Director of Public Engagement

Hours per week: Full Time Executive Contract

About Us At Oxfam Australia, we believe all lives are equal and no-one should live in poverty. We are a member of Oxfam International, a global confederation working with partners and local communities in 76 countries.

Would you like to join this global movement of people working together to eliminate the inequalities that keep people in poverty?

Bring your expertise in branding and networking to our Director of Public Engagement role where you can truly pioneer public and outward facing engagement for Oxfam Australia. You’ll provide overall leadership of the public engagement, philanthropic, fundraising, supporter activation and media functions and ensure that the operational planning and performance of the directorate is aligned to the strategic vision.

The Role Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, the Director of Public Engagement will lead a multidisciplinary team of senior leaders to drive strategic integration of engagement and income-generating activities. The role is accountable for ensuring financial sustainability, brand consistency, strong advocacy, and long-term impact for Oxfam Australia.

The Director of Public Engagement is responsible for designing, leading and overseeing the implementation of Oxfam Australia’s engagement strategy. This is critical in advancing the organisation’s objectives by creating an integrated approach to communications, advocacy, fundraising and supporter engagement. This role will ensure that Oxfam Australia is positioned as a trusted voice on key international and national issues while driving sustainable revenue growth and meaningful public engagement.

The Director of Public Engagement will lead the development of a clear and compelling narrative for Oxfam Australia, aimed at enhancing public interaction and engagement. The role oversees all external engagement channels to keep staff and stakeholders informed, connected and engaged.

It will be essential for this role to lead and inspire a large and talented team to adapt and adjust, to ensure ongoing sustainability and strategic success.

Bringing your expertise in brand, stakeholder influence and strategic engagement, you will:

Lead Oxfam Australia’s public presence and voice

Lead our public engagement, philanthropy, fundraising, supporter activation and media functions

Build strong, trusted networks across sectors to grow our influence and impact

Set strategic direction and ensure operational excellence across your directorate

Play a key role in driving our mission and amplifying the stories, people and partnerships at the heart of our work

This is an opportunity to pioneer a bold, outward‑facing engagement strategy for one of Australia’s most trusted international development organisations and help shape lasting change for communities around the world.

A little about you (the key selection criteria)

Exceptional People Leadership and Culture Influence:

Demonstrated ability to inspire, develop and hold senior, multidisciplinary teams accountable to deliver high performance and strategic outcomes in complex, mission driven environments.

Brand Stewardship and Strategic Narrative Development:

Proven track record in shaping and elevating a compelling INGO brand that drives cohesive storytelling and deepens supporter engagement across all public facing channels.

Revenue Growth, Financial Sustainability and Strategic Investment:

Strong capability in designing and managing multiyear investment strategies and complex budgets to maximise sustainable revenue growth and organisational financial health.

Public Relations, Crisis Leadership and External Influence:

Extensive experience leading crisis communications and navigating complex media and political landscapes while maintaining organisational credibility and influential external relationships.

Innovative Strategic Vision, Integration and Organisational Impact:

Exceptional ability to develop, champion and integrate a transformative and innovative strategic vision that aligns engagement, advocacy, communications and fundraising to amplify organisational impact.

What we can offer you

Superior leave benefits and access to a generous not-for-profit salary packaging program (up to $18,450 of your salary tax-free).

The opportunity to use your talents and expertise to make a positive impact around the world.

We value flexibility and seek to support our people in ways that meet their work/life commitments and support their wellbeing.

Cultural leave

Superannuation matching

Our culture is shaped by our values, which reinforce what we care about and how we do things, not just what we do. Our core values of Equality, Empowerment, Solidarity, Inclusiveness, Accountability and Courage drive everything we do at Oxfam.

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work, including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct. We are committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us. Therefore, our people are required to comply with the One Oxfam Child Safeguarding and Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policies and sign the Oxfam Australia Child Safeguarding and One Oxfam Employee Codes of Conduct.

How to Apply Complete the online application form, then, as three separate documents, upload:

A cover letter that tells us why you want to join Oxfam Australia, and how your professional history and lived experience make you the right candidate.

Your CV.

Your response to the key selection criteria outlined in the advertisement.

Here is the link to the Position Description

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Our people are at the heart of everything we do. We care deeply about creating a safe and inclusive workplace where our people feel valued, respected and empowered. We are committed to providing equal opportunities and encourage applicants with personal experience of the forms of injustice we seek to address to apply for opportunities at Oxfam Australia.

Applicants will be required to show proof of their right to work in Australia the subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, which include Police Checks and Misconduct Disclosure Scheme outcomes, before commencement. Pre-employment checks are not used by Oxfam Australia to prevent any applicant from applying for this position. Each application will be considered on its merits.

Oxfam Australia will not recruit international candidates who do not hold visas permitting them to work in Australia. Oxfam Australia does not provide visa sponsorship.

Additional information For ongoing roles, candidates will be required to have a minimum of 2 years' Australian work rights from the date of commencement of their employment with Oxfam Australia. For fixed-term roles, candidates will be required to have work rights for the full duration of the contract.

At Oxfam Australia, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable culture where everyone's rights are recognised and respected. Guided by feminist principles and core values, we embrace different perspectives and work to eliminate systemic inequities that perpetuate discrimination. We centre and amplify the voices of people with lived experience and work in solidarity to build a future where no one is left behind.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is reflected in our actions, Oxfam Australia:

Supports employee-led committees

Promotes consultative ways of working and decision making

Maintains a comprehensive enterprise agreement that prioritises employee well-being, as demonstrated through multiple leave types

Provides ongoing awareness and training on unconscious bias, inclusion, and respectful workplace practices, ensuring alignment with Oxfam’s values

Ensures a fair and accessible recruitment process

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