Director, Cancer Control Campaigns and Communications

This is a 12-month Parental leave cover.

Join Australia’s leading cancer charity and help us shape the future of cancer care!

About Cancer Council Australia

Cancer Council Australia is the nation’s leading non-government cancer control organisation, focused on reducing the impact of cancer through research, prevention, and support. We work alongside the community, health professionals, and government to provide trusted information and services to those affected by cancer. With a mission to save lives and create a cancer-free future, Cancer Council offers a purpose-driven workplace where everyone can make a meaningful difference to help improve outcomes for people affected by cancer.

About the role

The Director, Cancer Control Campaigns and Communications will play a crucial role in leading the strategic direction of Cancer Council Australia’s national communications and campaigns portfolio and shaping the organisation’s voice on key issues in cancer control. This includes overseeing evidence based messaging, guiding national public health campaigns, and ensuring Cancer Council’s communications effectively influence policy, drive behaviour change, and strengthen engagement with diverse audiences across Australia.

The Director, Cancer Control Campaigns and Communications is a key member of the Executive Team, reporting directly to the CEO. This role leads Cancer Council Australia’s national marketing, communications, campaigns, and digital strategy, ensuring all activity is integrated, evidence based, and aligned with organisational priorities. The role provides national leadership in public health communications and represents Cancer Council Australia in public forums, government engagements, and media opportunities. The role oversees the Cancer Control Campaigns and Communications Division, ensuring strong reputation management, stakeholder engagement, and national coordination.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead the integration of marketing, communications, and digital strategies across national and campaign initiatives.
• Strengthen Cancer Council Australia’s reputation and influence with government, health sector stakeholders, and the community.
• Oversee large scale, government funded national campaigns, ensuring effective collaboration and delivery across the Federation.
• Build and maintain high performing teams, fostering innovation, collaboration and accountability.
• Work collaboratively with state and territory Cancer Councils to ensure alignment of messaging, strategy and delivery across the Federation.
• Drive evidence-based approaches to communications and behavioural change strategies.
• Ensure brand consistency and reputation management across all communications channels.
• Represent Cancer Council publicly as a national spokesperson and advocate for evidence-based cancer control.

About you

You are a strategic, confident, and collaborative executive leader with extensive experience in Public health Communications, Social marketing and large-scale advocacy. With a strong understanding of government, media, and the not-for-profit environment, you bring deep expertise in delivering integrated campaigns that inspire action and deliver measurable impact. You bring:

• Proven senior leadership experience within communications, marketing, or public health environments.
• Demonstrated success in developing and managing high-performing teams.
• Strong track record of stakeholder engagement and influence with government and external partners.
• Experience leading integrated (paid, earned and owned) campaigns with measurable social or health outcomes.
• Proven ability to coordinate successful funding submissions and report to funders.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and presentation skills.
• Data-driven mindset with the ability to translate insights into strategy.
• Strong financial management and project leadership capability.
• Alignment with Cancer Council Australia’s mission and not-for-profit values.
• Understanding of public health and behavioural change strategies.
• Experience within the charity or not-for-profit sector.

Our Culture

We embrace diversity, celebrate differences and inspire each person to be their authentic self at work. We welcome and actively encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culturally and linguistically diverse people, people with a disability, the LGBTQI+ community, mature age workers, as well as parents and carers returning to the workforce.

Why work with us?

At Cancer Council Australia, you don’t just join a team, you join a movement. As a non-profit organisation, our mission is to prevent cancer, empower patients, and save lives. You’ll benefit from:

• Salary sacrificing options, maximising your take home pay through generous salary packaging benefits.
• Flexible work arrangements and being part of a collaborative and inclusive team.
• Personal and professional development, with great opportunities to grow your skills