Manager Change and Communications

Role overview

This role leads change, engagement and communications for the program that will establish and operationalise the new Woodford Youth Detention Centre. It supports a large non-ICT program made up of organisational, cultural and operational initiatives, and coordinates a joined-up change approach across more than 25 linked workstreams.

Working with program leadership, the Manager helps define the program story, build stakeholder readiness and support effective delivery across the program. The role also takes into account the wider youth detention network where alignment and consistency are needed.

Key purpose of the role

The Manager Change and Communications (AO8) provides strategic leadership for change management, stakeholder readiness and communications across a major non-ICT program supporting the new Woodford Youth Detention Centre.

The position is central to making sure change, engagement and communication activities are planned, connected and delivered consistently across the program. It offers the chance to influence how the new centre is established, understood and put into operation, while also contributing to broader alignment across Youth Detention Services.

Reporting and working relationships

This role reports to the Program Director and works closely with the Program Manager. It is responsible for maintaining the program narrative, keeping stakeholders aligned and ensuring communication and engagement strategies are built into every workstream.

Strategic advice and focus areas

• Advising on change management methods and approaches
• Recommending stakeholder engagement strategies
• Shaping program communications, key messages and narrative
• Assessing change readiness and adoption-related risks
• Coordinating the timing and sequencing of change activities across initiatives

Core work activities

The position leads the design and delivery of program-wide change and engagement frameworks, tools and practices to ensure consistency and quality across the initiatives. This includes stakeholder mapping, workforce engagement sessions, awareness activities, pulse surveys, communication content, lessons learned exercises and readiness reviews.

Where central coordination or specialist input is needed, the role also directly delivers change, engagement and communication activities. At the same time, it supports initiative leads to apply aligned approaches within their own workstreams.

The work environment is highly dynamic, with competing priorities, complex stakeholder groups and many interdependencies across initiatives. The role partners with leaders, program teams and stakeholders to support organisational readiness, workforce engagement and successful operational implementation.

In addition, the position looks at broader implications for Youth Detention Services and helps maintain alignment with other youth detention centres where required, so the program contributes to wider organisational goals and operational integration.

Skills and capabilities

Success in this role depends on strong strategic judgment, excellent stakeholder engagement, clear communication and the ability to influence across multiple streams of work through collaboration and coordination.

Additional information

Applications will remain current for 12 months. Job ad reference: QLD/692373/26. Closing date: Monday, 6 July 2026. Occupational group: Project Management.