Head of Communications and Public Engagement
Head of Communications and Public Engagement
Job Advertisement
Applications are invited for an appointment as Head of Communications and Public Engagement for a part time position in Irish Centre for High-End Computing (ICHEC) at University of Galway and will be based in the ICHEC Headquarters in Dublin 2.
ICHEC is the national High-Performance Computing (HPC) in Ireland and is a centre of domain, systems and software expertise that provides high performance software solutions to academia, industry and state bodies, through partnership, knowledge transfer, project delivery and service provision. ICHEC operates the national HPC service providing compute resources and software expertise for the research communities across all the main science disciplines through collaborative industry & academic partnerships and programmes of education and outreach. www.ichec.ie
This post is being offered as a specific purpose contract and will terminate by reason of the expiry of its specific purpose. It is anticipated that the duration of this assignment will be circa 18 months.
Information on the University's Strategic Plan is available at: Strategy | Straitéis 2020-2025 - University of Galway
For informal enquiries, please contact careers@ichec.ie
Salary: €61,632 - €83,555 (applicable to new entrants effective from January, 2011) and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the QA321 University’s Remuneration & Payroll Policy.
This appointment will be made on the Grade 5 pay-scale in line with current Government pay policy.
Closing date for receipt of applications is 17:00 (Irish Time) on Tuesday, 3rd June 2025. It will not be possible to consider applications received after the closing date.
Garda vetting may apply.
Appointments will be conditional on work authorisation validation. Further details are available at www.dbei.ie
For more information and Application Form please see Jobs - University of Galway. Applications should be submitted online. Please see further information on how to apply here: E-Recruit - University of Galway and Guidelines for On-line Applications (universityofgalway.ie)
Please note that appointment to posts advertised will be dependent upon University approval, together with the terms of the Employment Control Framework for the higher education sector.
University of Galway is an equal opportunities employer.
Role Relationships
Reporting directly to the Director, JC Desplat the post holder will have specific daily contact with.
ICHEC Executive Committee (incl. the ICHEC Director, Technical Manager, Infrastructure Manager and Senior Operations & Finance Manager).
ICHEC Programme Managers.
ICHEC Business Development Team.
ICHEC Communications Manager.
Research Office at NUI Galway.
Technology Transfer Office NUI Galway.
Marketing and Communications Office at NUI Galway.
The post holder has general contact with:
ICHEC Staff.
Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science.
Higher Education Authority.
General public.
Organisation chart to illustrate position of job holder:
Main Purpose of Job
The Head of Communications and Public Engagement will work with other senior roles in the Centre to support and develop the work of the team, and work across the Centre to maximise synergy and efficiency. S/he will join the Centre’s Executive Committee. The Head of Communications and Public Engagement will have responsibility for ensuring all content creation, including across digital platforms, social media, events, and internally is consistent with the Centre’s mission and vision as set-out in the Strategy and Business Plan 2021-2025 and aligned with NUI Galway’s strategy.
Developing and growing relationships on behalf of ICHEC with key national media contacts, particularly editors and science and technology correspondents are a further critical aspect of this role so experience in communicating excellence in science is essential. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the Centre strategy as well as advise and assist with relationships with key funders and stakeholders.
The post holder may occasionally need to work outside ordinary working hours, to meet deadlines and may also be requested to undertake other tasks by his/her line manager.
This post will involve travel nationally and throughout Europe to networking events and consortia meetings
Main Duties and Responsibilities
The successful candidate must possess the ability to work on own initiative, have excellent communications skills and the ability to work with multiple stakeholders.
Provide Strategic Direction for all ICHEC Communications Activity
Working with NUI Galway and ICHEC management to finalise ICHEC’s Communications and Stakeholder Strategy and develop a roadmap for its implementation. This should be based on the ICHEC Strategy and Business Plan 2021-2025.
Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental role, purpose, structure and strategic goals of ICHEC.
Deliver the full range of communications planning, implementation and evaluation services for ICHEC.
