Introduction
The Communications Project Officer at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development helps researchers and project teams explain their work. Based in the Research Development Office within Agriculture and Biosecurity, the role produces articles, newsletters, SharePoint content and communication resources. It is a temporary full-time position until April 2027, with a possibility of extension.
The application asks for a cover letter of no more than two pages and a CV of no more than four pages. Planning how to apply for Communications Project Officer starts with a story you made understandable for a particular audience. Explain how you gathered the information, worked with specialists and shaped the material into something readers could use.
DPIRD is willing to consider candidates across NSW, with a regional preference focused on Queanbeyan, Armidale, Dubbo and Coffs Harbour. That makes the role worth considering if you bring communications experience and want to work with research that supports primary industries. Discuss location arrangements with the hiring manager if they affect your availability.
View the official Communications Project Officer vacancy.
Contents
- Role snapshot
- Application requirements
- Candidate evidence
- Example application structure
- Before you submit
- Role enquiries
Communications Project Officer role snapshot
| Role | Communications Project Officer |
| Organisation | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Agriculture and Biosecurity |
| Location | NSW locations considered; regional preference including Queanbeyan, Armidale, Dubbo and Coffs Harbour |
| Work type | Temporary full-time until April 2027, possible extension |
| Classification | Clerk Grade 7/8 |
| Salary | $113,574 to $125,720 per annum plus superannuation and leave loading |
| Closing date | Thursday 17 September 2026 at 11:55pm AEST |
| Reference | 510111 |
Application requirements for Communications Project Officer
Use the two-page letter to explain the strongest links between your communications experience and the research setting. The CV can provide the broader work history and achievements behind those examples.
- CV, maximum 4 pages.
- Cover letter outlining relevant skills and experience, maximum 2 pages.
Keep the document limits separate when checking the final files. Your letter needs room for examples of writing, digital content and collaboration, so combine related evidence where one project demonstrates several requirements. Check the online form for any further written instructions before submitting.
Essential role requirements and conditions
The preferred candidate may be required to complete reference checks, a national police check, a bankruptcy check, a health assessment or other assessments as required. These are recruitment conditions, rather than extra documents to add to the cover letter. The role is 35 hours per week and the stated NSW location preferences should be discussed where relevant.
Candidate evidence for Communications Project Officer
The candidate requirements emphasise communications across channels, clear writing and productive relationships with the people who hold the information. The following evidence areas can help you plan a letter grounded in the actual work.
| Requirement or capability from role | How to demonstrate it |
|---|---|
| Communications across multiple channels | Use a project involving web or intranet content, a newsletter, article, presentation or related resource. Explain how you adapted the message for the channel and audience. |
| Writing, editing and research storytelling | Describe how you turned a technical subject into a clear story. Show how you retained accuracy while helping readers understand the purpose or impact. |
| Promoting programs, research or initiatives | Explain how your content increased awareness or helped people understand an initiative. Use a specific outcome or feedback where it is available. |
| Stakeholder relationships | Show how you gathered information from specialists, resolved different views and secured the input needed to complete the communication. |
| Accessible digital content | Describe how you maintained content and considered usability, accessibility and audience needs. Give a practical decision or improvement you made. |
| Organisation and project coordination | Explain how you managed competing content requests, tracked approvals and delivered quality material within the available time. |
Example application structure for Communications Project Officer
The application requires a cover letter and CV, with the letter explaining your relevant skills and experience. The cover letter has a maximum of two pages and the CV a maximum of four pages. The outline below keeps the letter tied to DPIRD’s communications requirements.
| Cover letter section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Opening and relevant experience | Name the Communications Project Officer role and identify the communications setting you know best. Briefly connect that experience with research, programs or technical information. |
| Multi-channel communication and storytelling | Use a strong example that covers gathering information, writing and adapting content across channels. Explain your editorial choices and the result for the audience. |
| Stakeholders and research information | Describe how you worked with specialists or project teams to clarify a message and obtain accurate information. Show how you handled a difficult approval or competing view. |
| Digital content and accessibility | Explain a practical improvement to web or intranet material, including the audience need and the checks you made. Connect the example to maintaining useful, current content. |
| Coordination and closing | Show how you managed priorities and completed the work on time. Finish with a brief statement of your interest and any relevant location information. |
What the panel will want to see in your examples
- A clear explanation of how you made complex information understandable.
- Evidence that the content suited its channel and audience.
- Your own contribution to working with researchers or other specialists.
- Practical attention to accessibility, accuracy and approvals.
- Delivery within realistic deadlines and a supportable result.
Before you submit
Confirm the letter is within two pages and the CV within four. Check that each example identifies your actions and that any research or performance claims are accurate. Applications close at 11:55pm AEST on Thursday 17 September 2026; allow time for the final upload and confirmation.
Role enquiries
Confidential role discussion: Jayne Annis-Brown, Manager Tools, Comms and Education, jayne.annis-brown@dpird.nsw.gov.au, 0409 178 495.
Help with your Communications Project Officer application
A clear evidence plan makes a two-page letter easier to write. Use the free NSW Government cover letter guide to organise the examples, or request a Complete Government Application if you want Team 3Thirty to prepare the written documents around your experience.
Check the current Communications Project Officer vacancy before submitting your application.