Communication and Engagement Manager

Ecotourism Australia

Ecotourism Australia is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation established in 1991 to support credible, responsible and sustainable tourism across Australia. As the national peak body for eco- and sustainable tourism, we are recognised globally for our industry standards and work with certified operators, destinations, members, government and industry partners to strengthen standards, build capability and champion tourism that benefits people, place and nature.

Role Specification

We are seeking an experienced communications and stakeholder strategist to join our team as Communication & Engagement Manager at a pivotal time for sustainable tourism. The successful candidate will bring strategic communications, corporate affairs and stakeholder engagement expertise, with the ability to translate organisational priorities into clear, compelling communications that support advocacy, certification, member and operator engagement, destination partnerships, events and strategic projects.

This role requires a confident communicator and collaborative leader who can work effectively with the CEO, leadership team and communications team to deliver consistent, high-quality communications across diverse audiences and channels. We are looking for someone who is values-aligned, highly organised and motivated by the opportunity to contribute to credible, responsible and sustainable tourism across Australia.

Key responsibilities

The Communications and Engagement Manager leads Ecotourism Australia’s communications and engagement function, ensuring communications strengthen the organisation’s reputation as Australia’s peak body for sustainable tourism, support organisational priorities and deliver value to members, certified operators, destinations, government and industry stakeholders.

Reporting to the Head of Sustainability, Assurance and Operations, this role works closely with the CEO and broader leadership team to translate organisational priorities into clear, engaging and consistent communications across all channels, including traditional and social media, issues management, government advocacy, certification communications, membership growth, strategic partnerships, conferences and events. The role also manages the Communications and Engagement Specialist and Communications Coordinator.

Communications Strategy

Develop and implement Ecotourism Australia's annual communications and engagement strategy.
Develop communication plans that support the Corporate Strategy and annual operational priorities.
Ensure communications consistently reinforce Ecotourism Australia's position as Australia's peak body for sustainable tourism.
Measure and report communication outcomes and recommend improvements.

Corporate Communications

Lead the delivery of all organisational communications and ensures Ecotourism Australia’s organisational information is delivered consistently and professionally.
Oversee media enquiries, media releases and proactive media opportunities.
Manage Ecotourism Australia's social media strategy and delivery.
Manage EDMs, newsletters, annual reports and corporate publications.
Manage engagement, applications and renewals of non-certified member categories, including business, individual, and corporate supporters
Management and ongoing improvement of the corporate website and consumer facing Green Travel Guide.
Manage website analytics, digital marketing and communication performance reporting, including analysis of website traffic, EDM performance, social media engagement and audience trends, and provide recommendations to improve reach, engagement and conversion outcomes.
Prepare key presentations, speeches and other supporting material for the CEO.
Develop communication collateral including presentations, speech notes, fact sheets, campaign material, and member resources.
Support crisis and issues communications as required.

Advocacy and Project Communications

Develop communication material supporting government advocacy priorities.
Prepare communication collateral for policy submissions, research reports and grant applications.
Coordinate communication activities associated with funded projects and organisational initiatives.
Translate technical information into accessible communications for industry audiences.
Undertake research and analyse industry trends, stakeholder insights, policy developments, tourism data, communication performance metrics and external reports to identify emerging issues, opportunities and risks.

Stakeholder Communications

Develop communication strategies that strengthen engagement with certified operators, destinations, members, partners and industry.
Coordinate targeted stakeholder communication campaigns supporting advocacy initiatives, certification programs, conferences, research projects and organisational priorities.
Ensure stakeholders receive timely, accurate and consistent information.
Support communication activities for strategic partnerships.

Events

Lead the planning, coordination and delivery of Ecotourism Australia's biennial Global Sustainable Tourism Summit, working collaboratively across the organisation to oversee program development, sponsorship and partnerships, speaker engagement, delegate experience, logistics, communications, budget oversight and stakeholder engagement to deliver successful strategic, commercial and reputational outcomes. Note: held bi-annually, next GSTS is in 2028
Lead communication planning for webinars, conferences, workshops and other Ecotourism Australia events.

Brand Management

Ensure a consistent organisational brand across all communication channels.
Maintain brand guidelines and communication standards.
Support event promotion and delegate communications.

Leadership

Lead and mentor the communications team.
Allocate work across the communications function.
Foster continuous improvement and innovation.
Build communication capability across the organisation.
Act as the organisational gatekeeper for communication quality and consistency.

The Communications & Engagement Manager may also be required to perform other ad hoc tasks, as required by the Chief Executive. This role will involve some travel and may require some out-of-hours work (eg media inquiries, attendance at events).

Selection Criteria

This role is suitable for a professional with a minimum five years' experience in strategic communications, corporate communications, public relations, corporate affairs or stakeholder engagement, including demonstrated experience leading a small communications team and delivering organisation-wide communication strategies.

Essential

A passion for environmentally sustainable and culturally responsible tourism, together with a demonstrated understanding of the visitor economy and the ability to translate complex sustainability and policy issues into clear, engaging communications for a range of audiences, including members, certified operators, destinations, industry stakeholders and media.
Demonstrated experience in strategic communication planning and execution (creating communication, engagement and campaign strategies to support organisational objectives)
Demonstrated experience in working with the media (preparation of media releases and content, media management)
Demonstrated experience in digital media and website management
Exceptional writing and editing skills
Ability to analyse issues and prepare informed, considered communication to support policy proposals and position papers
Highly organised with the ability to manage a portfolio of projects/programs
Team management skills and leadership of a small team
Tertiary qualifications in Communications, Public Relations, Tourism, Business or related field
Must possess the right to work in Australia.

Preferred

Experience in the tourism industry or the broader visitor economy sector
An understanding of certification/accreditation programs (ideally Ecotourism Australia’s programs), or the ability to quickly attain this knowledge
Event management experience
Grant writing experience

At Ecotourism Australia, we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace. We value the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences that each individual brings. We welcome applications from people of all cultures, genders, sexual orientations, ages, and abilities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. We strive to create a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where everyone can thrive.

Applications close at 5pm AEST on 31 July 2026. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may begin before the closing date. To apply, please send a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) addressing the selection criteria, alongside your CV to ***email_hidden*** (do not use the “apply now” function).