HEO Communications Officer

Job Description

The NDA wishes to appoint a Communications Officer to lead on the public affairs/communication functions of the organisation. The appointment will be made on a specific purpose contract for 12 months. A panel will also be established to fill any future vacancies for Communications Officer roles within the organisation on a permanent, temporary, part-time or full-time basis. It is envisaged that this panel will be in operation for at least two years from the date of its establishment. The post holder may be redeployed at Higher Executive Officer Level to another area of work within the organisation. The post-holder will report to the Senior Policy and Public Affairs advisors with responsibility for the communication brief.

As Communications Officer with a focus on communications and public affairs, the post holder will, under the guidance of a Senior Policy and Public Affairs Advisor, be required to lead on the development and implementation of internal and external communications programmes and activities, in addition to supporting the delivery of policy advice in the organisation. The Communications Officer will work as part of a team with a focus on delivering the NDA’s NDA Strategic Plan 2025-2027, the NDA’s Communication and Engagement Strategy and annual work plan, guided by relevant developments as appropriate to the remit of the NDA.

The successful implementation of this role requires a number of key relationships to be fostered and developed. These will include relationships with colleagues and personnel from a range of agencies, including the public and private sectors, Disabled Persons’ Organisations (DPOs) and other disability organisations. A high degree of flexibility and creativity will be required.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The core duties and responsibilities will include the following:

·       Lead the development and implementation of the NDA’s Communication and Engagement Strategy, including delivery of annual work plans and evaluating the impact of communications activities;

·       promote excellent internal communications so all NDA staff are fully engaged in helping realise the organisation’s strategic communications goals and ambitions;

·       Manage and oversee the organisation’s multiple websites, generating content, managing for consistency, monitoring analytics and addressing any issues with design or user experience;

·       Work with colleagues to ensure compliance of the websites with the Web Accessibility Directive;

·       Manage and oversee the organisation’s multiple social media channels including generating content, monitoring analytics, ensuing adherence to the Social Media Policy and advising on the feasibility of new social media channels;

·       Create and or manage the creation of content that can be leveraged across all of the organisation's platforms, including photography, videography, graphics;

·       Develop and manage relationships with relevant stakeholders, including across Government Departments, public agencies, the disability sector and communication partners;

·       Work with Senior Advisor(s) on the public relations function of the NDA which includes handling press queries and requests for interview; preparing and issuing press releases; supporting the launches of key publications;

·       Lead on influencing and providing support to ensure high-quality and consistent communications approaches across the organisation and ensuring the NDA’s style and brand guidelines are embedded and updated as necessary;

·       Monitor current affairs, including Oireachtas business, and media coverage of the organisation and disseminating this information to relevant stakeholders;

·       Manage, motivate and empower the communications team (two Executive Officers currenty) to deliver on the annual work plan;

·       Support planning and delivery of NDA external events such as exhibitions, conferences, meetings and seminars, managing external contractors where necessary;

·       Develop, update and assist in the implementation of relevant policies and protocols relevant to communications including social media, privacy, data protection etc.;

·       Lead on the development of guidance on ensuring the accessibility of all information and platforms used in NDA communications;

·       Work under the guidance of a Senior Policy Advisor(s) in reviewing and analysing relevant policies, legislation and issues relevant to persons with disabilities in Ireland, in line with NDA’s remit of providing policy advice; and

·       Carry out such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Head of Unit or line manager.

Note: The duties and responsibilities enumerated in this job description should not be regarded as comprehensive in scope and may be added to or altered as required. There may be a requirement to undertake occasional evening or weekend work and travel including overnight travel. The successful candidate is expected to display flexibility in making themselves available for this work. Any such requirements will be managed in alignment with the NDA’s policies on overtime/time off in lieu.

Person Specification

In applying for the post, applicants are strongly advised to clearly demonstrate how they fulfil the following essential requirements and capabilities. The selection process may include short-listing of candidates on the basis of the information provided in the application form. It is therefore in your own interest to provide a detailed and accurate account of how your skills, personal qualities, qualifications and experience meet the requirements for the post.

The essential requirements for the post of Communications Officer include:

·       Honours primary degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent such as Advertising, Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Multimedia, Public Relations, Public Affairs; and

·       A minimum of three year’s work experience at an appropriate level in a role relevant to communications and public affairs.

