JOB TITLE: Communication and Policy Manager (Ireland)

Part 1: JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Communication and Policy Manager (Ireland)

DEPARTMENT: Nations

TEAM: Ireland Office

LOCATION: Dublin

1.  POSITION IN ORGANISATION

• Reports into Executive Director for Ireland

• Liaises with staff in Ireland and UK across teams as required

• Liaises with volunteers in Ireland branches

• Liaises with senior volunteer management as required

2.  MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB

The Policy and Communications Manager will conceptualise, plan and implement the organisation’s internal and external communications and play a key role in raising of Samaritans’ profile, increasing awareness, understanding and support for our work to reduce suicide in Ireland. This role also involves supporting a strong internal communications structure within the organisation.

3.  KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities

•  Manage the day-to-day internal and external communications and marketing activities of Samaritans Ireland.

•  Planning and delivery of the communications strategy.

•  Maintain a strong brand for Samaritans, including impactful and fit-for-purpose

publications, functioning web site, and social media presence.

•  Manage the publication and promotion of Samaritans materials, including design, printing and online content.

•  Responsibility for coordinating specific projects, launches and events, and developing communications programmes and campaigns.

•  Support communications across the organisation.

•  Responding to media queries and generating opportunities for coverage ensuring that Samaritans communication outputs are of a high standard, reflect the

needs of the target audience and delivered within agreed budget and timelines.

•  Build on existing and develop new relationships with media, key decision makers, member organisations, internal audiences and volunteers.

•  Coordinate media and public affairs activities to promote and implement Samaritans strategy, ‘Working together to prevent suicide’ 2015-21.

•  Prepare press statements and articles on Samaritans policy positions for internal and external communications.

•  Support internal policy development to reflect the current external legislative environment.

•  Provide management support to staff within the Irish communications team.

•  Undertake other duties as may be reasonably required from time to time.

General Duties of a Samaritans’ Staff Member

·  Contribute to the effective and efficient running of the Central Office as appropriate.

·  Participate, as appropriate, in staff forums and meetings.

·  Adhere to Samaritans’ policies and procedures.

·  Represent the Central Office appropriately across the organisation and Samaritans to the wider community as appropriate.

·  Treat all colleagues, volunteers and members of the public with dignity and work within and adhere to Samaritans’ equal opportunities statement and policies.

·  Carry out reasonable requests made that are within the broad remit of the role

Part 2: PERSON SPECIFICATION

4.  SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

•  Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills

•  Attention to detail and strong organisational skills

•  Ability to work calmly under pressure and within a small dynamic team

•  Excellent interpersonal and networking skills

•  Ability to manage a complex workload and work to tight deadlines

•  Standard office ICT skills

•  Thorough understanding of social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc.)

•  An enthusiastic attitude and willingness to learn

•  Experience of working in a communication, policy or public affairs environment

•  Ability to communicate at all levels within and outside the organisation, to build and maintain positive relationships with key stakeholders

Desirable

•  Proven experience in a communications, marketing or journalist role

•  Proven experience in project management with a proven track record of delivering on objectives

•  Proven experience of developing and implementing media, advocacy or marketing campaigns

•  Proven Experience of representing an organisation to the public or/and media

•  Ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding the sector

•  Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the environment in which non-governmental organisations operate.

•  Ability to demonstrate strong knowledge of working with volunteers and a volunteer led organisation.

5.  QUALIFICATIONS

·  Educated to degree level or equivalent is preferable but equivalent experience will be considered.

6.  PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

·  Strong communications, interpersonal and influencing and leadership skills

·  A strong team player

·  Flexible in approach to work and able to prioritise work effectively

·  Able to take constructive feedback from multiple stakeholders

·  Strong problem solving skills

·  Creative, with a good eye for detail

·  Calm and clear thinking

·  Prepared to undertake some work out of office hours

Signed by employee:______Date: ______

LAST UPDATED: [date]

This job description is a statement of requirements at the time of writing and is not contractual. It should not be seen as precluding future changes after appointment to this role.