Senior Communications and Events Officer

Senior Communications and Events Officer

Location: St Lucia Campus

Time Type: Full time

Posted On: Posted Yesterday

Job Requisition ID: R-42042

Company: Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI)

Position Type: Full-time (100%), fixed-term position through to January 2026

Salary: Base salary will be in the range $89,861.38 - $96,402.32 + 17% Superannuation (HEW Level 6)

About This Opportunity

QAAFI and UQ will host the fifth TropAg international agriculture conference at the Royal International Convention Centre in Brisbane from 11 to 13 November 2025. The TropAg team now needs a Senior Communications and Events officer to help us deliver this incredible three-day event.

TropAg is a world-leading triennial international agriculture conference which attracts up to 1000 delegates representing 50 countries and is backed by more than 25 sponsors and exhibitors. TropAg2025 will address global challenges by bringing together leading Australian and international scientific voices to share research, solutions and innovations to improve agriculture and food production to meet global population growth.

This is a rare opportunity for someone interested in taking their communications and events career to the next level. You will have superior administration and project management skills, excellent written communication, a flair for marketing, and the ability to juggle multiple tasks. Most of all, you will be supported by a happy, vibrant, and cohesive team.

Key Responsibilities will include:

• Event Management:
  • Coordinate external events to promote the institute including planning, logistics and delivery of the TropAg conference, science seminars, webinars, field days, and forums.
  • Liaise with the Professional Conference Organisation (PCO) appointed to support the delivery of the TropAg conference to ensure key milestones are being achieved on time and on budget.
  • Ensure TropAg partners, sponsors and exhibitor contracts are signed, and work with the PCO to ensure sponsor entitlements are delivered.
  • As secretariat for TropAg committees prepare meeting agendas, minutes and track action items for the conference.
  • Prepare invitations for TropAg plenary speakers, coordinate symposia and abstract submissions and prepare the conference program.
  • Liaise with external suppliers for events including negotiating venue hire, catering, photography, audio-visual requirements to budget and timelines etc.
  • Develop an internal and external reporting framework for TropAg including surveys and post-event evaluation reports for committees, hosts, and sponsors.
  • Other Institute event and communication duties as required by the communications manager.
• Engagement and Communications:
  • Implement marketing activities for TropAg including website design and maintenance, marketing collateral, newsletters, conference update emails, social media posts and media announcements.
  • Contribute to the development of the sponsorship prospectus and delivery of sponsor entitlements before, during and after the TropAg conference.
  • Liaise with service providers including graphic designers, printers, trade display companies, venues, and designers regarding advertising, branding, and exhibition spaces from concept to production stage.
• Administration and Reporting:
  • Coordinate UQ’s tender procurement process to select a conference venue and appoint a PCO for the TropAg conference.
  • Maintain a Customer Relationship Management system containing stakeholder contacts for TropAg and the Institute.
  • Process quotes, invoices, requisitions, and payments for suppliers for Institute events and activities.
  • Deliver other communication and engagement activities as required by the communications manager.

This position may be required to attend conferences or events outside of ordinary work hours and some regional or interstate travel may be required. This full-time role is based at The University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus.

About UQ

As part of the UQ community, you will have the opportunity to work alongside the brightest minds, who have joined us from all over the world.

Everyone here has a role to play. As a member of our professional staff cohort, you will be actively involved in working towards our vision of a better world. By supporting the academic endeavour across teaching, research, and the student life, you will have the opportunity to contribute to activities that have a lasting impact on our community.

Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available, such as:

• 26 weeks paid parental leave or 14 weeks paid primary caregiver leave
• 17% superannuation contributions
• 17.5% annual leave loading
• Access to flexible working arrangements including hybrid working options, flexible start/finish times, purchased leave, and a condensed fortnight
• Health and wellness discounts – fitness passport access, free yearly flu vaccinations, discounted health insurance, and access to our Employee Assistance Program for staff and their immediate family
• UQ Study for Staff
• On campus childcare options
• Cheap parking (from just $5.75 a day)
• Salary packaging options

About You

Qualifications in communications, project management and/or event management or relevant experience is required.

Demonstrated ability to plan, manage and deliver conferences or high-profile events within a designated budget and timeline.

Highly effective organisational and planning skills including excellent attention to detail and accuracy, the ability to use initiative, prioritise workloads, solve problems and meet strict deadlines.

Ability to prepare quality communication materials such as publications, website content and promotional items, sponsorship agreements, and grant proposals, negotiate agreements and ensure sponsorship entitlements are delivered.

Outstanding written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to build effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders from a variety of organisational and cultural backgrounds.

Highly proficient skills and experience using event and marketing software programs to manage events effectively and create marketing collateral.

Experience with: editing and maintaining websites using Drupal, WordPress or similar CMS, experience with Vision 6 software or similar to create and send messages to stakeholders, experience with Adobe InDesign graphic design software to create marketing collateral, Experience with EventsAir event management software or similar, and experience with Wrike project management software or similar.

Knowledge of the agriculture industry and/or university research sectors is desirable.

The successful candidate may be required to complete a number of pre-employment checks, including: right to work in Australia, criminal check, education check etc.

Work Rights:

You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Questions?

For more information about this opportunity, please contact QAAFI Communications Manager, Carolyn Martin - carolyn.martin@uq.edu.au

For application queries, please contact talent@uq.edu.au stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.

Want to Apply?

All applicants must upload the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

• Cover letter summarising how your background aligns to the ‘About You’ section
• Resume

Other Information

UQ is committed to a fair, equitable and inclusive selection process, which recognises that some applicants may face additional barriers and challenges which have impacted and/or continue to impact their career trajectory. Candidates who don’t meet all criteria are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their potential. The selection panel considers both potential and performance relative to opportunities when assessing suitability for the role.

We know one of our strengths as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues. We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment that mirrors our wider community. We're committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting diverse talent. Reach out to talent@uq.edu.au for accessibility support or adjustments.

Applications close: 29 September 2024 at 11.00pm AEST (R-42042). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for early October.