Senior Manager - Government & Media Relations at Wesfarmers Health

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

10 Sep, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

12 Jun, 26

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Government Relations, Public Policy, Media Engagement, Stakeholder Management, Advocacy, Crisis Management, Strategic Planning, Regulatory Compliance, Corporate Communications, Policy Analysis, Executive Briefing, Political Acumen

Industry

Retail Health and Personal Care Products

Description

At Wesfarmers Health we strive to make health, beauty and wellness experiences simpler, more affordable and easier to access for all Australians. Our portfolio includes well-known names like Priceline, as well as our MediAesthetics brands - Clear Skincare Clinics and SILK Laser Clinics. In the digital space, we’re proud to have SISU Health and InstantScripts—and most recently, we’ve launched our newest retail beauty stores, atomica. About us: What began in 1910 as a small co-operative of just three pharmacies has grown into Wesfarmers Health—a leading Australian organisation in health, beauty, and wellness. Today, Wesfarmers Health proudly employs over 3,600 team members, all committed to delivering accessible, innovative, and trusted health and beauty services to Australians nationwide, across retail, medi-aesthetics, digital health, and wholesale and supply chain operations. What you’ll do: We’re looking for a strategic and highly connected Senior Manager – Government & Media Relations to lead our government relations, public policy and media engagement agenda across Wesfarmers Health. Reporting to the General Manager Corporate Affairs & Sustainability, you will play a critical leadership role navigating a complex and highly regulated external environment—building trusted relationships with government, regulators, industry bodies and media, while shaping policy outcomes that support our business and customers. You’ll act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, providing insight on policy, regulatory and reputational matters, while elevating the organisation’s external profile and credibility as a leading voice in health, beauty and wellness. In this role, you will: Lead the development and execution of an integrated government relations strategy across Commonwealth and state/territory stakeholders Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with ministers, regulators, industry bodies and key external stakeholders Shape and drive Wesfarmers Health’s public policy platform, advocacy agenda and thought leadership initiatives Develop high-quality submissions, position papers and regulatory responses aligned to strategic priorities Monitor and interpret the policy and regulatory landscape, providing timely insights and advice to senior leaders Act as the primary interface for media, managing proactive engagement as well as complex issues and crisis situations Develop and execute media strategies that strengthen brand reputation and position the organisation as a trusted voice What you’ll bring: Minimum 15 years' experience in public affairs, government relations, corporate communications or a related field, with demonstrated experience operating at a senior level Proven track record in public policy development and advocacy, including the preparation of submissions, position papers and regulatory representations Experience engaging with governments at Commonwealth and state/territory levels, ideally across health or closely related portfolios Solid understanding of the Australian health regulatory environment including familiarity with the Pharmacy Guild, AHPRA, TGA or equivalent bodies Established media relations experience, including managing complex, sensitive and high-profile situations Strong written communication skills, with the ability to produce compelling policy arguments, executive briefings and media materials to a high standard Political acumen and stakeholder judgement with an ability to read the environment, anticipate risk and translate complexity into practical, actionable advice Bachelor's degree in public policy, political science, communications, journalism, law or a related discipline (required) Postgraduate qualifications in a relevant field (preferred) Why us? Access to employee benefits across Wesfarmers including team member discounts at Bunnings, Kmart, Target, Officeworks, OnePass, Priceline, atomica and Clear Skincare Clinics Ongoing professional development and career opportunities across the Wesfarmers Health Division and the broader Wesfarmers Group Novated leasing options Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - available to all team members and their immediate family members, 24/7, 365 days a year Beautiful outdoor terrace for work and recreation Food, coffee and health & wellbeing facilities onsite including a landlord operated gym Dedicated end of trip facilities (cycle racks, showers, lockers) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants Wesfarmers Health aims to become an employer of choice for First Nations Australians, through investments that attract, empower and retain First Nations team members within our stores, distribution centres, clinics and corporate offices. As part of the Wesfarmers group, we provide authentic support through a diverse range of programs and initiatives, designed to empower you on your journey towards personal achievement and professional advancement.

Responsibilities

Lead the integrated government relations and media engagement strategy to navigate complex regulatory environments. Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders while shaping public policy outcomes and managing the organization's external reputation.