagement and participation 
• Proven success growing an organisation’s media footprint and established relationships with a network of media contacts 
• Ability to translate complex information, including social impact or organisational strategy, into clear and accessible messages for public audiences  
• Demonstrated ability to advise and support senior leaders on public positioning, messaging and communications strategy 
• Experience leading small teams and managing external suppliers, with strong capability to manage planning, workflow and delivery 

How to apply 

Please send a copy of your CV and a cover letter addressing the selection criteria to [email protected] by 5:00pm Monday 1 June 2026. 

For more information related to this role, please contact Caroline Sheehan, Business Consultant.  

P: 0466 354 357 

E: [email protected]