Communications Coordinator

The Communications Coordinator role will be based in the Eastern Region Headquarters in Kilkenny.

The post will operate standard office hours, and the successful candidate will be required to occasionally travel to different locations within the region and to the National Press Office, Garda Headquarters when necessary.

The role of Communications Coordinator is to enhance our communications with local communities via local and national social media and our own digital and social media channels.

Working to the Superintendent Garda Press Office, the Communications Coordinator will be responsible for developing and implementing communications strategies to promote good work and highlight crime prevention advice in that region.

For their region, the Communications Coordinator role also involves responding to day to day media queries, ensuring a high quality professional service, supporting the development of social media activity and helping to develop public awareness campaigns relating to key crimes occurring.

The responsibilities of the Communications Coordinator may include:

Handling media queries in a professional manner and in line with the organisation’s key messages and communications strategy.

Implementation of media relation strategies.

Development of press releases and communications material.

Planning and implementing effective media relations events.

Posting material to social media in line with Garda policy.

Help develop new and innovative ways to communicate to the media and the public.

Working with third party suppliers to develop engaging and effective content.

This description of the role is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities and may be reviewed from time to time to reflect the needs of the role and organisation.

Essential: Professional Qualifications, Experience, Requirements, Skills

Candidates, by the closing date, must have:

A minimum National Framework of Qualification (NFQ) Level 6 qualification in a relevant discipline (for example communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field).

OR

Demonstrate at least two years relevant experience working in the area of communications, journalism, multi media, social media, or similar.

AND

A current full driving licence without endorsement – minimum category B.

Experience in:

Using and updating social media in accordance with organisational policies.

Assessing or researching complex queries or questions and developing responses.

Preparing, editing and presenting material in a clear, concise and comprehensive manner, both verbally and in writing.

Creating engaging and informative content.

Microsoft Office Platforms including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams.

Desirable skills:

Oral and written proficiency in Irish.

Experience in Content Management and Content Creation platforms or applications.

Have current knowledge of media trends and public affairs.

Key Skills and Competencies for effective performance as an Executive Officer

People Management

Consults and encourages the full engagement of the team, encouraging open and constructive discussions around work issues.

Gets the best out of individuals and the team, encouraging good performance and addressing any performance issues that may arise.

Values and supports the development of others and the team.

Encourages and supports new and more effective ways of working.

Deals with tensions within the team in a constructive fashion.

Encourages, listens to and acts on feedback from the team to make improvements.

Actively shares information, knowledge and expertise to help the team to meet its objectives.

Analysis and Decision Making

Effectively deals with a wide range of information sources, investigating all relevant issues.

Understands the practical implication of information in relation to the broader context in which they work – procedures, divisional objectives and similar.

Identifies and understands key issues and trends.

Correctly extracts and interprets numerical information, conducting accurate numerical calculations.

Draws accurate conclusions and makes balanced and fair recommendations backed up with evidence.

Delivery of Results

Takes ownership of tasks and is determined to see them through to a satisfactory conclusion.

Is logical and pragmatic in approach, setting objectives and delivering the best possible results with the resources available through effective prioritisation.

Constructively challenges existing approaches to improve efficient customer service delivery.

Accurately estimates time parameters for projects, making contingencies to overcome obstacles.

Minimises errors, reviewing learning and ensuring remedies are in place.

Maximises the input of own team in ensuring effective delivery of results.

Ensures proper service delivery procedures, protocols and reviews are in place and implemented.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Modifies communication approach to suit the needs of a situation or audience.

Actively listens to the views of others.

Liaises with other groups to gain co operation.

Negotiates, where necessary, in order to reach a satisfactory outcome.

Maintains a focus on dealing with customers in an effective, efficient and respectful manner.

Is assertive and professional when dealing with challenging issues.

Expresses self in a clear and articulate manner when speaking and in writing.

Specialist Knowledge, Expertise and Self Development

Displays high levels of skills and expertise in own area and provides guidance to colleagues.

Has a clear understanding of the role, objectives and targets and how they support the service delivered by the unit and Department or Organisation and can communicate this to the team.

Leads by example, demonstrating the importance of development by setting time aside for development initiatives for self and the team.

Drive and Commitment to Public Service Values

Is committed to the role, consistently striving to perform at a high level.

Demonstrates flexibility and openness to change.

Is resilient and perseveres to obtain objectives despite obstacles or setbacks.

Ensures that customer service is at the heart of own or team work.

Is personally honest and trustworthy.

Acts with integrity and encourages this in others.

Eligibility to apply and certain restrictions on eligibility

Citizenship Requirements

Eligible candidates must be:

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

or

(b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK).

or

(c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the European Union and Switzerland on the free movement of persons.

or

(d) A non EEA citizen who has a Stamp 4 or a Stamp 5 permission.

Please note that a 50 TEU visa, which is a replacement for Stamp 4EUFAM after Brexit, is acceptable as a Stamp 4 equivalent.

To qualify, candidates must be eligible by the date of any job offer. It is the candidate’s responsibility to maintain eligibility.

Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants

The Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation letter dated 28 June 2012 to Personnel Officers introduced, with effect from 1 June 2012, a Collective Agreement which had been reached between the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions 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 two years from termination of the 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).

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.

General

The appointment is to a permanent post in An Garda Síochána and is subject to the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 and any other Act for the time being in force relating to An Garda Síochána.

Please note appointments from within An Garda Síochána for staff employed pre commencement of the Policing Security and Community Safety Act will be to a Civil Service grade with Civil Service terms and conditions, insofar as applicable.

Salary Scale

The Executive Officer salary scale will apply to this position.

The Personal Pension Contribution salary scale (annually) for this position, with effect from 1 February 2026, is as follows:

€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 - €62,601.

Long Service increment (LSI 1) may be payable following three years satisfactory service at the maximum of the scale.

Long Service increment (LSI 2) may be payable following six years satisfactory service at the maximum of the scale.

Personal Pension Contribution

The Personal Pension Contribution pay rate applies when the individual is required to pay a Personal Pension Contribution (otherwise known as a main scheme contribution) in accordance with the rules of their main or personal superannuation scheme.

This is different to a contribution in respect of membership of a Spouses and Children’s scheme, or the Additional Superannuation Contributions.

A different rate will apply where the appointee is not required to make a Personal Pension Contribution.

Candidates should note that entry will be at the minimum of the scale and will not be subject to negotiation and the rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy. Increments may be awarded annually, subject to satisfactory performance.