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Media Adviser
- 502301
- Adelaide, SA
- Comms and Community Exp
- Customer, Community & Engagement
- Ongoing- Full Time
- Closing at: Aug 26 2026 - 17:00 ACST
About the Company
At SA Water, our work sustains life. Every day, we deliver safe, reliable water and wastewater services to more than 1.8 million South Australians, supporting healthy communities across our state.
Behind this essential service are people who care. From engineering and science to construction, digital, operations and customer experience, every role plays a part. We bring our authentic selves to work, driven by purpose, supporting one another to deliver work that truly matters.
About the job
As Media Adviser, you will play a key role in sourcing, developing and delivering engaging content that supports organisational objectives and enhances SA Water’s reputation. Working closely with stakeholders across the business, you will identify positive stories, develop media strategies and create high-quality communications materials across a range of platforms including media releases, talking points, social media posts, speeches and integrated communication plans.
The role requires a strong understanding of the media and political environment and the ability to build productive relationships with journalists and other news outlet representatives, along with key stakeholders across State Government and beyond. You will contribute to strategic media planning, lead media events and announcements for both SA Water and the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, monitor and act on emerging issues, support our media spokespeople and provide advice that helps achieve optimal outcomes for our customers and the community.
You will also participate in an on-call roster, working one week at a time across a 4–5-week cycle, with responsibility for responding to media enquiries and emerging issues, as well as being our media/communications representative for incident management when required.
Some travel will be required across both metropolitan and regional South Australia to support projects, media opportunities and stakeholder engagement activities. The position offers variety, autonomy and the opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment where no 2 days are the same.
About the Person
You're a natural storyteller with a background in journalism, media relations or news-focused communications and a passion for identifying and sharing stories that make an impact.
Exceptional writing skills are second nature, and you have experience developing content across a variety of platforms and for a range of audiences. Whether you're preparing a media release, crafting key messages for a spokesperson or translating technical information into clear public-facing content, you know how to find the angle and bring a story to life.
A strong understanding of the South Australian political and media landscape enables you to navigate complex environments with confidence. You understand how news is developed, reported and consumed, and you're always thinking about the opportunities, risks and conversations shaping the day's agenda.
Naturally curious and highly proactive, you're someone who doesn't wait to be asked. You enjoy building relationships, asking questions, finding opportunities and solving problems. Comfortable working autonomously, you can manage competing priorities, adapt quickly when circumstances change and maintain a high standard of work under pressure.
Just as importantly, you're a people person. Building trusted relationships with journalists, stakeholders and colleagues comes naturally, and you're confident providing advice, influencing outcomes and collaborating with others to achieve shared goals. You understand the importance of working effectively as part of a team, contributing to a supportive and collaborative environment where diverse perspectives help drive successful outcomes.
For someone who loves storytelling, thrives on connection and enjoys working at the intersection of media, community and current affairs, this is a chance to do meaningful work and see the impact of it every day.
About Customer, Community and Engagement
Customer, Community and Engagement connects us with the people we serve, from everyday customer interactions to long‑term community relationships. The team includes customer service call centre professionals who provide frontline support, as well as specialists who engage communities and stakeholders, and partner with businesses to help shape how we plan, deliver, and communicate about our services.
Working here means meaningful engagement, supporting customers when they need it most, managing impacts and enquiries, communicating change, and helping communities understand and benefit from the essential water and wastewater services they rely on every day.
In addition, your responsibilities will include:
Fostering trust with our people, customers and community by providing expert advice and service that ensure we effectively communicate and engage audiences with our business strategy and its delivery across South Australia, every day.
You will:
- Identify and develop positive news stories and media strategies to build SA Water’s reputation amongst stakeholders.
- Capture and manage the procurement and delivery of dynamic photo and video content for use across SA Water channels, and for supply to media to enhance news stories.
- Organise and contribute to management of media events for SA Water and the Minister to promote projects and support announcements.
- Maintain oversight of water and wastewater network operations to understand and respond to customer, community and commuter impacts requiring public communication responses.
- Help identify issues that can lead to negative media coverage and damage to SA Water’s reputation amongst stakeholders, and work with the team to implement media strategies to minimise, balance or mitigate coverage.
Your success in this role will come from:
- Tertiary qualifications in journalism, communications, public relations, marketing or appropriate related discipline.
- Experience as a media relations, communications or marketing practitioner, or journalist.
- Demonstrated record of identifying positive news stories and proactively generating media content that supports business objectives.
- Experience preparing spokespeople to achieve successful interview outcomes.
- Excellent written communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to produce effective media materials such as media releases, talking points, speeches and scripts.
- Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to provide advice to senior stakeholders and influence outcomes.
Further information can be found in the attached PD – Media Adviser
To apply, click 'Apply'. Please submit and complete the application form, upload a cover letter and current resume. For enquiries, please contact Steph Haines from the Talent Acquisition team steph.haines@sawater.com.au.
Applications close 5:00pm, Wednesday 26 August 2026.
A great customer experience is best achieved by having a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the community we serve. Applications are encouraged from everyone, including people living with disability, job seekers of all ages, members of the LGBTIQA+ community, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Our Industry is like no other. Dive into the wonderful world of water and explore the boundless opportunities. Learn more about the water industry at careersinwater.com.au.
Please note: We request that recruitment agencies do not submit candidates for this position, as they will not be accepted.
