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Senior Communications Manager, Australia (R6089)

Shield AI· Growth Division – Business Development Marketing
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MelbourneFull Time EmployeePosted 4d ago

About the role

Senior communications role focused on leading media relations, content creation, and stakeholder positioning for Shield AI in Australia, with responsibility for building local reputation, coordinating with regional and global teams, and supporting strategic business priorities in a defence technology context.

Responsibilities

  • Own and grow Shield AI's earned-media footprint in Australia, building trusted relationships with defence, aerospace, national-security, technology and policy journalists.
  • Develop and execute proactive media strategies tied to product and technology milestones, customer and partner activity, local engineering and workforce developments, and major defence exhibitions and events.
  • Identify and create opportunities for Shield AI executives, technical leaders and subject-matter experts to participate in interviews, briefings, contributed articles and other earned speaking engagements.
  • Serve as a primary point of contact for Australian media inquiries, coordinating sensitive, reactive and issues communications with regional and global teams.
  • Prepare spokespeople for interviews, media briefings and public engagements; manage press logistics and on-site media operations.
  • Monitor news, defence-policy developments, industry trends and competitor activity to identify opportunities, risks and emerging narratives relevant to Shield AI.
  • Develop and edit Australia-focused communications materials, including press releases, bylines, executive talking points, speeches, briefing documents, media pitches, customer-safe case studies and internal communications.
  • Build a repeatable local storytelling pipeline around Australian engineering, mission autonomy, AI-enabled sensing, resilient ISR, trusted local capability and allied interoperability.
  • Translate complex technical concepts into concise, accurate and compelling narratives for both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Localise global Shield AI messaging for Australian stakeholder priorities and public-policy context while maintaining consistency with the core brand and mission.
  • Work with technical, programme, business-development and government-relations colleagues to validate claims, capture proof points and ensure disciplined external messaging.
  • Shape and protect Shield AI's reputation as a credible, consistent and long-term contributor to Australia's defence and national-security ecosystem.
  • Build a sustained drumbeat of earned visibility that demonstrates Shield AI's commitment to Australia through local talent, engineering, technology development and collaboration with Australian industry and defence stakeholders.
  • Help differentiate Shield AI's local capability and technology leadership in sovereign autonomy, AI, sensing and future warfare.
  • Anticipate and help manage narrative risk, including questions related to foreign ownership, sovereign capability, defence procurement, AI assurance and geopolitical sensitivities.
  • Partner closely with Australia business development and government relations teams to ensure communications activity supports stakeholder engagement while maintaining appropriate independence and credibility with media.
  • Lead communications planning and execution for priority Australian events, including Land Forces, Avalon Airshow and other relevant defence, aerospace, technology and policy engagements.
  • Develop integrated event communications plans covering narrative development, media targets, executive programmes, press materials, interview scheduling, on-site management and post-event follow-up.
  • Coordinate with the Asia and Middle East regional team on overlapping executive visits, partner announcements and major communications moments.
  • Manage external agencies, freelancers and suppliers where appropriate, setting clear scopes, standards, reporting and performance expectations.
  • Travel within Australia and periodically across the Asia-Pacific region as business needs require.

Qualifications

  • 8+ years of communications experience, including meaningful experience in defence, aerospace, national security, government, technology or other complex B2G sectors.
  • Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, political science, international relations, marketing or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • Strong track record of securing high-quality earned media coverage in Australia, with established relationships across relevant defence, aerospace, business, technology and/or policy media.
  • Demonstrated experience developing communications strategies and executing programmes around major announcements, partnerships, events and executive visibility.
  • Exceptional written and verbal storytelling skills, sound editorial judgement and close attention to detail.
  • Experience drafting and editing press releases, media materials, executive briefing documents, speeches, talking points and thought-leadership content.
  • Familiarity with Australian defence-industry dynamics, government and stakeholder sensitivities, and public discussions around sovereign capability, advanced technology and national security.
  • Ability to simplify complex technical concepts accurately for non-technical and technical audiences alike.
  • Strong critical thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to identify opportunities for brand enhancement while assessing potential reputational and issues risks.
  • Experience working across cross-functional and cross-cultural teams, including technical leaders, business development, government relations, external partners and senior executives.
  • Ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy and manage multiple projects, deadlines and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.
  • Interest in AI, autonomy, uncrewed systems, sensing and defence technology.

Skills

Required:Earned media strategy
Last updated Oct 23, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Shield AI

Autonomy for the world.

Our mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems.

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