Commercial Development (Business Events) Officer

Vacancy Description

Officer, Commercial Development

Level 4

Temporary, Specified Purpose Contract, Full-Time 

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

Fáilte Ireland invites applications for the positions of Officer, Commercial Development – Business Events.

Failte Ireland has a dedicated team in place to drive responsible growth in international conferences, meetings and incentive or reward travel that positively impact our destination’s economy, society and environment. The roles will report to the Manager, Commercial Development. 

Job Purpose 

The international meetings industry is a highly lucrative sector and results in big business for Ireland. Failte Ireland has a dedicated team in place to drive responsible growth in international conferences, meetings and incentive or reward travel that positively impact our economy, society and environment.

Primary Objectives/Key Responsibilities

Primary Objective

To lead the generation, development and conversion of international conference opportunities for Ireland, supporting the delivery of Business Events 2030 and ensuring Ireland continues to secure high-value international association conferences.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Leadership

• Lead and develop a high-performing team, ensuring delivery of agreed objectives and targets.

• Contribute to the implementation of Business Events 2030 and annual business plans.

• Monitor performance, identify opportunities and support continuous improvement across conference acquisition activities.

Conference Acquisition & Ambassador Programme

• Generate and qualify international conference leads through research, pipeline management and stakeholder engagement.

• Support and inspire conference ambassadors to bid for and host international association conferences in Ireland.

• Manage relationships with conference ambassadors and key stakeholders throughout the bid and event lifecycle.

• Support industry partners in improving conference conversion and bid development capabilities.

Stakeholder Engagement & Marketing

• Build and maintain strong relationships with industry partners, convention bureaux, venues, associations and other stakeholders.

• Contribute to sales, marketing and promotional initiatives that position Ireland as a leading business events destination.

• Support the planning and delivery of industry events, networking opportunities and stakeholder communications.

Operational & Governance

• Support the delivery of business events that create positive social impact and advance sustainability objectives.

• Ensure compliance with Fáilte Ireland policies, procedures and procurement requirements.

• Maintain accurate records, reporting and CRM systems, and provide regular performance updates.

General

• Undertake additional duties as required and contribute to wider team and organisational objectives

Carry out all other duties as required and participate as a full member of the Commercial Development team 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.

This role may require working unsocial hours including bank holidays .

Person Specification 

Essential Criteria 

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

• Three years relevant experience to the role e.g. tourism, business events, business development. 

• Experience in delivering ambitious sales targets and pipeline growth 

• Experience in building and managing relationships with senior stakeholders across industry, academia, government and professional bodies. 

• Experience leading, coaching and developing high performing teams. 

• A high level of proficiency in CRM, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Qualifications/Mandatory Training 

• A Professional Qualification (minimum Level 6 under the QQI Framework) in a related discipline is essential 

Desirable Criteria 

• Experience in the tourism sector is not essential but would be an advantage 

• Knowledge of the Business or Leisure Tourist segments and their associated needs

Key Competencies 

• Commercial Awareness

• Managing Relationships

• Planning & Managing Work

• Communicating Effectively

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.

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.