Vice President, Public Affairs

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Teneo is seeking a Vice President, Public Affairs in Melbourne to advise clients on public affairs, policy, regulatory engagement, and stakeholder strategy at the intersection of business and government. As a core member of the Strategy and Communications team, you will lead delivery on public affairs programs, map stakeholders, develop policy analysis and messaging, while mentoring junior staff and helping shape new business opportunities. Ideal candidates have 6 to 10 years in public affairs or policy advisory, solid knowledge of Australia’s political and regulatory landscape, and an existing government or industry network; consultancy or professional services experience is preferred. To apply, tailor your CV to show outcomes, leadership across multi-stakeholder teams, and a concise cover letter addressing strategy and execution.

Vice President, Public Affairs - Melbourne, Australia

The Opportunity

As Teneo continues to grow its presence in Australia, we are seeking a Vice President with a strong background in corporate and public affairs to join our Strategy and Communications team, based in Melbourne.

This role focuses on advising clients on public affairs, policy, regulatory engagement, and stakeholder strategy, particularly where business objectives intersect with government policy, regulatory change, and broader geopolitical dynamics. Australia has a highly visible, fast‑moving environment, requiring strong judgement, political and regulatory literacy, and the ability to advise senior leaders through complex and sensitive situations.

A Vice President at Teneo is a core member of our account teams, responsible for helping execute strategic communications programmes in support of Teneo’s clients. You will play a pivotal role in providing the highest quality of service to our clients and act as the day-to-day lead for all client projects and oversee team delivery.

The role will suit candidates with proven experience advising on the Australian public affairs landscape, corporate affairs, policy advisory, or closely related fields, whether from consultancy, in‑house, or adjacent professional services environments.

Responsibilities

As a Vice President within Teneo’s Strategy and Communications team in Australia, your role will include:

Public affairs and policy advisory 

• Advise clients on public affairs, regulatory, and policy‑related issues relevant to Australia and the wider Asia‑Pacific region.
• Support clients in anticipating and responding to political, regulatory, and stakeholder developments that may impact business operations or reputation.
• Contribute to stakeholder mapping, policy analysis, and engagement strategies aligned to client objectives.

Stakeholder, issues strategy and execution

• Support the development of integrated stakeholder engagement strategies across government, regulators, industry bodies, and other relevant audiences.
• Advise on issues preparedness and response, ensuring clients are positioned credibly and constructively in sensitive or high‑risk situations.
• Support the development of public affairs strategies, including research, policy analysis, and scenario planning.
• Translate complex policy and regulatory developments into clear, actionable advice for senior client leadership.

Narrative

• Develop narratives and messaging that support public affairs objectives, including briefing materials, position papers, executive talking points, and thought leadership.
• Work with communications specialists to ensure alignment between public affairs strategy and broader reputation management efforts.

Business development

• Support leadership in identifying and developing new public affairs opportunities.
• Contribute to proposals, pitch materials, and client meetings.

Client and team leadership

• Oversee workstreams and deliverables across public affairs‑led accounts, ensuring high‑quality execution and timely delivery.
• Mentor and support Consultants, Associates, and Senior Associates, contributing to their development in public affairs advisory work.

In addition, you will be expected to:

• • Work as a core member of integrated client teams, supporting public affairs and policy advisory engagements across Australia and the region.
  • Help ensure consistently high standards of delivery by supporting project coordination, research, and quality assurance.
  • Contribute ideas and analysis that inform client strategies, drawing on policy, regulatory, and stakeholder insights.
  • Engage actively with the wider Teneo team to build skills, share knowledge, and support the firm’s public affairs work across Asia Pacific.

Responsibilities

• 6 – 10 years of relevant experience in public affairs, policy advisory, corporate affairs, or related roles ideally within a consultancy or professional services environment.
• Strong understanding of Australia’s political, regulatory, and stakeholder environment, with awareness of regional and global dynamics.
• Existing network of relationships with government, public policy makers, think tanks and industry associations would be advantageous
• Experience advising clients or internal stakeholders on policy, regulatory, or government‑related issues.
• Ability to synthesise complex political or regulatory developments into clear, practical advice.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing executive‑level briefing materials.
• Demonstrable leadership in managing multiple stakeholders while maintaining good relationships
• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, international relations, law, economics, communications, or a related discipline; a postgraduate qualification is an advantage.

*More experienced candidates may be considered for a Senior Vice President role

About Teneo

Teneo is the global CEO advisory firm. We partner with our clients globally to do great things for a better future.

Drawing upon our global team and expansive network of senior advisors, we provide advisory services across our five business segments on a stand-alone or fully integrated basis to help our clients solve complex business challenges. Our clients include a significant number of the Fortune 100 and FTSE 100, as well as other corporations, financial institutions and organizations.

Our full range of advisory services includes strategic communications, investor relations, financial transactions and restructuring, management consulting, physical and cyber risk, organisational design, board and executive search, geopolitics and government affairs, corporate governance, ESG and DE&I. The firm has more than 1,800 employees located in 42+ offices around the world.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

Teneo is an equal opportunity employer and promotes a diverse and inclusive workplace. Teneo considers all applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, creed, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, disability, gender identity, genetic information, or sexual orientation or any other status protected by applicable law.