THE ROLE
The Housing Agency is now seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates with relevant experience for the position of Internal Communications Manager — Administrative Officer Grade.
Reporting to the Head of Human Resources, the Internal Communications Officer will lead and coordinate the Housing Agency’s internal communications, ensuring staff receive clear, timely and consistent information aligned to organisational priorities, the People Strategy and the Agency’s Statement of Strategy. The post-holder will strengthen staff engagement through well-governed channels, high-quality content, and effective two-way feedback mechanisms, supporting an inclusive and collaborative organisational culture.
This is a permanent vacancy based in our offices in Dublin 2. The Housing Agency operates a Blended Working Policy.
It is proposed to form a panel of qualified candidates, to fill any suitable vacancies that may arise during the lifetime of the panel.
Competencies
- Management & Delivery of Results – successfully manages a range of different projects and work activities at the same time.
- Analysis and Decision Making – gathers and analyses information from relevant sources, whether financial, numerical or otherwise, weighing up a range of critical factors
- Team Leadership – leads the team by example, coaching and supporting individuals as required.
- Interpersonal and Communication Skills – builds and maintains relationships with key stakeholders, working within diverse teams, preparing, and presenting reports to key stakeholders.
- IT Skills – Strong digital capability and hands-on experience using Microsoft 365 tools and intranet platforms to publish and manage internal communications content (e.g. SharePoint).
- Specialist Knowledge – Demonstrates specialist knowledge of internal communications strategy, governance and channel management, with the ability to plan, quality-control and deliver clear, consistent messaging aligned to organisational priorities.This role is funded under the New Solutions Social Innovation Fund.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Strategy, planning and governance
– Develop and deliver an annual internal communications plan aligned to the People Strategy and the Agency’s Statement of Strategy, with clear objectives, audiences, deliverables and measurable outcomes.
– Act as the central coordinator for internal communications, reducing fragmentation by planning, sequencing and quality-controlling internal outputs across the Agency.
Establish, implement and maintain an internal communications framework.
– Introduce and maintain a structured schedule for all-staff communications to minimise clashes and overuse, improve relevance, and support timely dissemination of priority messages.
– Coordinate with the External Communications Manager and wider team to ensure consistency across all channels.
- Content development and channel delivery
– Plan, create, edit and publish high-quality content across internal channels, ensuring communications are accurate, accessible, staff-appropriate and consistent.
– Gather input from multiple teams, resolve competing priorities, and ensure content progresses through appropriate review/approval processes in line with agreed governance.
– Curate and promote staff and organisational stories that recognise delivery, strengthen connection to mission and values, and support engagement initiatives (including DEI, wellbeing and sustainability messaging as appropriate).
- Intranet content governance and continuous improvement
– Own intranet content governance and continuous improvement, including regular content reviews, structure improvements, and archiving of out-of-date material in line with agreed guidelines.
– Monitor intranet engagement and content performance and recommend practical enhancements to improve user experience and information quality.
Staff engagement and two-way communication
- – Implement and maintain two-way staff feedback mechanisms, including surveys and ongoing feedback routes, and translate insights into practical improvements to channels, content and engagement.
– Support onboarding and staff engagement initiatives through clear communications, relevant materials and structured follow-up.
- CEO and SMT communications support
– Support CEO and SMT internal communications, including coordinating leadership updates, drafting staff messages, preparing speaking notes, and creating presentations and briefing packs by gathering and synthesising input from across the Agency.
– Ensure leadership communications are aligned, accurate, timely and appropriate for internal audiences.
- Internal events and engagement initiatives
– Coordinate internal events and engagement initiatives (e.g., town halls, onboarding sessions, “Munch & Learn” sessions), including planning, communications materials, scheduling, and post-event follow-up/feedback capture.
- Measurement, reporting and improvement
– Provide measurement and reporting on internal communications performance (e.g. engagement analytics, feedback and survey findings), producing recommendations and action plans for continuous improvement.
- Project management and administration
– Manage internal communications projects and related administration, ensuring delivery to deadlines and adherence to governance requirements.
– Handle sensitive internal information with discretion, judgement and professionalism
Essential Requirements
Candidates must demonstrate the following:
- A recognised third-level qualification (minimum NFQ Level 7) in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, business/public administration or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
- Demonstrable experience delivering internal communications and/or employee engagement activity in a multi-stakeholder organisation.
- Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, staff-appropriate communications and presentations.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, including the ability to gather input from multiple teams, negotiate priorities and deliver consistent outputs with appropriate approvals.
- Strong organisational and project management capability, with evidence of managing multiple deliverables and deadlines and maintaining a structured communications calendar/schedule.
- Strong digital capability and hands-on experience using Microsoft 365 tools and intranet platforms to publish and manage internal communications content (e.g. SharePoint).
- Evidence of using data and feedback to measure impact and improve communications (e.g. analytics, survey findings, engagement reporting).
- High levels of discretion, judgement and professionalism, with the ability to handle sensitive internal information and support senior communications appropriately.
Desired Requirements
The ideal candidate will also have:
- Experience designing and delivering internal communications/engagement surveys, including benchmarking, analysis and action planning.
- Demonstrated experience developing an internal communications strategy/framework.
- Strong storytelling capability (employee stories, impact narratives, values-based communications) and experience acting as a culture/engagement ambassador through communications.
- Experience supporting senior stakeholders with speechwriting, speaking notes and high-quality presentation materials, including coordination of background briefing content.
- Knowledge of public sector governance/procurement environments and/or experience operating within controlled communications processes.
- General understanding of the Irish housing system and/or familiarity with the Housing Agency’s functions and policy environment.
- Practical capability in visual/digital content production (e.g. posters, basic video, digital screens) and/or experience with Content Management System (CMS) platforms beyond SharePoint.
- Experience supporting internal events at scale and/or managing external suppliers/agencies within budget for internal communications deliverables.
Salary Scale – Administrative Officer LA Scales (Effective February 1st)
€60,611 – €62,095 – €63,826 – €65,563 – €67,300 – €68,852 – €70,442 – €71,982 – €73,518 LSI1 €76,149 LSI2 €78,795
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) A citizen of the European Economic Area. The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or
b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or
c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or
d) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa; or
e) 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
f) 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.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Candidates must provide:
An up-to-date CV and a detailed cover letter (maximum two pages). Your cover letter should clearly outline your suitability for the role and demonstrate how your relevant experience and skills align with the duties and requirements set out in this job specification.
Please submit your CV and cover letter via email in PDF format to recruitment@housingagency.ie
- Applicants will be short-listed based on the information supplied.
- Applications will not be accepted under any circumstances after the closing date and Time.
- Canvassing by or on behalf of the applicant will automatically disqualify.
