Strategic Communications Manager – Corporate Affairs

About us
We’re on a mission to create a brighter future, where you can be a change maker at the actual source. We’re one of Australia’s largest water utilities with over 30% of Victoria’s population relying on us for their essential water and sanitation services.

Our award-winning culture fosters an inclusive, collaborative, and flexible environment that enables our people to thrive. Here, you’ll be inspired and challenged to grow alongside us.

We're committed to reconciliation and supporting the self-determined role for Traditional Owners/Custodians in water and land management.

The role
Are you a strategic communications expert who thrives on delivering high-impact communications, managing reputational risks, and guiding senior stakeholders? As our Strategic Communications Manager – Corp Affairs, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping how Yarra Valley Water engages with its audiences across operational and project communications.

You will lead the development and delivery of strategic communications plans that support organisational priorities, projects, and innovation initiatives. You’ll collaborate with business units, project teams, and senior leaders to ensure messaging is clear, consistent, and aligned with our objectives, while proactively identifying risks and opportunities across both digital and traditional channels.

Your key responsibilities
Shape our story and bring our impact to life for our community. In this role you’ll:

• Take the lead on communications strategies that support major projects and organisational priorities.
• Give senior leaders and project teams clear, thoughtful advice on communications and stakeholder engagement.
• Spot reputational risks early and put practical steps in place to manage them.
• Look after our corporate writing style guide and make sure everything we produce is accessible, inclusive and easy to read.
• Write, edit and polish content across digital channels, print pieces and events.
• Guide stakeholder engagement planning, including work that involves Ministers and other high-profile audiences.
• Join our 24-hour on-call roster for emergencies and incidents. You’ll help prepare and deliver public information when needed, with an additional allowance for this duty.

What we’re looking for
You are a senior communications professional with a strategic mindset and the ability to manage complex issues while enhancing organisational reputation.

• Proven experience in strategic communications planning and delivery (7+ years)
• Advanced stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, including managing senior expectations
• Strong research, writing, editing, and content development skills
• Demonstrated ability to identify and manage reputational risks
• Experience with multiple communication and media channels, including traditional media, social media, digital, and events
• Ability to influence and collaborate effectively across teams and management levels
• Tertiary qualifications in communications, journalism, or media; post-graduate qualifications highly desirable
• Self-directed, strategic thinker with excellent initiative, judgement, and project management skills

Why Yarra Valley Water?
We celebrate and encourage new thinking at every level. Creating opportunities for you to grow – both professionally, and personally. When you flourish, we all do.

• $152,582 TRP (inclusive of 12% superannuation)
• Flexible working arrangements where our people are empowered to design their days with their team. Read our hybrid playbook HERE.
• Free and secure on-site parking with on-site café at our Mitcham office
• 14 weeks paid leave parental leave
• 15 days paid personal leave, which can be used for caring, wellbeing, mental health, menstrual or menopause
• Request to swap certain public holidays for another day of paid leave

To read more about our benefits and culture, read our employee handbook HERE.

Did you know?
Research shows that men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, while women and other marginalised people tend to only apply when they meet all of them. So, if you think you have what it takes, but don't necessarily tick every box, please apply or get in touch. We'd love to have a chat and see if you could be a great fit.

How to apply
Applications should include a supporting Cover Letter and Resume.
Closing date: Friday, 19th December 2025
This position is available for Yarra Valley Water employees and external applicants.

We welcome applications from everyone, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, mature age and young job seekers, members of the LGBTIQA+ community and people of all cultural backgrounds. If you need this information in an accessible format or would like to discuss reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. Please call 03 9872 2542 or email dei@yvw.com.au. If you need any help with the application process or would like to discuss the recruitment process, please contact us via email recruit@yvw.com.au.

Successful applicants must be eligible to work in Australia and agree to provide information for pre-employment checks, if required for the position. This may also include a Police Check or AusCheck, where an offer will be subject to a satisfactory outcome of these checks.