ROLE TITLE: POLICY AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
REPORTING TO: CEO
CONTRACT: Permanent
PROBATION: 9 months
LOCATION: Tallaght, Co. Dublin / (Hybrid working)
DIRECT REPORTS: Communications & Information Officer
An Cosán is currently recruiting for the position of POLICY AND
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER. We are seeking a highly skilled, experienced,
and passionate senior-level professional to join our team. This is an
exciting opportunity to play a key strategic senior leadership role,
as a member of the Management Team and reporting directly to the CEO.
As a key member of our management team, you will be responsible for
leading our research, policy development, and programme-level
(corporate, core services and strategic) marketing and communications
efforts. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of eight years of
relevant experience in policy and communications, with a proven track
record of success in driving engagement, building partnerships, and
shaping public discourse around issues relevant to our strategic
vision and goals.
This will be a busy, demanding, and diverse role where the Policy and
Communication Manager will utilise their extensive experience in
policy and communications, as well as providing programme management
and oversight.
They will be able to balance strategic needs with the more hands-on
operational priorities of the role.
We are seeking an ambitious, innovative, enthusiastic, and dynamic
professional, with proven policy analysis skills. The post holder must
be results driven and impactful, who thinks both strategically and
creatively.
The successful candidate will have a strong knowledge of the
underlying social conditions (economic, political, and cultural) which
relate to the Irish adult and community education sector and the early
years’ education and care sector. Experience in policy analysis,
developing reports, and engaging in national consultations is
required.
Experience in, and representing equality-focused issues at regional,
national, or European level would be beneficial.
AN COSÁN
An Cosán (Irish for ‘The Path’) is Ireland’s largest community
education organisation. The mission of An Cosán is to bring about
social equality and an end to poverty through community-based adult
education, the provision of early years’ education and care,
wrap-around counselling services and empowering social enterprise
development. Over the past three decades, An Cosán has provided
pathways to empowerment by providing access to community education to
thousands of people of all ages.
The organisation has expanded its reach to a national scale using
technology to deliver virtual access to its range of adult learning
programmes.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
* CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY: Develop and implement a
comprehensive communications strategy aligned with our organisational
goals and objectives. This includes overseeing messaging, branding,
and communications channels, both internal and external, to enhance
our visibility, reputation, engagement, building funding opportunities
through corporate partnerships and networks as well as achievement of
programme goals.
* RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS: Conduct ongoing research and analysis on
relevant issues, trends, and stakeholders to inform communication
strategies and advocacy initiatives. Leverage insights from our
learners and staff to support more effective interventions and to
inform policy advocacy. Stay up to date on industry developments and
best practices to ensure our communications remain effective and
impactful.
* POLICY DEVELOPMENT: Support the CEO in our advocacy efforts by
developing and disseminating persuasive communications materials, such
as policy briefs, white papers, reports, speeches, and articles.
Collaborate with internal team members and external partners to
advocate for policy changes that advance our mission and priorities.
* PROGRAMME-LEVEL MARKETING: Lead the development of and oversee
direct marketing campaigns and, in conjunction with the Communications
and Information Officer, ensure materials promoting our programmes,
initiatives, and events drive engagement. Utilise a mix and variety of
channels, including digital media, social media, and traditional
outlets, to reach target audiences.
* STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT: Cultivate relationships with key
stakeholders, including government agencies, partner organisations,
funders, and the media. Represent our organisation at events,
conferences, and meetings to build networks and promote our work.
* CONTENT CREATION AND STORYTELLING: Lead the creation of compelling
content, including op-eds, articles, blog posts, press releases, and
multimedia assets, to communicate our
* audience, driving support for our mission and goals.
* TEAM LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATION: Provide guidance and mentorship
where appropriate across An Cosán and to direct reports, fostering a
collaborative and inclusive work environment. Collaborate with
cross-functional teams to integrate internal and external
communications efforts, with other organisational functions, covering
both day-to-day operational activities, and programme level
initiatives.
* Any other duties as assigned by the CEO.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND CORE COMPETENCIES
* Proven experience in research, advocacy and policy development.
* Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability
to translate complex issues into clear and compelling messages.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a keen eye
for detail and accuracy.
* Demonstrated leadership experience, with the ability to manage
projects, teams, and budgets effectively.
* Proficiency in digital and social media platforms, as well as
marketing tools and analytics software.
* Evidenced experience in programme-level communications and
marketing across multiple campaigns or initiatives, within a broader
strategy to achieve overarching goals or objectives.
* Experience of cross-functional collaboration across different
departments within an organisation, and with partners, such as
marketing, brand development, product development, and customer
engagement to ensure that organisational efforts are aligned with
overall our mission, strategic objectives, and service user needs.
* Passion for our mission, values, and commitment to making a
positive impact in the world to ensure no one is left behind. And
ideally, understanding of the adult community education and early
years education and care sectors in Ireland or the proven capacity to
quickly acquire same.
* Effective negotiating and influencing skills.
* Results driven and consistently strives to work to a high
standard.
* Sound judgement and decision-making skills with the ability to
assimilate relevant information and make the best decisions to achieve
the organisation’s goals.
* Ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively, as a
positively engaged leader and team member.
* Skilled in building relationships and networks with colleagues and
stakeholders, whilst seeking to build consensus and manage conflicts.
* Flexible, whilst being highly organised with good time management
skills.
* Creative questioning and solution approach to challenges.
EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE
ESSENTIAL
* Minimum of eight years’ experience in policy and communications,
ideally with a focus on organisations serving
disadvantaged/marginalised groups.
* Qualified to Master’s degree level in a relevant field and/or
professional experience in high level Communications/Public/Media
Relations, Policy, Inclusion, Advocacy, or related field.
* Knowledge and understanding of underlying social conditions
(economic, political, and cultural) which relate to Higher, Further
and Access education and Early Years Education and Care.
* Understanding and commitment to the educational ethos of An
Cosán.
DESIRABLE
* Experience in community education.
* Affinity with and understanding of the importance of engaging
learners and communities in realising their potential as equal members
of a socially just society. Cover letter
* Curriculum Vitae
* Completed Application Form
SALARY COMMENSURATE WITH EXPERIENCE AND THE NOT FOR PROFIT COMMUNITY
EDUCATION SECTOR
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Please email the following documents to * with
subject line clearly marked:
POLICY AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER role:
Link to Application Form here:
We need : English (Good)
Type: Permanent
Payment:
Category: Others
