Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement

The Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement will lead the Agency’s communications and stakeholder engagement function. The postholder will shape and deliver a strategic, evidence-based communications service and stakeholder engagement that supports the Agency’s Statement of Strategy, protects and enhances organisational reputation, builds our networks, highlights our impact, and positions the Agency as a trusted voice in housing policy, housing delivery and sustainable communities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic leadership

Lead the development, implementation and ongoing review of the Housing Agency’s corporate communications and public relations strategy, ensuring alignment with organisational strategy and annual business priorities.

Translate strategic priorities into annual communications plans, campaigns and measurable objectives, with clear performance indicators and reporting arrangements.

Provide senior strategic communications advice to the Chief Executive, Directors and senior management on messaging, positioning, media engagement and reputational issues.

Promote a consistent, high-quality and citizen-focused approach to communications across the organisation.

2. Media and public relations

Act as a senior point of contact for media relations, including proactive media engagement, reactive press office activity and the management of day-to-day media queries.

Draft, edit and quality assure press releases, public statements, speeches, opinion pieces, briefing notes, interview lines, questions and answers, and other public-facing material.

Prepare and support senior spokespeople for interviews, public events and other media engagements.

Monitor traditional, broadcast and digital media to identify emerging issues, reputational risks and opportunities, and provide timely analysis and recommendations.

Develop, maintain and test crisis communications and issues-management protocols, including escalation and rapid response arrangements.

3. Stakeholder Engagement

Lead the development and full implementation of the Housing Agency’s Stakeholder Engagement Model across the organisation.

Drive organisational adoption of the model by developing rollout plans, building staff awareness, and providing training and support to managers and teams.

Oversee the introduction of enabling systems and tools to support stakeholder engagement and service delivery.

Advise the Chief Executive on stakeholder communications and on demonstrating the Agency’s impact to the Board, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and other key audiences.

Provide expert guidance to external housing sector stakeholders, including government departments, local authorities, approved housing bodies, and practitioners, on programme performance and related matters.

Represent the Agency on advisory and working groups, while building effective external relationships and promoting a professional, collaborative, stakeholder-focused approach to service delivery.

4. Digital and internal communications

Oversee the effective use of digital channels, including website, social media and email communications, ensuring content is current, accessible, accurate and aligned to brand and governance standards.

Establish and maintain governance arrangements for digital content, approvals, accessibility and quality control.

Use data, insight and audience analysis to strengthen the effectiveness, reach and impact of communications activity across channels.

Lead internal communications planning and work closely with colleagues across the organisation, including Human Resources, to support staff engagement and employer brand initiatives.

5. Governance, performance and resource management

Develop dashboards and reporting arrangements to evaluate communications activity, outcomes and impact, and provide regular reports to senior management.

Manage assigned budgets, procurement processes and supplier contracts in line with public sector governance, financial control and value-for-money requirements.

Ensure all communications activity complies with relevant legislation, public sector obligations, policy requirements and internal governance arrangements.

Contribute to broader corporate priorities and undertake other duties appropriate to the grade and function as may be assigned from time to time.

6. Team leadership

Lead, manage and develop staff and/or external providers delivering communications and stakeholder activity.

Set clear objectives, monitor performance, provide feedback and support the development of a high-performing, collaborative and service-oriented team culture.

Promote innovation, continuous improvement and strong standards of professional practice.

Essential Qualifications, Experience and Requirements

Candidates must be able to demonstrate all of the following:

A recognised qualification at a minimum of Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, media, public affairs, business, social sciences, humanities or another relevant discipline; or a relevant professional qualification and equivalent suitable experience.

At least 7 years’ relevant professional experience in communications, media, public relations, stakeholder engagement, or a closely related field.

At least 3 years’ experience in a senior management or leadership role, with responsibility for planning, prioritising and delivering a substantial body of work through staff and/or external providers.

Significant experience across a range of communications disciplines, including media relations, reactive press handling, public relations, digital communications, internal communications, content development and stakeholder engagement.

Experience of advising senior executives or senior management teams on areas such as: communications strategy, messaging, media handling, stakeholder engagement and reputational matters.

Strong drafting, editorial and presentation skills, with the ability to produce clear, accurate and audience-appropriate material on complex issues.

Experience of managing multiple priorities and delivering high-quality work to tight deadlines in a fast-moving environment.

Experience of managing and developing staff, together with strong analytical, organisational and project management skills.

A proven ability to absorb complex information quickly, exercise sound judgement and make timely, well-grounded decisions.

Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.

An understanding of public sector governance, accountability and the importance of reputation, accuracy and value for money in organisational communications.

Eligibility to work in the State and to fulfil any public-sector pre-employment requirements that apply at the point of appointment.

Desirable Criteria

Experience in the public sector or another complex stakeholder setting.
Knowledge of the housing sector.
Experience in commissioning and managing external agencies or specialist suppliers.
Knowledge of digital accessibility, plain English standards and modern content governance practice.
Irish language capability and/or experience contributing to an organisation’s Irish language commitments.

Special Conditions of the Role

The role will require flexibility and a willingness to respond to urgent communications issues outside normal business hours from time to time, including evenings and weekends.

The postholder may be required to travel to meetings, events and stakeholder engagements as part of the role.

The postholder will be expected to work in accordance with the Housing Agency’s policies, procedures, governance arrangements and values.

Competencies

Candidates will also be expected to be able to demonstrate that they possess the key competencies:

Leadership and Strategic Direction
Leads the team, setting high standards, tackling any performance problems & facilitating high performance (inspires trust, clarifies purpose, aligns systems and maintains talent and plans actions)
Contributes to the shaping of The Housing Agency’s strategy and policy
Develops capability and capacity across the team through effective delegation.
Develops a culture of learning & development, offering coaching and constructive/supportive feedback.
Leads on preparing for and implementing significant change and reform.
Anticipates and responds quickly to developments in the sector/broader environment.
Actively collaborates with relevant Departments and Agencies

Analysis and Decision Making
Research issues thoroughly, consulting appropriately to gather all information needed on an issue.
Understands complex issues quickly, accurately absorbing and evaluating data (including numerical data)
Integrates diverse strands of information, identifying inter-relationships and linkages
Makes clear, timely and well-grounded decisions on important issues.
Considers the wider implications of decisions on a range of stakeholders.
Takes a firm position on issues s/he considers important.

Management and Delivery of Results

Takes responsibility for challenging tasks and delivers on time and to a high standard.
Plans and prioritises work in terms of importance, timescales and other resource constraints, re-prioritising in light of changing circumstances.
Ensures quality and efficient customer service is central to the work of the function.
Looks critically at issues to see how things can be done better.
Is open to new ideas, initiatives and creative solutions to problems.
Ensures controls and performance measures are in place to deliver efficient and high value services.
Effectively manages multiple projects.

Building Relationships and Communication
Presents information in a confident, logical and convincing manner, verbally and in writing
Encourages open and constructive discussions around work issues.
Promotes teamwork within the section, but also works effectively on projects across Departments/Sectors
Maintains poise and control when working to influence others.
Instils a strong focus on Customer Service in his/her area.
Develops and maintains a network of contacts to facilitate problem solving or information sharing
Engages effectively with a range of stakeholders, including members of the Public, Public Service Colleagues, and the political system

Drive and Commitment
Consistently strives to perform at a high level.
Demonstrates personal commitment, maintaining determination and persistence.
Is personally trustworthy and honest, delivering on promises and commitments.
Ensures the citizen is at the heart of all services provided.
Is resilient, maintaining composure even in adverse or challenging situations.
Promotes a culture that fosters the highest standards of ethics and integrity.

Proposed Specialist Knowledge, Expertise and Self-Development
Applies strong specialist knowledge relevant to the role and demonstrates a good general understanding of housing and related issues, with the ability to build this knowledge further as required
Develops and sustains expert knowledge in communications, stakeholder engagement and related disciplines, ensuring this expertise is applied effectively in practice.
Actively monitors and interprets key departmental, sectoral, national and international developments, together with economic, political and social trends, to inform advice, planning and decision-making.
Demonstrates a strong commitment to self-development by seeking feedback, pursuing continuous learning and identifying opportunities to enhance professional capability and leadership effectiveness.

Salary Scale – Senior Executive Officer – Grade 8
€81,777 – €82,506 – €85,715 – €88,944 – €92,179 – €95,379 – €98,600

LSI1 – €102,252

LSI2 – €108,074

New entrants will be appointed on the first point of the scale in line with government policy. Different terms and conditions may apply if immediately before appointment you are a currently serving civil/public servant.

Eligibility to compete:
Candidates should note that eligibility to compete is open to citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union along with Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Swiss citizens under EU agreements may also apply. To qualify candidates must be citizens of the EEA by the date of any job offer. Eligible candidates must be:

A citizen of the European Economic Area. The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or
A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or
A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or
A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa; or
A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa; or
A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa.