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Shield AI, a venture-backed defense-tech company, is seeking a Senior Communications Manager based in Melbourne to lead earned media and communications strategy for Australia. The role focuses on building Shield AI's reputation and media presence in the Australian defense, aerospace, and national-security sectors.
Key responsibilities include:
**Earned Media & Press Strategy**: Own Shield AI's earned-media footprint in Australia by building relationships with defense, aerospace, national-security, technology, business and policy journalists. Develop and execute proactive media strategies tied to product milestones, customer activity, workforce developments, and major defense exhibitions like Land Forces and Avalon Airshow. Identify opportunities for executives and technical leaders to participate in interviews, briefings, and contributed articles. Serve as primary point of contact for Australian media inquiries, coordinating sensitive and reactive communications with regional and global teams. Prepare spokespeople for interviews and media engagements. Monitor news, defense-policy developments, industry trends and competitor activity.
**Content Development & Storytelling**: Develop Australia-focused communications materials including press releases, bylines, executive talking points, speeches, briefing documents, media pitches, case studies and internal communications. Build a repeatable local storytelling pipeline around Australian engineering, mission autonomy, AI-enabled sensing, resilient ISR, and allied interoperability. Translate complex technical concepts into compelling narratives for technical and non-technical audiences. Localize global Shield AI messaging for Australian stakeholder priorities while maintaining brand consistency. Work with technical, program, business-development and government-relations colleagues to validate claims and ensure disciplined messaging.
**Narrative, Reputation & Stakeholder Positioning**: Shape and protect Shield AI's reputation as a credible, long-term contributor to Australia's defense and national-security ecosystem. Build sustained earned visibility demonstrating Shield AI's commitment to Australia through local talent, engineering, and collaboration with Australian industry and defense stakeholders. Differentiate Shield AI's local capability and technology leadership in discussions around sovereign autonomy, AI, sensing and future warfare. Anticipate and manage narrative risk around foreign ownership, sovereign capability, defense procurement, AI assurance and geopolitical sensitivities. Partner with Australia business development and government relations teams.
**Events & Regional Coordination**: Lead communications planning for priority Australian events including Land Forces and Avalon Airshow. Develop integrated event communications plans covering narrative development, media targets, executive programs, press materials, interview scheduling and post-event follow-up. Coordinate with Asia and Middle East regional teams on overlapping activities. Manage external agencies and suppliers. Travel within Australia and periodically across Asia-Pacific as needed.
**Requirements**: 8+ years of communications experience including meaningful experience in defense, aerospace, national security, government, technology or complex B2G sectors. Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, political science, international relations, marketing or related field, or equivalent practical experience. Strong track record of securing high-quality earned media coverage in Australia with established relationships across relevant defense, aerospace, business, technology and policy media. Demonstrated experience developing communications strategies and executing programs around major announcements, partnerships, events and executive visibility. Exceptional written and verbal storytelling skills with sound editorial judgment and attention to detail. Experience drafting and editing press releases, media materials, executive briefing documents, speeches, talking points and thought-leadership content. Familiarity with Australian defense-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 diverse audiences. Strong critical thinking and analytical skills to identify brand enhancement opportunities while assessing 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 high autonomy and manage multiple projects, deadlines and stakeholders in fast-paced environment. Interest in AI, autonomy, uncrewed systems, sensing and defense technology.
