VACANCY
Public Relations and Communications Specialist (PMO)
Program Background The Tonga Australia Support Platform (TASP) is a mechanism which supports the work of the Australian Government in meeting development objectives in Tonga. It is a multi-sector development facility that uses multiple modalities including development program management, technical advisory support, grants management, subcontracting and supports Australian Government policy development and dialogue to deliver the desired outcomes.
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The Role As part of the Government of Tonga's commitment to continue to develop a more efficient and effective communication strategy with the public, promoting the transparency and accountability of Government and informing the public of the achievements of Government, a Public Relations & Communications Specialist (PRCS) is to be engaged to support the Prime Minister, Cabinet and Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The PRCS will work with the PMO, Ministry of Finance and the Public Service Commission and accountability agencies to generate media content and event opportunities for champions of reform to inform the public and enhance broad-based understanding of the priority reform efforts of Government.
The overall goal for the role is to strengthen the capacity and capability of the PMO to plan, prepare, review and research issues that are of interest and critical not only to the public but also the Government and provide support to ensure that these critical issues are being reported accurately and completely. In the long run it is envisaged that the role will establish and nurture a culture of building public trust through communication to develop social accountability mechanism that include transparency and feedback in relation to government budgets, civil service performance and recommendations.
The assignment will also contribute to the goal of strengthening the core and specialized communication functions of the PMO to the Prime Minister. It will provide primary support in the Office of the PM (OPM) that is proactive in reviewing and keeping up with issues that are publicly reported concerning Government, domestically and internationally not only by media organisations but also individuals, through social media. The role would assist Government by reviewing and researching misinformation and disinformation and to address this for the common good of the Government and the public.
The role seeks a senior expert to be hired as a PRCS for the short-term assignment (July - October 2025). The selected candidate will support the OPM communication and media work in English language and work closely with the Strategic Adviser to the Prime Minister located in the PMO at St George Government Building, Level 4, Vuna Rd, Nuku'alofa Tonga.
The PRCS will be responsible for -
- Provide high level public and media advice to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet Ministers, and to the OPM, as directed.
- Update/Design and implement effective communication strategies between the Government and the public.
- Design and implement effective communication strategies between the Prime Minister and Government and international and regional media organisations.
- Design and produce monthly, weekly press conference plans for the Hon Prime Minister and Cabinet Minister to provide public awareness on Government's initiatives, projects and directions, with a positive focus on reform agendas
- Provide ongoing review of international, regional, and national news relevant to Tonga and provide updates to the Hon Prime Minister.
- Provide ongoing review of social media news, identifying key issues to be addressed and reported.
- Conduct relevant research into strategic issue(s) related to the Prime Minister and Government that are reported in the media.
- Manage the update of Government's achievements to the media.
- Maintain the confidentiality and integrity of Government information.
- Draft media briefings for the Prime Minister; draft and/or edit results stories, Op-Eds, blog posts, one-pagers, fact sheets and other materials, including reports, toolkits or other documents intended for print and online dissemination.
- Design and supervise production of multimedia products (videos, slide shows, podcasts, and infographics) around the work agenda of the OPM for internal and external audiences.
- Upon directions from the PM. work with Hon Ministers and relevant Ministries on any issues identified that needed to be communicated to the public.
- Where appropriate, work closely with the TASP Strategic Communications Coordinator to ensure aligned messaging, support joint communication initiatives and events, and contribute to cohesive strategic communications efforts across Government and development partners.
- Meet TASP reporting requirements including for Monitoring and Evaluation purposes.
Click on the link or copy paste it to access the full Terms of Reference for this position: TOR - Public Relations and Communications Specialist_Final.docx
About You
Essential Experience, Capacities and Knowledge
- Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, or a related field such as research, development, or information and communications.
- Minimum of 5-10 years' experience in Tonga in communications, marketing, journalism, or related fields.
- Proven understanding of Tonga's media landscape, government structures, legislative frameworks, and cultural context.
- Strong communication skills with demonstrated ability in conceptual thinking and professional writing.
- Well-developed organisational, research, analytical, and project management skills; able to prioritise, meet deadlines, and manage time effectively.
- High level of independence, ownership of tasks, and the ability to work with minimal supervision.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Office 365, Outlook, and standard IT tools.
Desirable
- Demonstrated enthusiasm for the communications field and a willingness to grow professionally.
- Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural skills; able to engage with diverse stakeholders.
- High attention to detail and commitment to quality output.
- Familiarity with social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) and basic knowledge of websites and online tools.
- Integrity, sound judgment, self-motivation, and professionalism.
Why join TASP?
TASP is committed to child protection and safeguarding the welfare of children in the delivery of our international development programs. We are committed to Safety and the Prevention of Sexual Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH), and bribery prevention. TASP is an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage women, men, people with diverse backgrounds and people living with disabilities to apply. This program is funded by the Australian Government and Managed by DT Global.
HOW TO APPLY Click the 'Apply Now' button or email your application with the reference "Public Relations and Communications Specialist" to recruitment [at] tasplatform [dot] net.
Please submit
- Your CV
- A cover letter addressing the selection criteria
- Name and contact details (phone and email) of three referees.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE 29th June 2025 / 23h59 / UTC +13 (Tonga Standard Time)
Should this role be of interest; we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Kindly note only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
DT Global is committed to child protection and safeguarding the welfare of children in the delivery of our international development programs. We are committed to Safety and the Prevention of Sexual Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH), and bribery prevention. DT Global is an equal opportunity employer and we encourage women, men, people with diverse backgrounds and people living with disabilities to apply. This program is funded by the Australian Government and Managed by DT Global.
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