Manager, Product & Regional Development, Wild Atlantic Way

Salary

€69,149 - €109,980

*This role will be filled in line with Public Pay Policy at Point 1 of the relevant Salary Scale unless the successful candidate is appointed from an existing public sector role

Unit 5, Calbro Court, Tuam Road, Galway, H91 YKH4

Áras Reddan, Temple Street, Sligo, F91 RX45

Vacancy Description

Manager, Product & Regional Development, Wild Atlantic Way

Level 3

Permanent, Full-time

Job Purpose

The Manager, Product & Regional Development – Wild Atlantic Way is responsible for turning the Wild Atlantic Way's regional and product development strategies into practical action plans and ensuring they are successfully delivered through a team of officers and support staff.

A key part of the role is working with tourism businesses, local authorities, and other stakeholders to encourage engagement with Fáilte Ireland's investment programmes and to help generate strong applications for funding and development opportunities.

The manager also leads engagement with clients across the region, ensuring they are aware of and supported in accessing Fáilte Ireland's capital investment and operational funding programmes. The role involves building strong relationships with stakeholders, coordinating support on the ground, and helping to drive the sustainable development and growth of tourism across the Wild Atlantic Way.

The geography associated with this role is Sligo & Mayo.

Job Description

Regional Strategy Delivery

• Turn strategy into clear action plans with timelines, budgets and targets.

• Coordinate the team's work and make sure priorities are delivered.

• Monitor progress, identify issues early, and provide updates and recommendations to the Head of Division.

Destination Development

• Manage the creation and delivery of Destination & Experience Development plans (DEDPs) ensuring that plans align with corporate strategy and meet the destination needs.

• Manage the day-to-day implementation of DEDPs across assigned destinations, coordinating team activity and third-party inputs.

• Identify and project-manage priority initiatives including experience development, creation of saleable visitor experiences, placemaking, master planning and destination network development.

• Coordinate industry upskilling and content creation activity, ensuring initiatives are scheduled, resourced and delivered to plan.

• Collaborate with DEDP programme office on monitoring, benchmarking and all corporate needs.

Investment Programme & Scheme Delivery

• Manage the delivery of assigned investment programmes and schemes

• Prepare business cases, project documentation and progress reports to support programme governance and investment decisions.

Stakeholder Management

• Manage key stakeholder relationships at destination level, including local authorities, state agencies, industry leaders, Regional Enterprise Plans, Destination Management Organisations, LEADER groups and transport bodies.

• Prepare for and support stakeholder governance structures (steering groups, working groups), including agendas, briefing materials and follow-up on agreed actions. Develop and harness industry and destination networks to actively collaborate to gain buy-in and commitment on project priorities and areas of focus.

• Escalate strategically significant stakeholder issues to the Head of Division with clear analysis and recommended options.

• Coordinate with colleagues across Fáilte Ireland functions to ensure experience development, industry capability building and marketing and sales activation are aligned at destination level and in accordance with destination needs.

• Support individual tourism businesses to achieve their full commercial potential under a new client service model.

• Act as the operational point of contact for cross-functional programmes affecting the region, ensuring coherent scheduling and communication of supports to industry.

Corporate Programme Execution

• Manage the regional roll-out of corporate programmes, including marketing activation, conversion initiatives and business capability supports.

• Tailor programme delivery plans to regional needs and opportunities, and monitor uptake, spend and outcomes.

• Prepare business cases, project documentation and progress reports to support programme governance and investment decisions.

Resource Management

• Lead, motivate and support direct reports to deliver agreed objectives, encouraging strong performance, collaboration and accountability.

• Coach, mentor and develop team members, supporting their wellbeing, capability and professional growth in line with Fáilte Ireland policy.

• Set clear objectives and KPIs for the team, monitor progress and conduct performance reviews in line with Fáilte Ireland policy.

• Manage team resources effectively to deliver agreed projects, priorities and KPIs, working collaboratively with colleagues across the Division and wider organisation where required.

Governance & Reporting

• Comply with all aspects of organisation policy and promote good governance across the team.

• Systematically review progress against plans, KPIs, budgets and risks, ensuring issues are identified, addressed and escalated to the Head of Division as appropriate.

• Ensure procurement, expenditure and programme activity are managed in line with Fáilte Ireland policy, public spending obligations, public financial procedures, State Aid requirements and delegated authority.

• Ensure all team activity is aligned with national tourism policy, the Regional Tourism Development Strategy and organisational objectives.

Corporate Responsibility

• Work closely with the Head of Division and colleagues across Fáilte Ireland to support effective delivery, manage dependencies, communicate progress and escalate key risks or issues appropriately.

• Model Fáilte Ireland’s corporate values, support effective internal communications within the team, contribute to wider organisational development and change initiatives, and carry out any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

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

This role will require working unsocial hours including bank holidays.

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

Person Specification: 

Essential Criteria

• Manage a high performing team

• Be an excellent communicator, with well-developed interpersonal skills

• Have the ability to influence at all levels within an organisation

• Have a drive to embed and maintain high standards and best practice

• Proven track record in problem solving

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

• Have a minimum of five years’ in a role with relevant experience.

• Demonstrate experience of managing relationships with multiple stakeholders, often with different objectives and motivations, to deliver results for all.

• Demonstrable experience in leading a team that delivered large scale projects with multiple stakeholders demonstrating innovation and best practice and strong project management expertise.

• Own means of transport and full driver’s licence.

• People management experience

• Microsoft Office proficiency

• Experience delivering presentations to stakeholders

Qualifications/Mandatory Training

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

Desirable Criteria

• Working knowledge of the tourism landscape in Ireland-specifically Sligo and Mayo.

• Proficient in Irish

• Proven track record in destination development/tourism experience development projects

• Experience working with both public and private stakeholders and an understanding of their operating models

Key Competencies 

• Strategic Thinking

• Managing Relationships

• Commercial Awareness

• Planning & Managing Work

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.