Senior Executive Assistant

The Role Maynooth University is committed to a strategy in which the primary University goals of excellent research and scholarship and outstanding education are interlinked and equally valued. We are seeking a Senior Executive Assistant to provide marketing and recruitment support for microcredential courses. The successful candidate will make a crucial contribution to the success of the University’s Micro-credentials project by ensuring that courses are widely promoted through digital and print channels, including social media, and that prospective students have access to clear information on their options.

Reporting to the Micro-credentials Project Lead, the Senior Executive Assistant will work closely with academic staff and colleagues to understand the University’s Micro-credentials offering, identity innovative strategies to promote them to the intended audience and implement these strategies to budget and in line with University strategy.

The Irish Universities Association (IUA) is the representative body of the university sector and has secured funding for the project to develop a Multi-Campus Micro-Credentials system in Irish Universities, providing a coherent national framework for quality assured and accredited microcredentials. This full-time contract position is funded by this project. The MicroCreds project is funded through the Higher Education Authority’s Human Capital Initiative, aimed at establishing a system of quality assured and accredited micro-credentials across the seven IUA universities. MicroCreds provides up/re-skilling opportunities to those in employment and those seeking to enhance their employability, and aims to drive lifelong learning in Ireland, in close collaboration with enterprise. The MicroCreds project develops a collective national framework for micro-credentials across the universities; builds engagement with enterprise for the development and roll-out of the micro-credentials programmes; and develops a co-ordinated ‘shop window’ portal to drive awareness of micro-credentials.

The post is based in the Admissions and Student Recruitment office. Principal Duties Administrative and other duties: This will include: • Supporting the Micro-credentials Project Lead in all marketing and recruitment operations relating to Micro-credential programmes, including marketing collateral, advertising, PR, events (internal and external) and social media management; • Identifying opportunities to promote the University’s Micro-credential offering to prospective audiences; • Liaising with academic staff and colleagues across multiple central administrative offices on the set-up and management of micro-credentials on the University’s systems, including the University website; • Represent the University at events to showcase the Micro-credential offering to a wide audience; • Any other additional duties assigned by the Senior Student Recruitment Manager (Postgraduate) and the Micro-credentials Project Lead.

The ideal candidate will have: Essential • Level 8 Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject and/or three years’ professional experience working in either a large organization or a third level institution; • Previous experience in marketing in a fast paced environment, ideally in higher education; • Proven ability to work on own initiative, manage a number of issues simultaneously, meet deadlines; • Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team, supporting colleagues and continually improving work practice; • Highly organized approach with demonstrated excellence in attention to detail (written and oral); • Excellent IT skills (including Microsoft Office); • Proven abilities in handling large amounts of data; • Previous experience with using marketing and communication platforms such as CRM, Canva and social media management tools. • Proven ability to manage multiple internal and external stakeholders (academics, central services, industry partners and external vendors), ensuring projects remain on schedule. • Strong experience in a service environment with proven ability to communicate in a clear, professional and transparent manner in written and oral correspondence.;

Desirable • Demonstrated understanding of the full higher-education admissions cycle (from initial enquiry through application, offer, enrolment and onboarding). • Working knowledge of GDPR/data-protection best practice and its application to high-volume marketing or admissions data. • Experience delivering high-quality front-line customer service, e.g. responding to prospective-student enquiries by email, phone and social media. • Experience organising or promoting webinars, open days, career fairs or similar recruitment events.

Department The Admissions and Student Recruitment Office has a commitment to high quality service to applicants, parents, guidance counsellors and current and potential students. The Office functions include: • Management of the admissions process for undergraduate and postgraduate students, both EU and International. • Promotion and growth of the university’s EU undergraduate and EU postgraduate applications. • Collaboration with academic faculties and departments to develop and refine the portfolio of undergraduate, postgraduate and micro-credential programmes. • Management of the Maynooth University Microcreds Programme, an IUA Human Capital Initiative funded project). • Management of the Maynooth University RPL project, funded under the Irish Government’s Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 3 (Innovation and agility).

The University Maynooth University is a very distinctive university, a collegial institution focused on science and engineering, humanities, and social sciences, and equally committed to research, teaching and community engagement. Located in Ireland’s only university town, its distinctive features and character owe much to its unique history and heritage. It provides a high-quality educational experience to over 15,000 students on a campus with 18th century roots and 21st century dynamism. The strategic trajectory and accomplishments of Maynooth University, in the 25 years since its establishment as an autonomous public university, are exceptional, and a source of great pride to the university community, staff, students and alumni. Maynooth University in 2024 ranked in the top 90 global Times Higher Education (THE) Young University rankings, placing 86th in the world. Maynooth University’s growing global reputation is based on the originality, quality, importance and impact of its research and scholarship, commitment to teaching and learning, the quality of academic programmes, and its leadership in widening participation in higher education. The sources of success are the dedication of its staff and the energy and engagement of its students. Maynooth University is a place of lively contrasts – a modern institution, dynamic, rapidly-growing, research-led and engaged, yet grounded in historic academic strengths and scholarly traditions. With over 15,000 students Maynooth offers a range of programmes at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level in the humanities, science and engineering and social sciences, including business, law and education. The University also offers a range of international programmes and partnerships. Maynooth’s unique collegial culture fosters an interdisciplinary approach to research, which its worldclass academics bring to bear in tackling some of the most fundamental challenges facing society today.

The University’s research institutes and centres consolidate and deliver this impact as vibrant communities of learning, discovery and creation. Research at Maynooth also is very much central to its teaching and the University prides itself on placing equal value on its research and teaching missions. Maynooth University’s Values

Our values define who we are, what we believe in and how we act as a community. They underpin our future success and guide our expectations of ourselves and each other. Our values apply to everyone in the University community: • Integrity • Collegiality • Responsibility • Freedom of expression • Ambition Tenure

This is a full-time post for a specified purpose, anticipated to be 9 months duration. Salary Senior Executive Assistant (2025): €44,255 – €53,625 p.a. (7 points) Appointments will be made in accordance with public sector pay provisions. Hours of work A 35-hour working week is in operation in respect of full-time positions (prorated for part-time positions). This can be reviewed or adjusted from time to time through national agreements.