Communications Adviser: Australia – Pacific Partnerships for Aviation

Job Description

Position: Communications Adviser

Program: Australia – Pacific Partnerships for Aviation (P4A)

Location: Nadi, Fiji

Duration: Two years with a one-year extension option

Required Travel: Regular regional travel within the Pacific and to Australia

Reports To: Communications, Performance and Inclusion Lead

Direct Reports: MEL & Communications Officer

Deadline for applications: 11:59pm AEST on 1st November 2024

About the Program

Aviation is an important enabler of economic activity and human development in the Pacific. It connects Pacific countries to the world and each other, facilitating tourism, trade, labour mobility and access to health and education services. Aviation either directly or indirectly enables over one-third of the economy in Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatu. However, aviation in the Pacific is disadvantaged by the small size of Pacific Island countries and their geographical remoteness, both from within each country, the region, and from international hubs.

The strategic intent for Australia – Pacific Partnerships for Aviation (P4A) is to improve the Pacific aviation sectors’ efficiency and effectiveness in organisational decision-making, governance, safety and reliability, and coordination to enable aviation to better contribute to sustainable development outcomes. It is recognised that the small populations, lack of economic diversification and geographic remoteness of the Pacific constrains its growth and international competitiveness. However, aviation’s intersection with tourism, trade, labour mobility, and access to critical services such as healthcare and education can enable Pacific growth and prosperity.

P4A will be delivered through three key outcome areas, including (but not limited to):

1. A stronger enabling environment, including improved management, regulations, policies, and plans that strengthen the Pacific aviation sector and reform unsustainable practices.
2. Improved Safety, Quality and Reliability through strengthened technical capability and more common approaches that improve aviation operations’ safety, quality, and reliability.
3. Greater coordination, cooperation, and connectivity are needed to maintain connectivity between Pacific Island countries and strengthen regional and bilateral coordination and cooperation in regulatory and operational areas.

P4A will also mainstream cross-cutting sectors to ensure outcomes strengthen child protection and safeguarding, climate change resilience and adaptation, support locally led leadership and improve Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) outcomes.

P4A is currently a five-year program directed by DFAT and implemented by Adam Smith International.

Position Summary

The Communications Adviser will provide strategic communications leadership to support P4A’s objectives, ensuring the program’s achievements and messages are effectively communicated to a wide range of stakeholders, including DFAT, Pacific Island governments, aviation sector partners, and the public. This role will also involve capacity building within the P4A team and supporting cross-cutting initiatives such as GEDSI and climate resilience.

The Communications Adviser will develop and implement communication strategies, produce high-quality communication materials, manage program visibility, and ensure that P4A’s communications align with DFAT’s standards and strategic objectives.

Duties & Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Communications Adviser include, but are not limited to:  

Program Communications:  

• Develop and implement P4A’s Communications Strategy in close collaboration with the Communications, Performance and Inclusion Lead, ensuring alignment with the overall program objectives.
• Lead the development and P4A inputs of the program’s deliverables in line of P4A and DFAT branding guidelines.
• Lead the production of regular and ad hoc plans and progress reports and continuously improve their formats.
• Lead the development and ongoing management of P4A website and social media platforms.
• Collaborate with the Communications, Performance and Inclusion Lead to turn program results, lessons learned, and evaluations into impactful communication materials.
• Collaborate with the Team Leader, other advisers, DFAT internal communications team and Australian High Commissions in the Pacific to promote P4A’s activities and achievements in aviation safety, governance, and regional connectivity.
• Develop communication products such as fact sheets, case studies, media releases, social media content, and reports that showcase P4A’s impact in the Pacific region.
• Ensure that communications highlight the integration of GEDSI, climate resilience, and local leadership into P4A’s activities.
• Manage media relations, identifying and cultivating opportunities to raise the program’s profile within the Pacific and internationally.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies and products, adjusting as necessary to maximise reach and impact.

Stakeholder Engagement: 

• Work closely with the P4A Team Leader and DFAT to ensure consistent messaging and alignment with broader Australian Government priorities in the region.
• Build partnerships with Australian High Commissions in the Pacific, Pacific Island governments, aviation stakeholders, and development partners to promote collaborative communication efforts.
• Provide strategic communications support to country engagement strategies, ensuring localised and relevant messaging in each partner country.
• Assist in the preparation of briefs, presentations, and background materials for high-level meetings and engagements with key stakeholders, including DFAT and Pacific Island government officials.

Capacity Building

• Support team members by providing mentoring and capacity-building to strengthen communication and knowledge management skills across the program.
• Develop a communications framework for cross-cutting themes, such as child protection, gender equality, and climate resilience, ensuring they are effectively integrated into all P4A communications.

Key Deliverables

Inception Phase Workplan & Budget, Way of Working Plan, Strategic Communications Strategy and Public Diplomacy, Country Engagement Strategies, Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion Strategy, Pacific Skills and Education Strategy, Disaster Preparedness and Response, Risk Framework and Management Plan, Program Implementation Plan, Inception Report, Six Monthly Reports, Annual Reports, Annual Plans, Program Completion Report.

Key Relationships

• Works with and receives strategic guidance from DFAT and specified stakeholders.
• Represent P4A at various internal and external meetings, presenting plans, budgets and reports as needed.

Key Performance Indicators

• Timely delivery of high-quality contract outputs. 
• Effective delivery of results as agreed in the program plans.
• Identify opportunities for the program and assess and manage risk.
• Responsiveness to requests from DFAT and Pacific island government counterparts throughout the life of the program.
• Strong Partner Performance Assessments and Adviser Performance Assessments.
• Exceptional relationships with DFAT, Pacific governments, stakeholders and other counterparts evidenced by positive feedback.

Optimal Qualifications & Experience

• Relevant qualifications in communications, public relations, marketing, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in communications, with demonstrated expertise in strategic communications planning, messaging, and content creation.
• Proficiency in digital media, including social media platforms, and in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Strong understanding of DFAT branding and communications standards and requirements.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment with diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent English language skills, both written and oral, with an eye for detail in producing high-quality communication materials.
• Experience working with cross-cutting themes such as Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), climate change, or child protection is highly desirable.

About the Organization

About us

Adam Smith International is a global advisory company that works locally to transform lives by making economies stronger, societies safer, and governments more effective. We work on behalf of governments, foundations and companies that share our ambition to take on the big challenges facing the world. They come to us to develop strategies and to design, deliver and evaluate programmes that, in turn, stimulate growth, stability and good governance.

For nearly three decades in almost 100 countries, we have been working in partnership with governments, the private sector and civil society in countries at all stages of development.

Our core team of staff and technical experts, in multiple offices around the world, ensures the quality of delivery and high ethical standards that we and our clients require. We bring together a global network of specialist experts, who contribute their experience and know-how, where and when it is needed.

ASI is committed to corporate integrity and a triple bottom line of social, environmental and financial performance.