Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement

• Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement

Contract type Full-Time

Closing date 14 Oct :00 PM

Location Dublin

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

• Manage the communications and stakeholder engagement team, with responsibility for day-to-day leadership, work allocation and staff development.
• 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.
• 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.

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.
. click apply for full job details