·       Knowledge of effective internal and external communication approaches and strategies to effectively communicate NDA outputs such as website and social media content creation and management, organising events etc;

·       Understanding or knowledge of communications best practice, particularly in relation to policy advice, and the ability to critically evaluate the effectiveness of communications strategies and/or campaigns;

·       Experience of managing staff to achieve organisational goals;

·       An ability to analyse and assimilate information and data and present it in a comprehensible form;

·       Experience in stakeholder management and communicating to different audiences;

·       Experience in planning or managing events to maximise impact on policy and practice;

·       Experience in project management, ability to work on multiple projects and adaptable to change;

·       Excellent ICT and English language skills with good attention to detail, proficient in the use of key applications; and

·       An ability to work on own initiative complemented by a capacity for teamwork.

The following criteria are considered desirable for the post of Communications Officer:

·       Experience in a policy role including writing briefing documents, submissions to national consultations and speeches;

·       Have a good understanding of the public affairs and policy landscape relevant to disability;

·       Knowledge of accessibility in relation to content creation and use of software;

·       Experience in digital and social media analytics; and

·       Experience working with Customer Relationship Management software.

Selection Process

The Selection Process will include the following:

·       Submission of application (Application form and cover letter);

·       Shortlisting of candidates based on the information contained in their application;

·       Interview;

·       The selection process may require a presentation. Candidate’s that are invited for interview will be informed if this is required.

Shortlisting

Normally the number of applications received for a position exceeds that required to fill existing and future vacancies to the position. While you may meet the eligibility requirements of the competition, if the numbers applying for the position are such that it would not be practical to interview everyone, the National Disability Authority may decide that a smaller number of applicants will only be called to interview. In this respect, the National Disability Authority provide for the operation of a shortlisting process to select a group for interview who, based on an examination of the application forms, appear to be the most suitable for the position.

An expert board will examine the application forms against a pre-determined criteria based on the requirements of the position. This is not to suggest that other candidates are necessarily unsuitable or incapable of undertaking the job, rather that there are some candidates, who based on their application, appear to be better qualified and/or have more relevant experience. It is therefore in your own interests to provide a precise, detailed, accurate account of your qualifications/experience in your application.

A panel of successful candidates may be formed as a result of the interviews. Candidates who obtain a place on the panel and who fulfil the conditions of the selection process may, within the life of the panel, be considered for subsequent approved vacancies. The candidate who obtains first place on the panel will be the first candidate considered for a position, subject to satisfactory clearances, and so on in order of merit.

Confidentiality

Subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 applications will be treated in strictest confidence.

Other Important Information

The National Disability Authority will not be responsible for refunding any expenses incurred by candidates.

The admission of a person to a competition, or invitation to attend interview, or a successful result notification, is not to be taken as implying that the National Disability Authority is satisfied that such a person fulfils the requirements or is not disqualified by law from holding the position and does not carry a guarantee that your application will receive further consideration. It is important, therefore, for you to note that the onus is on you to ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements for the competition before attending for interview. If you do not meet these essential requirements as outlined above but nevertheless attend for interview you will be putting yourself to unnecessary expense.

Prior to recommending any candidate for appointment to this position the National Disability Authority will make all such enquiries that are deemed necessary to determine the suitability of that candidate. Until all stages of the recruitment process have been fully completed a final determination cannot be made nor can it be deemed or inferred that such a determination has been made.

Should the person recommended for appointment decline, or having accepted it, relinquish it or if an additional vacancy arises the Board may, at its discretion, select and recommend another person for appointment on the results of this recruitment process.

Candidates’ Rights and ObligationsCandidates' Rights - Review Procedures in relation to the Recruitment Process

The National Disability Authority will consider requests for review in alignment with the provisions of the codes of practice published by the CPSA. The Codes of Practice are available on the website of the Commission for Public Service Appointments.

Should a candidate be unhappy with an action or decision in relation to their application they can seek feedback. An initial review will be carried out internally by the Corporate Services Department as to why their application was deemed unsuccessful. The outcome of this review will be sent to the candidate in written format.

·       To request an initial review, a candidate must write to the NDA within 5 working days of receiving notification of the decision on their application. The NDA will carry out the initial review without delay. If the candidate is dissatisfied with the outcome, they may resort to the formal procedures within 2 working days of receiving notifications of the outcome of the initial review.

