Communications Assistant

Principal Duties

The Communications Assistant supports the delivery of the GDA’s communications and stakeholder engagement activities. Working within a small, dynamic team, the role contributes to the creation of high-quality multi-media content, manages digital platforms, and assists in the planning and coordination of events and stakeholder engagement initiatives.

The position offers broad exposure to both internal and external communications, with opportunities to further develop skills in content creation, digital platforms, event coordination and public engagement.

The appointee will work with the Communications Team within the People and Engagement Department and will be directly reporting to the Strategic Communications Manager.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of the GDA Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Strategy, in line with organisational priorities.

• Contribute to the development of communications plans for key projects, programmes and events across the Agency.

• Assist in the planning, development and delivery of communications outputs, including written, video and graphic materials.

• Maintain and update the GDA website, ensuring content is accurate, accessible and up to date.

• Support the development, creation and scheduling of social media content to enhance engagement and visibility of all GDA activities and provide social media analytics and insights on an ongoing basis.

• Coordinate a calendar of internal and external events and assist in their planning and delivery, including Ministerial visits, public consultations, community and cultural events, and internal engagement initiatives.

• Act as a point of contact for communications-related enquiries from stakeholders, community groups, media and the general public, and support timely responses.

• Proactive management of the shared communications inbox, triaging queries and tracking responses to ensure timely and accurate resolution by relevant staff.

• Support internal engagement initiatives including responsibility for managing communications intranet content, ensuring all content remains current and relevant.

• Assist in the preparation of reports, briefings and other materials for internal and external use.

• Provide support to stakeholder engagement processes, including preparation and minute-taking for regular meetings such as the Community Liaison Committee and Consultative Group etc.

• Assist in ensuring the GDA brand is correctly and consistently embedded across all internal and external materials.

• Responsible for the internal coordination of weekly media coverage summaries for internal circulation and highlighting any urgent or sensitive matters.

• Coordinate production of visual assets (e.g. site photography and videos), ensuring all content is appropriately licensed, credited and branded as necessary, and maintain a high-quality digital assets library.

• Support and promote key programmes including Grangegorman Histories, Build to Last, Public Art and related initiatives in collaboration with the relevant GDA project lead.

• Provide general administrative and operational support to the Communications and wider People and Engagement Team as required.

• Represent the Agency at external events as required.

• This role may require occasional work outside normal working hours, including evenings and weekends.

• Other relevant duties as may be required.

The functions and responsibilities assigned to this position are based on the current stated role and may be changed from time to time. The person appointed requires the flexibility to fulfil other roles and responsibilities at a similar level within the GDA.

Candidate Requirements

Qualifications and Essential Requirements

• A third-level qualification (NFQ Level 7 or above) in Communications, Media, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, Digital Media or a related discipline or equivalent relevant experience.

• 2 years’ experience in a Communications Assistant or related role.

• Practical experience supporting communications activities across multiple channels (e.g. website, newsletters, social media, internal communications).

• Strong written communication skills, with experience drafting, editing and proofreading clear, accurate and audience-appropriate content.

• Experience using social media platforms in a professional or organisational context.

• Experience updating and maintaining website content using a content management system (CMS).

• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.

• Demonstrated attention to detail and commitment to quality and accuracy.

• Ability to communicate professionally and effectively with colleagues, stakeholders and members of the public.

• Ability to exercise sound judgement, identify issues and escalate matters appropriately.

• Strong teamwork skills, with the ability to work collaboratively in a small, fast-paced environment.

• Demonstrated commitment to public service values, including integrity, accountability and respect.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience with desktop publishing tools (Adobe Creative Suite/Canva).

• Experience supporting events, stakeholder engagement initiatives or public consultations.

• Familiarity with basic analytics tools (e.g. social media management tools, reporting, insights, Google Analytics).

• Photography or video capture/editing experience.

• Experience supporting internal communications activities, including newsletters or intranet content.

• Experience drafting or supporting press releases and media materials.

• Experience recording meeting minutes and supporting formal committees or stakeholder groups.

• Experience monitoring media coverage and preparing media or communications summaries.

• Experience working in the public sector, not-for-profit or community-focused organisations.

Please also refer to the Executive Officer Competencies in Appendix 1 of this booklet.

Eligibility to Compete and Certain Restrictions on Eligibility

Eligible Candidates Must Be:

• A citizen of the European Economic Area. The EEA (European Economic Area) consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or

• A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or

• A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU (European Union) and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

• A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or Swiss citizen and has a Stamp 4 visa; or

• A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015, or any family member entitled to remain in the State because of family reunification and has a Stamp 4 visa; or

• 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.

To qualify, candidates must meet one of the citizenship criteria above by the date of any job offer. Candidates who are not citizens of the aforementioned countries must have the necessary permissions to work in Ireland.

Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform letter dated 28th June 2012 to Personnel Officers introduced, with effect from 1st June 2012, a Collective Agreement which had been reached between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Services Committee of the ICTU in relation to ex-gratia Redundancy Payments to Public Servants.

It is a condition of the Collective Agreement that persons availing of the agreement will not be eligible for re-employment in the Public Service by any Public Service body (as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009–2011) for a period of 2 years from termination of employment.

People who availed of this scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility (expiry of period of non-eligibility) and the Minister’s consent will have to be secured prior to employment by any Public Service body.

Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER)

It is a condition of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in Department of Finance Circular 12/09 that retirees under that Scheme are not eligible to apply for another position in the same employment or the same sector.

Therefore, such retirees may not apply for this position.

Department of Education and Skills Early Retirement Scheme for Teachers Circular

It is a condition of the Early Retirement Scheme that, with the exception of the situations set out in paragraphs 10.2 and 10.3 of the relevant circular documentation, and with those exceptions only, if a teacher accepts early retirement under Strands 1, 2 or 3 of this scheme and is subsequently employed in any capacity in any area of the public sector, payment of pension to that person under the scheme will immediately cease.

Pension payments will, however, be resumed on the ceasing of such employment or on the person's 60th birthday, whichever is later, but on resumption, the pension will be based on the person's actual reckonable service as a teacher (i.e. the added years previously granted will not be considered in the calculation of the pension payment).

Department of Health and Children Circular (7/2010)

The Department of Health Circular 7/2010 dated 1 November 2010 introduced a Targeted Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) Scheme and Voluntary Redundancy Schemes (VRS).

It is a condition of the VER scheme that persons availing of the scheme will not be eligible for re-employment in the public health sector or in the wider Public Service or in a body wholly or mainly funded from public moneys.

The same prohibition on re-employment applies under the VRS, except that the prohibition is for a period of 7 years.

People who availed of either of these schemes are not eligible to compete in this competition.

Department of Environment, Community & Local Government

The Department of Environment, Community & Local Government Circular Letter LG(P) 06/2013 introduced a Voluntary Redundancy Scheme for Local Authorities.

In accordance with the terms of the Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants dated 28 June 2012 as detailed above, it is a specific condition of that VER Scheme that persons will not be eligible for re-employment in any Public Service body [as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009–2011 and the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012] for a period of 2 years from their date of departure under this Scheme.

These conditions also apply in the case of engagement/employment on a contract for service basis (either as a contractor or as an employee of a contractor).

Declaration

Applicants will be required to declare whether they have previously availed of a Public Service scheme of incentivised early retirement.

Applicants will also be required to declare any entitlements to a Public Service pension benefit (in payment or preserved) from any other Public Service employment and/or where they have received a payment-in-lieu in respect of service in any Public Service employment.

It is the responsibility of former public or civil servant candidates to ensure their eligibility to apply.

Potential candidates who participated in a voluntary severance/redundancy or early retirement programs, received a redundancy payment or are in receipt of a public sector pension, should familiarise themselves with their individual conditions pertaining to public sector re-employment and declare same if applying.

Salary

Entry will be at the minimum of the scale and increments may be awarded subject to satisfactory performance and to changes in the terms and conditions relating to salary increments in the Civil/Public Service generally.

The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.

PPC (Personal Pension Contribution) Scale

(For officers who are existing civil or public servants appointed on or after 6 April 1995 or who are new entrants to the civil or public service and who are making a compulsory personal pension contribution.)

Executive Officer Standard Scale – PPC

€38,419 – €40,360 – €41,456 – €43,594 – €45,510 – €47,364 – €49,211 – €51,024 – €52,890 – €54,749 – €56,722 – €58,044 – €59,928

LSI1 – €62,601

LSI2

A different rate will apply where the appointee is a civil or public servant recruited before 6th April 1995 and who is not required to make a Personal Pension Contribution.

Other pay and conditions may apply if, immediately prior to appointment, the appointee is a serving civil or public servant.

Important Note

Entry will be at the minimum of the scale and the rate of remuneration will not be subject to negotiation and may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.

Different terms and conditions may apply if you are a currently serving civil or public servant.

Subject to satisfactory performance, increments may be payable in line with current Government policy.

Successful candidates will agree to repay any overpayment of salary, allowances or expenses in accordance with Circular 07/2018: Recovery of Salary, Allowances and Expenses Overpayments made to Staff Members/Former Staff Members/Pensioners.

Annual Leave

The annual leave allowance for the position of Executive Officer is 23 days.

This allowance is subject to the usual conditions regarding the granting of annual leave in the Civil or Public Service, is based on a five-day week and is exclusive of the usual public holidays.

Hours of Attendance

Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time but will amount to not less than 35 hours net per week.

The successful candidate will be required to work such additional hours from time to time as may be reasonable and necessary for the proper performance of their duties, subject to the limits set down in the working time regulations.

The rate of remuneration payable covers any extra attendance liability that may arise from time to time.