ABOUT THE GREAT BARRIER REEF FOUNDATION

Are you purpose driven and wanting to make a difference? Do you love working with smart and passionate people who are dedicated to creating impact for Australia’s most recognisable natural wonder? Do you long to work in a flexible and supportive workplace? We have the role for you!

At the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, we think big. We know the threats to coral reefs are too complex for one person or one solution to solve. That’s why we built a collaborative organisation to raise funds, invest in innovative ideas and design real-world, scalable conservation programs. We work in close partnership with communities, scientists, businesses and governments to do our work, in Australia and in the Pacific.

Our mission is to inspire action and wonder for coral reefs.

We collaborate with more than 600 dedicated partners on conservation projects in Australia and the Pacific. Our work is broad, but falls under our two overarching pillars: coral reef restoration, and island and coastal restoration. This is the critical decade for the world’s reefs. We cannot achieve our mission alone.

You could be the right fit for our team.

BENEFITS

Flexible working arrangements

Birthday Leave & recharge days

Paid parental leave for permanent roles

Additional leave offered over the Christmas break

Cultural, Religious and Ceremonial leave

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Opportunities to visit the Reef and volunteer within our programs

Option to purchase additional leave

Tailored induction program

Salary Packaging (Please note, the Foundation is an environmental charity and as such employees are not exempt from FBT for salary packaging for some expenses, therefore the staff member will be required to pay the FBT on the relevant expenses they chose to package)

ABOUT THE ROLE

We’re recruiting four new roles for the communications team to support the delivery of our bold new communications strategy. The organisation has recently undergone a period of significant change, and these roles are key to ensuring we can effectively engage our audiences, build our profile, and tell our story in fresh and impactful ways. This expanded team will bring new energy, skills, and perspectives to help us achieve our ambitions under our 2030 strategy.

Reporting to the Chief of Communications and Growth, the Director of Strategic Communications position is a key strategic role and pivotal to the future growth of GBRF and its ability to succeed in its mission and vision.

The Director of Strategic Communications is responsible for developing strategic communications plans while overseeing all brand, communication and advocacy efforts across the organisation. The role will work collaboratively with the Director of Fundraising and Director of Partnerships to provide leadership on delivering fundraising campaigns under a joint integrated communications and fundraising strategy, ensuring a consistent approach to converting brand awareness and engagement into new supporter and donor acquisition. The role will also work alongside the Directors across the Projects and Partnerships team to establish pillar level communication plans and ensuring appropriate communications support is provided to ensure communications deliverables meet donor expectations and align with GBRF’s 2030 strategy.

The Director leads a specialist communications team, that works closely with internal stakeholders to build and maintain an engaged community of supporters who champion the role that science and innovation play in coral reef protection and restoration, and move them along a conversion funnel to be active donors. The role will also work closely with the GBRF program team to communicate effectively with the Reef protection and restoration community.

In this pivotal role within our lean Foundation, the incumbent will be a hands-on technical leader. You will not only drive strategic direction but also actively engage in core technical work, contributing directly to both the execution of daily operations and the shaping of our long-term technical vision.

THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT WILL HAVE:

A degree in Marketing, Communications or related field (or equivalent experience)

7-10 years professional experience in strategic communications.

Strong experience in shaping, directing, and evaluating marketing strategies and campaigns in a multi-channel environment.

Proven experience leading or significantly contributing to successful fundraising campaigns, with demonstrated expertise in optimising and managing conversion funnels to drive donor engagement and revenue growth.

Demonstrated ability to lead and support strategic advocacy initiatives, effectively aligning communications efforts to influence public opinion, mobilise stakeholders, and achieve policy or mission-driven outcomes.

Experience working in the not-for-profit charity sector

Proven ability to lead collaborative, cross functional initiatives that align communications objectives with broader organisational goals, fostering high-impact, enterprise-wide outcomes.

A track record of executing multiple, high-priority initiatives simultaneously, with excellence in planning, delegation, risk management, and delivery.

Exceptional ability to craft and communicate compelling narratives that capture the significance of mission-driven work, aligning message delivery with brand voice and audience needs.

Demonstrates planning and operational discipline, with the agility to manage evolving priorities and shifting contexts.

A trusted advisor and relationship builder who leads through influence, able to navigate complex stakeholder environments and secure alignment on key communications strategies.

High energy, maturity, and leadership with the ability to serve as a unifying force, aligning teams around a shared vision, and to position communications discussions at both the strategic and operational levels.

Demonstrates strong commercial discipline and a commitment to compliance, ensuring that all communications activities align with organisational policies, performance expectations, and risk frameworks.

Experience leading and mentoring a large team and managing interdepartmental collaboration.

JOB LOCATION

Brisbane

WORK TYPE

Permanent Full time (38 hours per week)

Flexible work arrangements are available

The salary range is $150,000 - $169,999 plus superannuation

RECONCILIATION

First Nations people are strongly encouraged to apply. The release of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is a proud moment in our organisation’s 20-year history. We see this achievement as an honour, a responsibility, and an opportunity. Take a look at our RAP plan here: www.barrierreef.org/uploads/GBRF-ReflectRAP.pdf