We are looking to hire a Partnership and External Affairs Director on an initial 9 month contract with three possible extensions (total of 18 months).
Key Elements of the Job/Duties and Responsibilities:
For the duration of this temporary assignment , the appointee will be a member of the Authority’s executive leadership team with direct reporting responsibility to the Chief Executive Officer. They will take responsibility with the CEO, Chief Operations Officer and the other Directors for the delivery of their directorate objectives as well as the organisational objectives. This person will promote and sponsor Authority-wide strategic and policy direction emanating from the implementation of the Government Road Safety Strategy and Corporate Plan.
They will be responsible for the full range of external relations and communications functions including:
- Marketing and Communications (including branding, media relations and PR)
- Campaigns
- Road Safety Education
- Community development and outreach
- Strategic partnerships
- Stakeholder relationship management (including political relationships)
- Fundraising and new income generation
They will lead the team to deliver on the objectives of the Directorate in relation to all aspects of partnerships and external affairs, including the development of new strategic partnerships, the further advancing the impact of marketing, development, innovation and promotion of road safety education programmes and initiatives to all stakeholders, communications and engagement activities, and the development of a new fundraising and new income generation capability within the team.
Partnerships & External Affairs Delivery:
- Develop partner networks and strategic partnerships in Ireland and the EU.
- Develop and implement a partnership strategy to increase the reach and impact ongoing activities with a focus on advancing delivery of the RSTP (Road Safety Transformation Partnership).
- Develop and implement a stakeholder management strategy to better manage relationships with key government and political stakeholders.
- Coordinate the management of ongoing relationships with existing partners and stakeholders and, where relevant, leverage those relationships to greater collective impact.
- Monitor, review and evaluate strategic partnerships and performance against key corporate directions and plans to facilitate continuous improvement and support the delivery of innovative and mutually beneficial partnership outcomes.
- Plan and develop communications strategies, programmes, work plans, policies and processes to strengthen the Authority’s reputation and political impact.
- Drive innovation in the delivery and promotion of our education programmes, building sustainable and future focussed relationships with key strategic partners in delivering on the wide ranging education and promotion activity underway and required as part of our RSTP.
- Develop and direct effective community outreach programs in order to educate the public on road safety.
- Develop and implement strategic communications and public affairs programmes that advance the Authority’s strategic priorities
- Work with internal and external subject matter experts to manage the development of content that is clear, engaging and well-organized across all platforms
- Direct, lead, and review the preparation of briefing packets, reports and presentations for the CEO, Board or elected officials including news releases, videos, brochures and other types of publications and collateral materials.
- Coordinate communication efforts with other national, EU, and local organisations, including identifying best practices and working to implement those practices on behalf of the Authority.
- Conduct ongoing formal risk assessments, anticipate and identify issues that could become controversial with the media; effectively manage controversial and high- profile issues. Brief executive management, elected officials and Board Members accordingly.
- Make presentations to public agencies, community groups, and the general public; work with executive staff members to prepare them for their presentations to the public to ensure that messaging is consistent.
- Direct and lead management, professional, technical and administrative staff, while also providing appropriate oversight for work conducted by contractors and consultants.
- Select personnel, assign programs and projects, coach and develop staff.
- With the support of the Procurement & Commercial team, ensure consultants and contractors are accountable for producing high quality work in a cost-effective manner while ensuring quality assurance processes and quality control systems are in place.
- Work with Research team and the Data, MI & Analytics team to conduct consumer and public opinion research, or related consulting work products, to support communication strategies.
- In partnership with other executive team members, oversee crisis and emergency communications; develop and maintain emergency communications plans and procedures.
- With the support and coordination of the Procurement & Commercial team, lead the full cycle procurement process including: developing and finalizing procurements in compliance with government policies and procedures, writing scopes of work (SOW), contract requirements, and evaluation criteria, and making a final selection and award.
- Identify opportunities for funding and generating new income; work with Finance and other relevant teams from across to lead on the submission of funding applications.
- Any other duties as may be deemed as necessary by the CEO.
Strategic Management:
- Lead the Partnerships & External Affairs directorate in the implementation of the Government Road Safety Strategy and Corporate Strategy.
- Lead on corporate strategic change initiatives.
- Lead the implementation with other members of the leadership team on public service reform.
- Ensure that the overall objectives of the Partnerships & External Affairs directorate are consistent with Government policy.
- Ensure adherence to Data Protection and customer service policies within the Authority.
- Monitor and evaluate progress and performance, focusing on Value for Money, outreach, impact, continuous improvement and adaption of communication processes, programmes and products.
- Develop and implement annual work programmes across the Partnerships & External Affairs directorate.
- Develop and implement the directorate budget.
- Build and maintain strong internal relationships in order to effectively collaborate with peers to optimise delivery and achievement of objectives.
- Champion the companies values through effective role-modelling of behaviours in all interactions and supporting directorate staff to do the same.
Scope of role
The person undertaking this role needs a broad range of knowledge, skills and experience, including the following:
- Outstanding leadership skills - to lead the directorate team and to work with key stakeholders
- Excellent verbal and written communication and influencing skills, including ability to develop clear and persuasive oral and written presentations for different audiences
- Strong business acumen, analytical thinking, and change management skills
- Strong relationship building skills and an entrepreneurial approach that leverages further opportunities
- Proven ability to work effectively with people having differing viewpoints and objectives including government officials, elected officials, the media, consultants, contractors, community representatives, business/industry representatives and the public
- Ability to self-manage under significant pressure and in situations involving highly emotional stakeholders and/or high-profile media events
- Ability to analyse sensitive communication problems and adopt an effective course of action
- Capable of negotiating agreement on highly sensitive and complex issues, internally and externally
- Capable of building lasting relationships at all levels, internally and externally, through open and honest communication
- Able to travel to both domestic and international locations to meet and liaise with potential partners and stakeholder
Essential Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree / Level 8 NFQ, or comparable industry experience
- Substantial experience in leading organisational communications, including running campaigns and working with the media
- Substantial experience of managing external relationships, including tangible experience of having expanded and cultivated existing partnerships over time
- Experience of working as part of a senior management team and leading organizational strategy
- Experience of complex project management in a fast paced, high stakes environment
- Experience of developing relationships with government and political stakeholders, including demonstrated experience of being able to successfully navigate EU political systems
- Demonstrated strategic, business development and analytical skills to define and frame complex, enterprise-wide business issues
- A proven ability to formulate and implement strategy in an evolving organisation
- A proven recent record of achievement at senior level that demonstrates the necessary vision, leadership and management skills with a capacity for innovative thinking
- A broad knowledge of Irish public administration and of the inter-relationships between different agencies
Desirable requirements
- Tertiary / professional qualifications in Communications or a similar field
- Proven experience of developing strategic initiatives or fundraising role for a non- profit, foundation, campaign organization, government entity or similar organization
- Experience in strategic sales or business development
- Familiarity with the Road Safety and Sustainable Transport agenda, nationally and internationally would be a distinct advantage
- Familiarity with governmental and non-governmental funding structures and opportunities and experience in successfully securing funding would be a distinct advantage
For more information, please email [email protected]
#CplGalwayOS