·       The decision arbitrator will be a person unconnected with the selection process and he/she will adjudicate on requests for review. The decision of the decision arbitrator in relation to such matters is final.

Candidates’ Obligations

Candidates should note that canvassing will disqualify and will result in their exclusion from the process.

Candidates must not

·       Knowingly or recklessly provide false information

·       Canvass any person with or without inducements

·       Interfere with or compromise the process in any way

·       A third party must not personate a candidate at any stage of the process

·       Any person who contravenes the above provisions or who assists another person in contravening the above provisions is guilty of an offence. A person who is found guilty of an offence is liable to a fine/or imprisonment.

In addition, where a person found guilty of an offence was or is a candidate at a recruitment process, then:

·       Where he/she has not been appointed to a post, he/she will be disqualified as a candidate; and

·       Where he/she has been appointed subsequently to the recruitment process in question, he/she shall forfeit that appointment.

Specific candidate criteria

Candidates must

·       Have the knowledge and ability to discharge the duties of the post concerned;

·       Be suitable on the grounds of character;

·       Be suitable in all other relevant respects for appointment to the post concerned and if successful, they will not be appointed to the post unless they:

o   Agree to undertake the duties attached to the post and accept the conditions under which the duties are, or may be required to be, performed;

o   Are fully competent and available to undertake, and fully capable of undertaking, the duties attached to the position.

Deeming of candidature to be withdrawn

Candidates who do not attend for interview or other test when and where required by the National Disability Authority, or who do not, when requested, furnish such evidence as required by the Authority relevant to their candidature, will have no further claim to consideration.

Citizenship Requirement

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 EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

d)  A non-EEA citizen who has a stamp 4 or a Stamp 5 visa

1 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.

Data Protection Act 2018

When your application is received, we create a record in your name, which contains much of the personal information you have supplied. This personal record is used solely in processing your candidature and as part of the recruitment process. Such information held by the NDA and the employing organisation is subject to the rights and obligations set out in the Data Protection Act 2018. For more information on how we retain and use your personal data, please review the National Disability Authority’s Privacy Policy which includes instructions on their right to withdraw consent at any point.

To make a subject access request under the Data Protection Act 2018, please submit your request in writing to: Data Protection Officer, National Disability Authority, 25 Clyde Road, Dublin 4, or email dataprotection@nda.ie

Ensure that you describe the records you seek in the greatest possible detail to enable us to identify the relevant record. Certain items of information, not specific to any individual, are extracted from records for general statistical purposes.

Principal Conditions of Service

Principal conditions of service will be applied in line with all relevant governmental circulars/procedures and policies applicable at time of placement.

Salary

Entry will be at the minimum of the scale of the Higher Executive Officer Standard Scale. The salary scale for the position is as follows:

Pay scale with effect from 01 June 2026 for Civil Servants appointed on or after 6th April 1995 paying the Class A rate of PRSI contribution and making an employee contribution in respect of personal superannuation benefits (PPC):

Higher Executive Officer Standard Scale – PPC €60,029 – €61,785 – €63,537 – €65,286 – €67,044 – €68,792 – €70,547 – €73,077 LSI1 – €76,546 LSI2Higher Executive Officer Standard Scale

€57,173 – €58,823 – €60,471 – €62,131 – €63,794 – €65,470 – €67,134 – €69,528 LSI1 – €72,829 LSI2

Entry will be at the first point of the scale. Different terms and conditions may apply if you are a currently serving civil or public servant.

Annual Leave

·       The annual leave allowance for the position of Higher Executive Officer is 29 days.

·       This allowance is subject to conditions regarding the granting of annual leave in the public sector and is based on a 5-day week, exclusive of public holidays.

Hours of Work

Hours of attendance will be not less than 35 hours net per week. Your normal working hours are from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

The NDA operates a blended working policy which requires a minimum attendance on site of two days per week. This requirement is dependent on the requirements of the role and will vary from time to time. Details of this arrangement are agreed locally with your line manager.

Rest Periods

The terms of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 will apply to this appointment.

Place of work

The National Disability Authority is currently located in 25 Clyde Road, Dublin D04 E409.