WHO WE ARE

Sarah Mansfield is the Victorian Greens first regional MP, elected to represent the region of Western Victoria at the 2022 state election. Sarah is the spokesperson for Water, Health, Mental Health, Local Government, Agriculture, and Rural and Regional Communities.

Our office team is small, collaborative, nimble and strategic. We are innovative and driven to achieve good results for our community, intersecting with the big issues we care about, like climate change, housing, healthy communities and better outcomes for our regions. Positive attitudes, good organisation skills, and great attention to detail helps us succeed.

THE ROLE

Communications and Media

• Manage and build Sarah’s profile in Western Victoria and identify ways to connect with new audiences and grow our supporter base.
• Execute all communications in line with our overall office strategy and values.
• Oversee the daily content creation/posting/scheduling for Sarah’s social media channels.
• Create engaging and original content for Sarah through various media/software for posting across major social media platforms (consistent with parliament’s rules for communications).
• Identify and respond to traditional media opportunities and coordinate with the State Leader’s Office media advisor to pitch stories and engage with media outlets, including regional media outlets.
• Lead on Sarah’s digital communications across email, social media, digital advertising and website content. This includes monthly supporter emails and maintaining and updating Sarah’s website.
• Write emails to communicate with constituents and create content to support Sarah’s portfolio work.
• Collaborate with peers in other MP’s offices to create content that can be used by all MP’s.
• Prepare concepts and content for flyers, emails, speaking events, mail-outs and social media to amplify local campaigns and events.
• Identify opportunities for providing regional insights and perspectives on various issues and work closely with staff in other MPs offices to ensure our work is strategic, coordinated and effective.
• Coordinate digital and static advertising opportunities across Western Victoria and assist in developing communications that are compliant with the Parliament of Victoria’s advertising guidelines.
• Provide communications and hands-on support for office events when needed.
• Maintain strict confidentiality on all issues associated with the office and your duties.

Advocacy coordination

• Develop and coordinate issues-based advocacy that engages supporters and volunteers in key parts of Western Victoria. This includes identifying strategic opportunities, working with local stakeholders and supporting the development and implementation of advocacy strategies.
• Engage with local communities and stakeholder groups to understand their issues, and look for ways Sarah can advocate for them.
• Brief and advise Sarah on emerging community concerns, local issues and campaigns.
• Identify opportunities to support existing local issues campaigns and amplify Sarah’s advocacy.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and community partners relevant to advocacy
• Contribute to state-wide issues advocacy by providing regional insights and perspectives, and practical assistance.
• Work with the Community Engagement Officer to organise and promote community events such as town halls, forums, pop-up offices and other engagement activities in key locations across Western Victoria.
• Work with the Community Engagement Officer to connect more people with the work of our office.

EXPERIENCE

We are looking for someone who is a strong writer and a clear communicator. You will need good knowledge of various digital media platforms and ability to use them effectively to maximise engagement. The role requires the ability to maintain positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, have sound judgement and ensure the office values are upheld at all times.

Our team needs someone who is organised, driven, reliable, efficient, flexible, innovative, enthusiastic and can work independently as well as part of a small, fast-moving team.

While formal qualifications are beneficial, we are looking for someone who is willing to learn by doing, embrace new opportunities for engagement and action, and is passionate about achieving political change.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Demonstrated:

• Values Alignment: A commitment to the Greens policies, charter and core values - ecological sustainability, grassroots participatory democracy, social justice and peace and non-violence - and a passion for our movement.
• Skills in planning, creating and posting inventive, clear and persuasive digital content across all major social media platforms.
• Concise and persuasive written communication skills across a broad range of formats, and for varied and diverse audiences. e.g. media releases, blogs, ad copy writing, journalism, emails.
• Skills in working with a variety of stakeholders in planning issues-based advocacy to achieve outcomes for the community

Bonus Points for:

• Advanced skills in filming (and equipment), production, editing and with relevant software to create content.
• Skills and experience in building a communications plan, managing a communication budget, and monitoring and evaluating communications’ effectiveness.
• Skills in advocacy to the government to achieve policy changes.
• Enthusiasm, flexibility and adaptability in professional work.

TERMS & SALARY

• 0.7 (3.5 days) FTE ongoing, with additional casual hours up to full-time available (and as required)
• Grade 2.1 (pro-rata) as per the Parliament of Victoria’s Electorate Officer Salary Scale. Conditions of employment are pursuant to the Parliamentary Administration Act 2005 and the Electorate Officers (Victoria) Single Enterprise Agreement 2021. | Fair Work Commission (fwc.gov.au)
• Opportunity for one or two regular work-from-home days per week if desired, at least 2 days working from our office in Geelong expected.
• Family-friendly hours are available, however some out-of-hours work will be required (eg weekends, evenings). You can take time in lieu.
• Opportunity to join Sarah in Melbourne for sitting weeks (Tuesday - Thursday) with accommodation and meal costs covered.
• Electorate Officers are employees of the Victorian Parliament, directly accountable to the Member in whose electorate they are employed. Electorate Officers have a main role in supporting the Member, a position which requires a high degree of loyalty, versatility and the ability to maintain confidentiality on behalf of the Member and those who contact the office.
• Pursuant to section 30(5) of the Parliamentary Administration Act 2005, Electorate Officers are prohibited from performing ‘party-specific activity’ during the course of their employment. ‘Party specific’ activity means any activity for the dominant purpose of directing how a person should vote at an election by promoting or opposing the election of any candidate at the election; or a registered political party; or an elected member.
• Electorate Officers are bound by the Electorate Officer Code of Conduct and required to demonstrate the Electorate Officer Values in the performance of their duties.
• Employees are required to comply with all health, safety and risk management policies and procedures of the Parliament and take all reasonable care that any actions or omissions do not impact on the health and safety of others in the Parliament precinct.
• Please note: You will be required to provide a Working With Children Check (WWCC), National Police Check (NPC) and participate in a 15-minute confirmation interview with the Parliament of Victoria’s Department of Parliamentary Services

A position description is attached.