Communications Senior Specialist

Program: Australia – Pacific Partnerships for Aviation (P4A)

Location: Nadi, Fiji

Duration: Est. 18 months (depending on commencement date) to 30 June 2027, with a possible extension to 30 June 2028

Remuneration: FJD 120-160,000 per year including benefits

Travel: Some travel within the Pacific region

Reports To: P4A Communications, Performance and Inclusion Lead

Works with: Communications, Performance and Inclusion Lead, MEL and Inclusion Senior Specialist Advisers

About the program

The Australia-Pacific Partnerships for Aviation (P4A) program is a 5-year regional aviation program jointly delivered by Adam Smith International (ASI) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, headquartered in Nadi, Fiji.

P4A has three key outcomes:

• A stronger enabling environment for aviation

• Improved safety, quality and reliability

• Greater coordination, cooperation, and connectivity

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.

Position Summary

The Senior Communications Specialist will work to the Communications, Performance and Inclusion Lead to create internal and external communications across P4A objectives and 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.

The Senior Communications Specialist will manage the operationalisation of the P4A Strategic Communications Strategy and country level communications and activity level plans in line with established communications guidelines and procedures. The Senior Communications Specialist will produce high-quality communication materials, maintain program visibility, and ensure that P4A’s communications align with DFAT’s standards and strategic objectives. Through their role in managing program communications, the Senior Communications Specialist will be expected to reflect broader program objectives including GEDSI, climate change and localisation across P4A communications and compliance with safeguarding policies including communications requirements on Child Protection and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment.

The Senior Communications Specialist will update the P4A communications systems and social media channels in line with DFAT’s branding and visibility guidelines. The Senior Specialist will be responsible for managing and refreshing the communications platforms including the website and knowledge systems to effectively position the program to create and disseminate key messages and content about the strategic intent of the P4A program and its progress to date to P4A stakeholders. The Senior Specialist will design and operationalise the communications analytics reporting system.

The Senior Specialist will work with the CPIL to update the program communication strategy annually and draft high-quality communication guidelines for P4A to effectively distribute high quality content. The Senior Specialist will be expected to deliver high level communications products, campaigns and activities including development of impact case studies and knowledge products for the program. The Senior Specialist will report to the Communications, Performance and Inclusion Lead (CPIL) but will be expected to undertake their role pro-actively and with minimal supervision or quality assurance on day to day operations; and will be expected to work alongside, and mentor any junior communications roles in the program team.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Operationalise the P4A Strategic Communications Strategy, working with the P4A CPIL.

• Update the Strategic Communications Strategy as required, including building on lessons learnt from implementation.

• Collaborate with the P4A team, ASI, DFAT, Partners (including Australian government partners or regional bodies involved in delivering P4A) and internal communications teams and Australian High Commissions in the Pacific to promote P4A’s activities and achievements in aviation safety, governance, and regional connectivity.

• Contribute to the development of the knowledge hub by creating communications platforms within internal program systems such as Sharepoint.

• Management of the P4A website and social media platforms in consultation with the P4A team, DFAT and delivery partners.

• Design and manage the communications monitoring and analytics system to report on communications performance indicators and stakeholder engagement.

• Design and implement targeted campaigns for key Intermediate outcome level activities.

• Work with the MEL team to produce high impact case studies in creative formats that target P4A stakeholders.

• Update and develop high-quality communication guidelines for P4A, and operating procedures and guidelines for content identification, drafting and distribution, for use.

• Manage and provide strategic communications support to DFAT and AHC for public diplomacy events.

• Launch the refreshed P4A branding guide and manage the production of P4A merchandise to deliver impactful communications

• Manage the communications workstreams and P4A content development including visual productions.

• Provide technical support required to deliver the country engagement strategies, ensuring localised and relevant messaging in each partner country.

• Collaborate with the CPIL to turn program results, lessons learned, and evaluations into impactful communication materials.

• 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.

• Provide administrative support, including maintenance of the contacts database, and conduct research tasks as directed.

• Provide support to the CPIL and P4A Team.

In undertaking this role, the Communications Senior Specialist will be expected to bring a pro-active and solution- oriented approach to their work. Whilst the role will be delivered under the guidance of the CPIL, the Senior Specialist will be expected to be sufficiently experienced to undertake the role with minimal oversight and quality assurance of their work required.

Key Deliverables

Annually update the P4A Strategic Communications Strategy; develop and update communications guidance notes, country communications plans and other related program documents. Contribute to program documents including Annual Work Plan, MEL and related reporting, and others as may be required.

Key Relationships

Communications focal points and stakeholders

Key Performance Indicators

• Timely delivery of high-quality contract outputs.

• Effective delivery of results as agreed in the program plans.

• Identify communications opportunities for the program and assess and manage risk.

• Responsiveness to requests from P4A Team

• Exceptional relationships with aviation and media stakeholders and other counterparts evidenced by positive feedback.

Optimal Qualifications and Experience

• Relevant qualifications in communications, public relations, marketing, or a related field at a Bachelors degree level or higher with at least 10+ years of experience with demonstrated expertise in communications; experience in communications for development desirable.

• Experience working collaboratively to support compliant and engaging communications or donor funded development programs with demonstrated experience in designing communication plans, or strategies and campaigns, preferably in the Pacific.

• Advanced knowledge of and demonstrated experience in using social media platforms, web-based management systems and latest communications methods.

• Understanding of and ability to integrate cross-cutting priorities including gender equality, disability inclusion, social inclusion, climate change and the ability to integrate these priorities into communications strategies and products.

• Good knowledge of the Pacific context, management issues related to public awareness.

• An understanding of the Pacific aviation sector and stakeholders is an advantage.

• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint), web-applications (Canva) and social Media, Adobe Creative Cloud applications (Premier, InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator).

• Excellent command of written and oral English.

• Ability to work within a multi-cultural team environment.

• Strong mentoring and capacity-building skills, interpersonal and organisational skills.

Deadline for applications is 7th December 2025.