Engagement Officer

Department/Team: International Science Council Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific

Reports to: Director, International Science Council Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific

Role status: 2-year fixed-term contract with possible extension

Role type: Part-time 0.8 FTE or full-time

Location: Canberra (remote working arrangements may be considered for the right candidate)

Role classification: Level 6 (1–4 depending on experience)

Salary range: $107,035 – $114,915 (including up to 17% super)

About Us

The Australian Academy of Science

The Australian Academy of Science is a national learned academy of distinguished Australian scientists, championing science for the benefit of all. The Academy is an independent, non-government, not-for-profit organisation delivering sought after science advice that influences Australia’s actions and contributes to global science.

The Academy strives to advance Australia as a nation that embraces scientific knowledge and whose people enjoy the benefits of science.

The Academy’s offices are located in Canberra in the ACT, operating out of two iconic heritage-listed buildings, the Shine Dome and Ian Potter House in the centre of the city.

We acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Owners of the lands on which the Academy Fellows and employees live and work, and to their elders, past and present.

The International Science Council

The International Science Council (ISC) is an international NGO with a mission to act as the global voice for science and to promote science as a worldwide public good.

The ISC works at the global level to catalyse and convene scientific expertise, advice, and influence on issues of major concern to both science and society. The ISC has a unique international membership that brings together 250 diverse organisations from all fields of science across all regions of the world. It is the largest international non-government science organisation of its kind.

The International Science Council’s Asia Pacific team (known as the ‘Regional Focal Point’) is based at the Australian Academy of Science.

The Regional Focal Point works to ensure that regional needs and priorities are adequately represented in the ISC's global agenda, that regional voices are actively engaged in the governance and management of the ISC's work, and that the region benefits from the results of that work.

The position

The Regional Focal Point is seeking an Engagement Officer to deliver a wide range of communications activities including media engagement, social media management, website design, creative member engagement, speech writing, and event support.

The Engagement Officer will also play a key role in supporting a portfolio of science engagement projects which build capability in low- and middle-income countries in the Asia–Pacific region.

The position is for a 0.8–1 FTE. This is a 2-year fixed term contract with possible extension.

Duties and responsibilities

The Engagement Officer will report to the Director, Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific and will work closely with the Australian Academy of Science Engagement team in Canberra and the International Science Council Communications team in Paris.

Duties and responsibilities include:

• Coordinate and deliver all communications activities for the Regional Focal Point including, but not limited to: liaising with mainstream media in Australia and across the region, managing social media, website and newsletter design and content, as well as managing specific reporting from both design and content perspectives.
• Prepare and proactively distribute media releases, and monitor and report on the Regional Focal Point's presence in the media.
• Design and deliver a suite of creative member engagement activities to ensure Regional Focal Point members are informed, engaged and benefitting from Regional Focal Point work.
• Effectively lead and advise on the sourcing, curation and drafting of engaging and impactful social media content including artwork design and copy.
• Take responsibility for the planning, delivery, and administration of key Regional Focal Point events, including managing a budget, schedule and reporting against KPIs.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of Regional Focal Point and ISC programming in order to prepare and publish content on the Regional Focal Point’s website and in newsletters.
• Develop and manage regular data analysis reports capturing the impact of communications activities including website traffic, media, social media, and events, and use these reports to help identify the audience journey and actions to meet communications objectives.
• Work with the Engagement Manager to support a program of projects in the region to build scientists’ and media capability in communicating science.
• Leverage the expertise of the Regional Focal Point and the Australian Academy of Science to raise the profile of the Regional Focal Point's work in the region and beyond.

Qualifications and experience

• A tertiary qualification OR equivalent significant experience in science communication, media, or a related discipline.
• High-level technical and communication skills across a range of communications channels.
• Working in the international or not-for-profit space (desirable).
• Ability to pick up new platforms including MS Office, Adobe Creative Suite, Salesforce, website CMS, and relational database systems.

Selection criteria

• Technical skills
  • Strong knowledge of social media platforms (drafting, publishing, evaluating posts for targeted audiences)
  • Experience with newsletter drafting and dissemination (via eDM platforms).
  • Web publishing (WordPress, Drupal) – basic HTML an advantage.
  • Basic graphic design and video editing (Adobe Creative Cloud: Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere Pro).
  • Familiarity with MS Office, Salesforce, CMS, relational database systems.
• Communication skills
  • Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to draft speeches, web stories, media releases.
  • Ability to engage diverse audiences across Australia and the Asia–Pacific region.
  • Confidence in representing the Regional Focal Point at ISC and Academy meetings.
• Engagement and media
  • Experience developing and delivering communications and engagement plans, with evaluation and adaptation.
  • Ability to maintain media relationships in Australia and across the Asia–Pacific.
  • Event support/coordination experience.
• Strategic and organisational skills
  • Capacity to identify opportunities for cross-promotion, and to actively engage and deploy senior management.
  • Ability to manage branding and apply style guidelines consistently.
  • Contribute to reporting requirements for funders and stakeholders.
  • Strong organisational skills; ability to juggle multiple projects (e.g. funding and capacity building programs, grants).

Contact details

Further information on the position is available from Ronit Prawer, Director, International Science Council Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific at hr@science.org.au

Applications

If this sounds like a great fit for you, please apply including:

• your resume
• a cover letter outlining how you believe your skills and experience would be a good fit for the role (max 2 pages).

Please note the video interview is OPTIONAL and will not be used for shortlisting purposes.

Please apply via our HR Management system.

Applications close 5pm AEDT Tuesday 4 November 2025.

To be eligible to apply for this role you must be legally permitted to work in Australia. The Australian Academy of Science values social and cultural diversity. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; people with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; people who identify as LGBTIQ+; and people with disability. The Academy is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and the provision of a safe and healthy work environment. The Academy supports and promotes flexible work practices.