Media & Communications Specialist

About the role

Animal Welfare League Queensland (AWLQ), a community-funded charity founded in 1959, is looking for a Media & Communications Specialist to join its growing marketing and communications function. Reporting to the Head of Marketing and Digital, you will work closely with the CEO and the leadership team to uncover stories, shape priority communications and help bring AWLQ's ambitions to life. The role sits within a modern, data-informed and creatively ambitious function.

Key responsibilities

• Build proactive relationships with journalists and media outlets, prepare releases, pitches, statements and briefing materials, coordinate responses to enquiries and monitor coverage and emerging issues.
• Write, edit and quality-assure communications for campaigns, publications, newsletters, EDMs, websites, stakeholder updates and internal channels.
• Work with stakeholders to develop messaging frameworks, audience-ready copy, joint announcements and integrated communications.
• Work with the CEO and executives to identify significant stories and develop authentic narratives.
• Apply media and brand protocols, support spokespeople on critical messaging and escalate sensitive matters promptly.
• Use audience insight, media monitoring and campaign data to improve communications, and help test smarter ways to produce, repurpose and measure content.

Required profile

• Tertiary qualification in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience in media relations, PR, corporate communications or journalism; a strong portfolio of writing or campaign work is valued.
• Strong writing, editing and communication skills, with the ability to adapt messages for different audiences and channels.
• Ability to manage sensitive information, seek approvals and handle reputation or issues communications calmly.
• Strong relationship-building skills with media, senior leaders, frontline teams and external partners.
• Curiosity about data and performance, and excellent planning and prioritisation skills.
• A genuine love for animals and flexibility to work reasonable additional or out-of-hours periods.

Required skills

• Confidence with Microsoft Office, project-management platforms, CMS, CRM or EDM systems, media-monitoring tools and approved generative-AI tools.
• Desirable: experience in a newsroom, media, PR or agency environment, and in fundraising, advocacy, community engagement, crisis or issues communications.

What we offer

• $80k p.a. plus superannuation.
• Flexible work arrangements and a hybrid work policy.
• Convenient Coombabah (Gold Coast) location with free onsite parking, plus employee discounts on pet food and veterinary services.