Research Communications Manager

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• Location: Austin Hospital, Melbourne
• Employment Type: Part-time (0.6 FTE)
• Classification: HS7 Admin Officer Grade 7

Austin Health is the major provider of tertiary health services, health professional education and research across three campuses in the north-east of Melbourne and statewide. We have a highly engaged, diverse and collaborative workforce that is unified by our goal to help people live healthy and fulfilled lives.

About the Discovery & Innovation Unit (DIU)

The DIU is not a comms team—it’s a strategy and systems unit, leading enterprise research capability, compliance, and transformation. This role places you at the centre of a team driving health service reform through research—at a time when narrative matters more than ever.

About the role

As Research Communications Manager, you’ll lead the voice of one of Victoria’s most dynamic research health services. You’ll work alongside senior executives and institutional leaders to translate strategic intent into influence—shaping not just what’s said, but what’s understood.

This is a platform role. If you're a trusted voice in the room, someone others turn to for clarity and framing—this is your next chapter.

This is not a support role—it’s a strategic post within the Discovery & Innovation Unit. You’ll develop and lead a research communications strategy that aligns with national reform, precinct positioning, and executive messaging. You’ll amplify institutional credibility, attract partners and attention, and ensure Austin’s research efforts are seen, heard, and remembered where it matters most.

You’ll work closely with the Director of the Discovery & Innovation Unit, with a dotted line to Corporate Communications, and collaborate across executive, legal, clinical, and government-facing teams.

A regular day will see you shape:

• A consistent, confident research voice across executive, digital, media, and stakeholder channels
• Executive materials, Ministerial briefings, and funding narratives that position Austin as a research leader
• Strategic campaigns aligned with precinct identity and translational research outcomes
• Narrative frameworks that elevate the public value of research—and those who deliver it
• A digital presence that reflects trust, innovation, and thought leadership

About you

You don’t just communicate—you influence. You’ve helped frame Ministerial talking points, rewritten strategy decks, and shaped major narratives without ever being the loudest voice in the room. You move seamlessly between executive, community, and sector domains, translating complexity into clarity and strategy into resonance.

To be successful in this role, you'll bring with you:

Essential:

• Senior experience in strategic communications, public affairs, or executive messaging within a research, health, or policy context
• A proven ability to translate complex research strategy into accessible, high-impact communications
• Confidence engaging with executive leaders, clinicians, and researchers to craft narratives that matter
• High-level digital capability across platforms, portals, and storytelling tools
• Strong writing and editorial judgement across audiences—from funders to the public

Desirable:

• Experience in media relations or campaign development
• Understanding of science policy, precinct dynamics, and research translation ecosystems
• Familiarity with government or philanthropic funding narratives

Qualifications:

Tertiary qualifications in communications, public policy, journalism, or research strategy

Further training in digital strategy, strategic writing, or executive communications highly regarded

Our benefits

Working at Austin Health means enjoying a strong sense of purpose, engaging in meaningful work every day. Our people also receive a variety of rewarding benefits, including:

• Greater take-home pay through generous salary packaging, for living expenses, meals, and holiday accommodation.
• A suite of wellness initiatives designed to support you, including discounted fitness memberships and special offers on health insurance, and a comprehensive wellbeing program.
• Onsite childcare at Austin Hospital, easy access via public transport and car parking options.
• Mentoring and career development opportunities.

Work with us!

We are committed to cultural safety and health equity for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People. We celebrate, value, and include people of all backgrounds, genders, identities, cultures, bodies, and abilities. We welcome and support applications from talented people identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, people with disability, neurodiverse people, LGBTQIA+ and people of all ages and cultures.

If you feel this role is right for you, we encourage your early application. Even if you don’t meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. What matters most is your passion, your drive and your willingness to learn and contribute. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place prior to the closing date. This means we reserve the right to close a job ad prior to the advertised closing date.

All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory National Police Check and if required, a Working With Children Check. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process, you are welcome to reach out to the hiring manager: Dr Heidi Gaulke, Director Operations, Discovery & Innovation Unit, Heidi.Gaulke@austin.org.au.

Interested in finding out more about this opportunity? Read the position description for further details.

Closing date: 31 August 2025