Introduction
The Director Strategic Communications at Cancer Institute NSW advises executive leaders and leads a multidisciplinary communications team. The permanent full-time role in St Leonards is responsible for communication strategies that support the Institute’s reputation and credibility. Its two pre-screening questions call for substantial examples of executive advice and leadership through a difficult situation. The application needs to make your decisions, influence and results visible at that level.
View the official job ad. Applications close Sunday 27 September 2026 at 11:59pm AEST.
Role snapshot
| Detail | Role information |
|---|---|
| Role | Director Strategic Communications |
| Employer | Cancer Institute NSW |
| Location | St Leonards |
| Salary / grade | Health Manager Level 6, $197,473 to $215,676 per annum plus 12% superannuation |
| Closing date | Sunday 27 September 2026 at 11:59pm AEST |
Application requirements
- Resume, maximum five pages
- Covering letter addressing the Essential Requirements in the Role Description
- Responses to two pre-screening questions
The advert does not state a cover-letter page limit or a word limit for the pre-screening answers. Check the role description and portal for those details. Keep the pre-screening responses identifiable as separate answers to the questions.
Pre-screening questions
- Describe a time when you provided strategic communications advice to a CEO, Executive Team or Board on a complex issue involving significant organisational, political or reputational risk. What was your advice, how did you influence decision-making, and what was the outcome?
- Describe the most significant leadership challenge you have faced as a communications leader. What was the situation, what decisions did you make, how did you bring your team through the challenge, and what was the outcome?
Candidate evidence to prepare
Use the following evidence areas to plan your examples for Director Strategic Communications. These are practical application recommendations drawn from the work and experience described for this vacancy.
| Requirement or evidence area | How to demonstrate it |
|---|---|
| Executive advice | Make clear what you recommended, the options you considered and how your advice affected a decision. |
| Communications leadership | Show how you led a multidisciplinary team through uncertainty, balanced priorities and maintained the quality of delivery. |
| Reputation and judgement | Explain how you assessed a sensitive issue, established reliable information and connected the response with organisational responsibilities. |
Essential role requirements and conditions
The role is 40 hours per week. The advert describes permanent appointment work-rights requirements and a qualified temporary-visa pathway; confirm eligibility with recruitment if that affects you. Greater consideration may be given to suitable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants under GSE Rule 26. Review the Essential Requirements in the role description before applying.
Example application structure
Use the cover letter to address the role description’s Essential Requirements and establish your leadership scope. Develop each pre-screening answer separately, with enough context to understand the stakes and a precise account of your own decisions. The resume should demonstrate the scale and continuity of your communications leadership within five pages.
| Application planning section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Opening paragraph | Open with the scope of your communications leadership, the health or public-sector context you understand, and why this executive role fits your experience. Connect that background to the essential requirements in the role description, then use the following sections to demonstrate your evidence. |
| Describe a time when you provided strategic communications advice to a CEO, Executive Team or Board on a complex issue involving significant organisational, political or reputational risk. What was your advice, how did you influence decision-making, and what was the outcome? | Explain the risk, your advice, the stakeholders whose decisions you influenced and the outcome, with appropriate confidentiality. |
| Describe the most significant leadership challenge you have faced as a communications leader. What was the situation, what decisions did you make, how did you bring your team through the challenge, and what was the outcome? | Describe the leadership challenge, your decisions, how you supported and directed the team and what changed as a result. |
| Closing paragraph | Confirm your interest in this role and the relevant working or eligibility conditions. Keep the close brief. |
What the panel will want to see in your examples
- Make clear what you recommended, the options you considered and how your advice affected a decision.
- Show how you led a multidisciplinary team through uncertainty, balanced priorities and maintained the quality of delivery.
- Explain how you assessed a sensitive issue, established reliable information and connected the response with organisational responsibilities.
- State the result and the evidence you have for it, with a clear account of your own responsibility.
Before you submit
Recheck the role description’s Essential Requirements rather than relying on the advertisement overview alone. Confirm that both pre-screening answers explain outcomes and influence, not only activity. Protect confidential executive information while retaining enough detail for the assessor to understand your judgement.
Revisit the official job ad and use the NSW Government cover letter guide to check your structure. If you need help preparing a role-specific written application, you can share the vacancy and your experience through Team 3Thirty’s application service.