• Full-time, Brisbane based role (with some flexibility to work from home up to 2 days per week)
• Senior leadership position, suitable for someone with extensive leadership and Internal Communications experience

Hello. We’re Virgin Australia. We’re the airline that’s always done things a little different. Our way. The Virgin way. We’re on a mission to make flying better than ‘nice’. And to do that, it takes a team of talented people who are passionate about customer experience, doing the right thing always, with a focus on safety – in the air, on the ground and in our workplaces. A team who values real diversity and inclusion, in a big brand with big ambitions.

What you’ll be doing

Reporting to the General Manager Communications & Reputation and working closely with senior leaders, the Head of People Communications and Reputation is responsible for providing leadership and execution of Virgin Australia’s group-wide internal communications with a strategic focus on promoting and protecting the company’s reputation internally and externally.

This will include the design of communication strategies that ensure Virgin Australia’s internal and external communications effort, including reputation management and issues management can be monitored and performance accurately measured.

To that end, you can clearly demonstrate the ability to bring structured thought processes and frameworks to your work, including a campaign-like mindset to achieving objectives. This extends to the critical role communications plays in Virgin Australia’s crisis management plans.

At the core of your skill set will be an extensive knowledge of best practice internal, external and employee communication strategies and trends. And you will have a proven track record of excellence in leveraging communications tools to deliver outcomes directly related to your employer’s employee engagement strategy. 

You will also be a proven leader of people. . You are passionate about creating opportunity for career growth and development for your team. You lead with a ‘we’ mindset and humility, and at your best when under pressure.

Further responsibilities include: 

• Oversee, develop and implement the internal and external communication strategies to build the reputation of Virgin Australia across all employees
• Design and communication of strategies that ensure Virgin Australia’s Corporate Communications effort, including reputation management, can be monitored and performance accurately measured.
• Ensure best practice communications strategies and tools are being adopted.
• Curating and explaining the Virgin Australia story to our people.  Ensure integrated campaigns and advocacy is developed across the Corporate Affairs and Consumer PR teams.  Advise ELT/Senior stakeholders on communications opportunities, as well as risk and issue mitigation
• Oversight and management of Virgin Australia’s Crisis Management preparations as they relate to internal communications.
• Build and lead employee advocacy, as well as an understanding of and passion for our company. You will ensure that employees feel part of the wider Virgin Australia community; that they believe in our strategy, direction and leadership; and view the company as a community where they are able to make a difference and be themselves
• Plan, deliver and assess the impact of internal and external communications campaigns, content and program
• Help our people throughout the company understand how to communicate via our channels, while also keeping up with industry trends and exploring new ways to engage our people and improve our communication infrastructure
• Manage the strategy for the overall channels’ infrastructure. Managing the channels day-to-day in a timely, consistent and impactful way is fundamental to your success in this role

You’ll be great in this role if you…

• Degree in Communication
• Have 10+ years experience in a senior internal and external communications role, and you are passionate about internal and employee communications
• Have experience working within a large and complex, ideally ASX-listed, consumer facing business;
• Have a proven ability to manage a busy and diverse – but never dull – portfolio of issues, including the task of crisis management
• A strategic thinker and effective influencer with proven ability to interact with senior leaders and engage well in high-level business focused discussions and decisions
• Deep internal and corporate communications knowledge and experience
• Organisational agility
• Demonstrated leadership experience in managing complex employee groups, as well as recent demonstrated leadership of direct reports
• Crisis Management within a regulated and complex operating environment
• C-Suite Communications strategy development
• Experience with high profile public facing brand with consumer PR focus
• A self starter who can work through ambiguity in a fast-paced environment
• Are passionate about aviation / travel.  
• Are comfortable embracing transformational change

We’re committed to looking after you, with some of the best benefits and conditions in the industry – including (but not limited to):

• Discounted flights for you and your loved ones (including $1000 worth of travel credits per year)
• A flexible, hybrid work style. Work from home or the office, adapt your location to suit your style and needs
• One of Brisbane’s most admired head office locations, with South Bank train station, a supermarket, pharmacy, and lunch options downstairs plus a 5-minute walk to the Busway, a rooftop restaurant and onsite gym (with a low membership fee) and South Bank Parklands just across the road
• Discounts on travel insurance, lounge membership, car hire, accommodation, and experiences worldwide
• Cheaper hospitality, retail, technology, beauty and wellness services
• Free counselling and access to a wellbeing app to support your physical, mental, social and financial health
• ‘Dress for Your Day’ – enjoy the freedom to wear whatever makes you feel great for the type of work you do and the day you have ahead of you.

When everyone is included, everyone wins

We’re all individuals. And we love that. That’s why we encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, people with disability, those from diverse cultural backgrounds, our friends in the LGBTQI+ community, and anyone else who wants to join our family.

Ready to apply?

We’re ready to hear from you. Apply now.