Careers at UniSC

• Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research | UniSC Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs or UniSC Moreton Bay, Petrie
• Level 6, $92,964 - $100,603 p.a. (pro rata), plus up to 17% employer superannuation
• Part-time (40% FTE / 14.5 hours per week), fixed-term appointment until June 2026 (parental leave backfill)

The Opportunity

Join The Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research (ACPIR) as our Communications Officer and lead the development and delivery of a dynamic communications strategy that elevates our impact. In this exciting role, you'll manage and moderate our digital channels, shape our social media presence, and drive initiatives that engage, grow and support our membership base. Your work will help amplify cutting-edge research and position ACPIR as a leading voice in the policy and ideas space.

You will

• Develop and deliver the Centre’s communication strategy and plan;
• Advise the Centre’s leadership team on initiatives to better communicate its research, member news, and engagement projects and initiatives;
• Deliver content and support Centre initiatives to position the Centre as a preferred partner for industry practitioners, government agencies and civil society organisations (NGOs) and for future funding opportunities;
• Manage and maintain the Centre’s various communication initiatives to a high-standard; and
• Liaise with UniSC Marketing and Communications to ensure compliance with UniSC policies, branding, tone of voice, website, photography and video standards.  

About you

You’re a confident communicator with outstanding written and verbal skills, able to adapt your message seamlessly across platforms and audiences. Thriving in fast-paced environments, you balance competing priorities and tight deadlines with composure, while contributing effectively within a small, collaborative team. Highly organised and focused, you keep projects moving smoothly and ensure no detail is overlooked.

You will possess:

• Completion of a Bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communications, or Marketing, with subsequent relevant experience or an equivalent combination of relevant knowledge, training and/or expertise;
• Demonstrated expertise in creating technical and research-related communication content for diverse target audiences;
• Demonstrated experience in the preparation of social media content, and the capacity to manage and grow social media platforms;
• Demonstrated skills in graphic design, copy writing, photography, video and video editing and packaging for digital;
• Experience in media liaison and writing to target media exposure; and
• Experience driving communications strategies in a multi-media environment. 

UniSC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, women in STEM, First Nations Peoples, and individuals of diverse cultures, genders, abilities, and experiences. We value achievement relative to opportunity and encourage your commentary on your achievements in this context. For additional support during the application process, please contact us at unisc-careers@usc.edu.au or call +61 7 5430 2830.

Position Description:  493603 -Communications Officer.pdf

UniSC values a diverse and talented workforce and invites applications from candidates who already have legal work rights in Australia.

All applications must be lodged through the Careers at UniSC website.

UniSC does not accept unsolicited applications. For agency inquiries, contact unisc-careers@usc.edu.au

Applications for this position close midnight, Wednesday 17 September 2025.

Your completed application must include:

• a resume and a statement of suitability (not to exceed two pages), which be reviewed in alignment to the specified selection criteria as outlined within the position description.

Further information regarding how to prepare your application is available on our website: Join our team

We would love the opportunity to get to know you better, but we know it works both ways. To get to know a little more about us, visit us at: Welcome to UniSC and LinkedIn Life

Have questions or want to know more? For a confidential discussion, please contact:

Professor Steven Underhill
Director, Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research
Phone: 07 5456 5142
Email: sunderhi@usc.edu.au

Discover UniSC

We're all about doing work that matters, connecting with great people, and being part of an incredible journey. We’re not the biggest university. But we’re growing every day, and doing big things. Like ground-breaking research, championing sustainability, producing gold-winning athletes and award-winning alumni.

We're one of the fastest growing universities in Australia, growing to over 2,000 people across 5 campuses in South East Queensland.

Teaching excellence is at the heart of what we do, and our commitment to sustainability is integrated into our teaching, research, and daily operations. Our research tackles the most pressing challenges of our time, with 13 research fields ranked well above world standard, characterised by evidence of outstanding performance according to the Excellence Research for Australia Rankings. At UniSC you will have the opportunity to contribute to the educational landscape for future generations.

We foster a collaborative and supportive environment, encouraging continuous professional development and providing resources to enhance your career. We recognise and value the contributions of each team member to our culture and success. We're not afraid to be different, and we're looking for people who share our values and want to be part of a team that is working together to improve our local and global challenges.

Our Culture & Benefits:

• Our collaborative, passionate and welcoming culture is what really sets us apart.
• Modern teaching & research facilities.
• Professional development and career pathway opportunities.
• We are a proud recipient of the prestigious Athena SWAN Bronze Award, granted as part of the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) initiative.
• Flexible work arrangements & generous leave options.
• Salary packing options + 17% Super.
• EAP, fitness passport & discounted private health.