• Highly regarded national organisation
• Empowering culture with WFH flexibility
• Full-time role offering competitive salary plus salary packaging

Eating Disorders Families Australia (EDFA) is the only national organisation providing support, education, advocacy and counselling solely for carers and families impacted by an eating disorder. Supported by a highly engaged Board and driven by lived experience, EDFA is entering an exciting new phase of national growth and influence.

As part of a newly established Executive Leadership Team, this newly created Head of Stakeholder Engagement role offers a rare opportunity to help shape the future direction of the organisation and make the position truly your own. Working closely with the Executive Director, you will lead EDFA’s external engagement strategy across partnerships, philanthropy, government relations, media, communications, advocacy and stakeholder engagement, while providing leadership and strategic direction to the Marketing & Communications and Partnerships functions.

This is a strategic leadership role for someone who thrives on building relationships, identifying opportunities, influencing change and elevating organisational impact. You will play a key role in strengthening EDFA’s national profile, sustainability and influence while leading high-performing external engagement functions across a fully remote national organisation.

When you join EDFA, you will receive a competitive salary, not-for-profit salary packaging benefits, flexible remote working arrangements, and the opportunity to contribute to meaningful national change for families impacted by eating disorders.

Duties:

Strategic Stakeholder Leadership

• Develop and oversee EDFA’s stakeholder engagement strategy.
• Identify, cultivate and steward high‑value strategic relationships.
• Support organisational positioning with government, philanthropy, sector leaders, media stakeholders, and major partners.
• Ensure organisation‑wide coordination of engagement activities to maintain consistency, alignment and strategic impact.

Strategic Media and Reputation Management

• Lead EDFA’s strategic media engagement and reputation management approach.
• Identify proactive media opportunities aligned with advocacy and organisational priorities.
• Support the Executive Director in media preparation, messaging, and spokesperson activities.
• Lead coordinated responses to sensitive, high‑profile or reputationally significant external issues.
• Oversee reputational risk management relating to public communications.
• Build and maintain relationships with key journalists, producers, and media stakeholders.
• Ensure media activity aligns with advocacy, partnerships, campaigns, and government engagement priorities.

Oversight and Coordination

• Provide strategic coordination between:
  • Marketing and communications.
  • Partnerships / fundraising.
  • Advocacy.
  • Media & public relations.
  • Government relations.
  • Events and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Ensure alignment of messaging, engagement priorities, campaigns and external activities across all external‑facing teams.
• Support a coordinated and consistent external voice for EDFA.

Government and Sector Relations

• Coordinate parliamentary and government engagement activities for the Executive Director.
• Drive strategic advocacy initiatives and manage high‑level sector and government relationships.
• Maintain relationships with sector coalitions and strategic partners with Executive Director.
• Assist with briefing materials, stakeholder communications, and engagement planning for the Executive Director.

Philanthropy and Strategic Partnerships

• Work with the National Partnerships Manager on major partnership and philanthropic opportunities.
• Identify strategic growth opportunities and long-term relationship development.
• Support cultivation of high-value stakeholders, donors, and supporters.
• Contribute to strategic funding and relationship development planning.

Organisational Representation

• Represent EDFA externally where appropriate.
• Attend stakeholder meetings, sector forums, media opportunities, and events when required.
• Support strategic event planning and engagement opportunities.
• Help elevate EDFA’s national profile and visibility.

Internal Strategy and Executive Support

• Help translate organisational priorities into coordinated external engagement activity.
• Support the Executive Director with strategic relationship management, media engagement, and stakeholder follow-up.
• Contribute to organisational planning and reputation management.
• Improve coordination and communication across external-facing functions.

Quality & Safety

• Ensure all communications, content, and interactions reflect EDFA’s commitment to safe, high‑quality support for families and carers.
• Follow EDFA’s Code of Conduct, policies and procedures, including privacy, child safety, and ethical communication guidelines.
• Identify and report any risks, issues, or incidents that may impact service quality, organisational reputation, or community safety.
• Contribute to ongoing improvement of communication processes, digital systems, and resources.
• Uphold the National Child Safe Standards in all work, particularly when creating or sharing content involving or relating to young people.
• Maintain a safe and compliant remote working environment.

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

Essential

The Head of Stakeholder Engagement should have an executive leadership background across marketing, communications or external stakeholder management gained in a not-for-profit / social enterprise environment or demonstrate the capability to adapt their commercial skill sets to a vibrant and successful not-for-profit.

• Senior experience in stakeholder engagement, partnerships, philanthropy, communications, fundraising, or government relations.
• Strong relationship-building and influencing capability.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders and executives.
• Experience working in the political environment at a senior level.
• Understanding of the NFP, mental health, or health sector.
• Experience developing funding or partnership opportunities.
• Strategic thinker with strong organisational skills.

Desired

• Lived experience as a carer of a person experiencing an eating disorder.
• Strong understanding of eating disorders and the impact on carers and families.
• Relevant tertiary level degree.

Personal Attributes

• Diplomacy and emotional intelligence.
• Highly collaborative.
• Values-driven and mission-aligned.
• Strong initiative and ability to work autonomously.
• Thrives in a fast‑paced, evolving, and mission‑driven environment.
• Able to balance operational detail with strategic priorities.