Marketing & Communications Manager (Assistant Principal Officer Level)

Roles and Responsibilities

The Marketing & Communications Manager Role

This is a Senior Management role at Assistant Principal Officer level within the Communications and Dissemination Division, reporting to the Head of Communications and Dissemination.

The successful candidate will lead the organisation’s Marketing, Social Media, Graphic Design, and Events functions, and will have responsibility for Irish language outputs (note proficiency in Irish is not required to fulfil this part of the role).

The role requires the delivery of a strategic, integrated approach to marketing and communications, ensuring that CSO outputs are accessible, relevant, and effectively communicated to diverse audiences.

The role involves significant engagement with internal and external stakeholders and requires the ability to influence, advise, and support senior decision-making in a complex, fast-paced environment.

Why Work in This Role in CSO?

Working in this role in CSO provides an excellent opportunity to lead and shape marketing and communications strategy and practice within a major public sector organisation and to develop your career as a skilled marketing and communications professional.

This role gives you the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. The CSO’s vision is "Independent Insight for All", and your work will be instrumental in informing the public and supporting the delivery of policy and public services.

This senior-level position offers an exciting opportunity for an ambitious, enthusiastic, and committed professional with a strong commitment to serving the public interest. The role involves collaborative working and a willingness to take on new challenges. The successful candidate will have a dynamic, satisfying, and varied career, with competitive terms and conditions.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The following is an overview of the key duties and responsibilities involved in the Marketing & Communications Manager role:

• Provide strategic leadership across the Marketing, Social Media, Graphic Design, Events, and Irish Language functions, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities.
• Develop and implement integrated marketing and communications strategies to support the effective dissemination of official statistics.
• Lead and manage multidisciplinary teams, driving high performance, supporting capability development, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Use data, research, and insights to inform marketing and communications activity to improve reach, engagement, and impact.
• Develop and oversee the CSO’s brand strategy, including digital marketing, campaigns, and corporate communications.
• Lead the organisation’s social media strategy, enhancing engagement and accessibility of statistical outputs.
• Ensure compliance with Irish language legislation and promote high-quality bilingual communications.
• Develop and maintain policies, governance structures, and standards relating to marketing and communications.
• Manage budgets and resources effectively, ensuring compliance with public financial management and procurement requirements.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal stakeholders, external partners, and senior management, providing expert advice and support.
• Contribute to the broader work of the Communications and Dissemination Division and the organisation as required.

Eligibility to Compete and Certain Restrictions on EligibilityCitizenship 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 EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

(d) A non-EEA citizen who has a Stamp 4 permission¹ or a Stamp 5 permission.

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 meet one of the citizenship criteria above by the date of any job offer.

If your visa expires, this may result in your being stepped down from your employment until such time as you have regularised your permission to work in the State.

Essential Entry RequirementsSpecialist Knowledge, Expertise and DevelopmentQualifications & Experience

Given the specialised nature of the role to be filled, the successful candidate must have a relevant qualification matched with experience appropriate to this Marketing & Communications Manager (Assistant Principal Officer level) role. The onus is on you to ensure that your application form showcases the experience you have gained to date.

Accordingly, the successful candidate must, on or before 20th August 2026, have:

(a) Obtained a qualification at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) major award (i.e. an honours level degree) in a relevant discipline such as Marketing, Digital Media, Communications, Public Relations, Social Media, Journalism, Business, or a related discipline.

and

(b) At least 5 years' directly relevant hands-on marketing, communications, or social media experience from your employment to date.

Additional Key Skills

The successful candidate must also have:

• Experience in developing and delivering marketing and communications strategies, including through digital channels.
• Experience in communicating complex information clearly and effectively to a range of audiences.

In addition to the Essential Entry Requirements above, candidates must also be able to demonstrate that they possess the skills and capabilities identified as necessary for the role as outlined in the Capability Framework for the role of Marketing & Communications Manager (Assistant Principal Officer level) in the CSO.

Vacancies and Location

The role is based in Cork.

Working Environment

Candidates should be aware that requirements in relation to working onsite at their place of work will be in line with the CSO Blended Working Policy.

The Marketing & Communications Manager role may involve some travel and some weekend or out-of-hours work. Where this occurs, Civil Service travel and subsistence rates will apply.

Request for Feedback

Feedback in relation to the selection process is available by written request.

Please note that the Review Process, as set out in the Code of Practice, is a separate process with specified timeframes that must be observed.

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.

If successful, they will not be appointed to the post unless they:

(a) 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.

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

Quality Customer Service

We aim to provide an excellent quality service to all our customers. If, for whatever reason, you are unhappy with any aspect of the service you receive from us, we urge you to bring this to our attention.

Feedback will be provided on written request.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force on 25 May 2018, replacing the existing data protection framework under the EU Data Protection Directive.

When your application form 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, should you be successful, certain information will be retained by the CSO’s HR Division for employment purposes. Such information held is subject to the rights and obligations set out in the Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2018.

To make a request under the Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2018, please submit your request in writing to:

The Data Protection Officer Central Statistics Office Skehard Road Cork T12 X00E

or email .

Certain items of information, not specific to any individual, are extracted from records for general statistical purposes.

Principal Conditions of Service

The appointment is subject to the Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 to 2005, the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004, and any other Act for the time being in force relating to the Civil Service.

Salary – Assistant Principal Officer (PPC) Standard

The salary scale for this position, effective from 1 June 2026, is as follows:

€83,113, €86,173, €89,277, €92,390, €95,499, €97,292, €100,427¹, €103,576²

¹ After three years' satisfactory service at the maximum.

² After six years' satisfactory service at the maximum.

The PPC 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/personal superannuation scheme. This is different from a contribution in respect of membership of a Spouses’ and Children’s Scheme, or the Additional Superannuation Contributions (ASC).

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

Important Notice

Candidates should note that entry will be at the minimum of the scale and will not be subject to negotiation.

Candidates should also note that 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, and two Long Service Increments (LSIs) are currently payable after three and six years of satisfactory service at the maximum of the scale.

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

The appointee will agree that any overpayment of salary, allowances, or expenses will be repaid in accordance with Circular 07/2018: Recovery of Salary, Allowances, and Expenses Overpayments Made to Staff Members/Former Staff Members/Pensioners.