Accommodation Development Officer

1st floor, Market House, Pearse Street, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, N91 PW95

4th Floor Mathew House, Fr. Mathew Street, Street, Cork, T12 TN56

3rd Floor Crescent House, Hartstonge Street, Limerick, V94 K35Y

Áras Reddan, Temple Street, Sligo, F91 RX45

Áras Fáilte, 88-95 Amiens Street, Dublin 1, D01 WR86

Vacancy Description

Officer, Accommodation Development

Level 4

Temporary, Specified Purpose Contract, Full-Time 

* The specific purpose of the contract is to cover a maternity leave 

Job Purpose 

This role sits within Fáilte Ireland’s Sector Development Directorate and plays a key role in supporting the growth of sustainable tourist accommodation across all accommodation types. The successful candidate will support the Accommodation Development team in delivering its work programme, contributing to the development of a high-quality, sustainable tourist accommodation sector in Ireland.

The role is to provide support to the Accommodation Development Manager as well as the wider Accommodation Development Team.

Job Description

Primary Objectives/Key Responsibilities:

Accommodation Development

• Manage, co-ordinate and implement agreed projects specific to accommodation development.

• Contribute to the delivery and effective implementation of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE’s) Tourism Policy, Fáilte Ireland’s Corporate Strategy and DETE’s forthcoming Tourist Accommodation Strategy.

• Work cross-functionally to develop and drive plans to grow sustainable accommodation capacity.

• Proactively evaluate the impact of accommodation development supports delivered.

• Analyse accommodation performance using data insights and trends, to include the impact of future pipeline.

• Support internal teams in reporting on data, impact and learnings from accommodation development investment.

• Drive change by leveraging knowledge and insights on current trends and gaps in accommodation development.

Project Management

• Draft internal papers, project briefs and requests for tender as required.

• Proactively lead and manage assigned projects to meet divisional goals and objectives.

• Report on project progress, delivery, and impact.

• Work with cross functional resources to deliver agreed projects and KPI’s.

Research & Analysis

• Conduct thorough research and analysis to inform accommodation development strategies and support decision-making.

• Produce and analyse future pipeline insights and performance data.

• Report, track and monitor data for various accommodation development initiatives.

• Manage communications related to insights and strategic development.

Stakeholder / Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain excellent relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.

• Liaise with external stakeholders including sectoral bodies, local authorities, accommodation development experts, agents, investors and professional services.

• Manage and motivate staff reporting to the position, to maximise their performance and development potential.

• Work closely with the Manager & Head of Accommodation Development and wider team to achieve divisional objectives.

Governance

• Comply with all aspects of organisational policy.

• Plan and manage the effective spending of assigned budgets and KPI’s.

• Ensure that procurement of work from a third party is implemented in line with Fáilte Ireland procurement policy.

• Be an active member of the Accommodation Development Team.

Carry out all other duties as required and participate as a full member of the Sector Development Directorate by supporting different work projects, as required.

This role requires travel, with attendance at a number of national and regional locations / sites on an annual basis.

The flexibility to travel domestically, and on occasion internationally is an element of this role.

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Person Specification

Essential Criteria 

• Commercial awareness and mindset with a passion for innovation and best practice in accommodation performance and development.

• A commercial mindset with experience of working on strategic projects, specific to the tourist accommodation sector, that delivered commercial impact

• Articulate communication skills, both verbal and written.

• Influencing and negotiating skills

• Well-developed management and interpersonal skills

• Experience of working collaboratively across functions with industry facing stakeholder engagement.

• Experience in implementing strategy with quantifiable results.

• Stakeholder engagement that has been industry facing.

In order to be eligible to apply for this role you must have / demonstrate in your application form the following:

• The successful candidate will have a minimum of three years’ successful experience in a tourism related role at an operational management level that includes commercial and financial responsibilities and stakeholder management.

• Working knowledge / experience of the national accommodation supply in Ireland

• Project Management

• Experience in research and report writing.

• Experience of data analytics including proven capacity to drive actionable insights from research and data analysis

• Strong IT skills, with advanced proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint and Word.

• Hospitality industry specific work experience with exposure to accommodation development.

Qualifications/Mandatory Training 

A professional qualification (minimum Level 6 under the QQI Framework) in a related discipline is essential

Desirable Criteria

• Working knowledge and experience of hospitality operational performance (financial management, KPIs, P&L)

• Work experience which includes exposure to hotel real estate to include development, transactions and investment.

• People Management Experience

• Experience in budget management.

• A professional qualification Level 8 (under the QQI framework) in a business or management discipline

Key Competencies:

• Strategic Thinking

• Managing Relationships

• Commercial Awareness

• Project Management

Office Location and Blended Working: 

We do not ask for addresses as part of the application process, however it is the responsibility of the candidate to acknowledge the base location of the role. The successful candidate must regularly work from and attend the base office location of the role

Please note: Remote working from outside the State is not permitted other than in exceptional circumstances. As this role is within the Irish public service, the post-holder must carry out a minimum of 80% of their working time within the State (Republic of Ireland). Candidates who reside in Northern Ireland must be able to meet this requirement.

Selection Process:

Shortlisting will be based on applications and the selection process may involve two competency based interviews. A panel of successful candidates may be formed following the selection process.

Interview Attendance Requirement:

Candidates must be available to attend an in-person interview at the location and date specified by Fáilte Ireland. Please note that the location of the interview may vary from the base location of the role.

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Fáilte Ireland is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace which values and benefits from the diversity of the workforce. We encourage you to reach out to us directly at recruitment@failteireland.ie should you require assistance or reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process.