Communications and External Affairs Manager

Greater Melbourne Foundation has five new roles to fill!

At the heart of our work is a commitment to social justice and equity.

We bring together the passion of supporters, the insight of communities, and our own experience to strengthen the collective effort to drive change where it is most needed.

If you have the skills we’re looking for and want to help create a fairer future for Greater Melbourne, we’d love to hear from you.

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

How to apply

Please visit greatermelbournefoundation.org.au/careers to access a copy of the Position Description.

Please send a copy of your CV and a cover letter addressing the selection criteria to ***email_hidden*** by 5:00pm Monday 1 June 2026. Applications submitted via the LinkedIn 'InApply' function will not be considered.

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

P: 0466 354 357

E: [email protected]