Delivery day-to-day excellence in communication for ICHEC
Work with colleagues across the University, ICHEC and with external partners to contribute to stakeholder engagement.
Review and sign off communications plan of key projects. This will involve analysis of critical messaging, drafting a communication strategy and plans, agreeing and achieving priorities, objectives and KPIs and closing evaluations.
Manage and supervise communications team working to deadlines across ICHEC’s remit and oversee implementation of larger scale projects, with a focus on communications effectiveness and evaluation.
Ensure delivery of communications excellence on funded projects where communications and dissemination are required
Advise ICHEC’s specialist managers in the development of project websites, reports, marketing materials and collateral on projects and programmes where communications and dissemination are funded and required.
Promote, train and support managers in ICHEC on the proactive use of effective communication.
Content management (Websites/Social Media/Events/Marketing Collateral
Promote growth of ICHEC’s online presence (www.ICHEC.ie) and social media accounts as well as other websites in ICHEC eg EuroCC-ireland.ie and project websites.
Ensure consistent messaging in marketing materials and at events.
Lead on social media engagement and identify optimal media opportunities to engage with ICHEC’s multiple stakeholders.
Any other duties as advised by the Line Manage
Requirements for the role:
The successful candidate will demonstrate the eligibility requirements below in terms of qualification, skills and experience:
Essential Criteria
Minimum NFQ level 8 qualification in Marketing/Communication/Public Policy or similar and at least five years’ post-qualification experience in similar role in a professional services or body.
Significant experience within a team that has delivered projects/ campaigns involving media relations, corporate communications, public relations, digital content and marketing.
Ability to exercise professional judgement, and to behave with tact and force yet be diplomatic
Management, supervisory experience with staff, and an ability to think and operate at policy, strategic and operational levels.
Demonstrated capacity to achieve results through engagement with multiple stakeholders and competing demands
High levels of planning, organisational, project management and crisis communications experience and deal with sensitive issues in the appropriate manner.
Ability to communicate complex information effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Working knowledge of website management system and experience in the development and publication of web content.
Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Office Suite or similar, including Social Media and Digital Media experience, and platforms.
Desirable Criteria
Attention to detail, including excellent writing ability and experience in the production of professional reports and content and documents for online and offline publication.
Experience in creating accessible content on complex policies and functions suitable for a wide audience.
The above criteria will be utilised to shortlist and select candidates for interview
APPLICATION
A. Existing University of Galway employees
If you are an existing University of Galway employee, please use the University of Galway Core Portal to apply for this post. The following is a link to the Core Portal http://ess.universityofgalway.ie. Core Portal user guides can be found at https://www.universityofgalway.ie/human-resources/employeeselfservice/. Please ensure that you read the attached guide prior to applying for this post and allow sufficient time to make your online submission in advance of closing date. Please note that closing dates/times cannot be extended for user error.
Unfortunately, late applications cannot be accepted.
Agency staff who have three months continuous service with the University can apply for internal vacancies. Further information on CORE portal can be found here CorePortal User Guide - University of Galway.
Employment permit restrictions apply for this category of post.
The completed application document must be submitted online to reach the Human Resources Office no later than Thursday, 3rd April 2025.
B. All applicants will receive an acknowledgement of application.
If you do not receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your application or if you have any other queries regarding the application process please contact recruit@universityofgalway.ie or telephone 091-492151.
C. Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER):
It is a condition of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in Department of Finance Circular 12/09 that retirees, under that scheme, are debarred from applying for another position in the same employment or the same sector. Therefore, such retirees are ineligible to apply for this position.
D. Pension Entitlements:
This is a pensionable position. Details of the applicable Pension Scheme will be provided to the successful candidate. The Pension element of this appointment is subject to the terms and conditions of the Pension scheme currently in force within the University. This Scheme may be amended or revised by the Irish Government or its agents at any time.
The Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 set a minimum retirement age of 65 and removed the upper compulsory retirement age for certain New Entrants to the Public Sector on or after 1 April 2004. Effective from 1st January 2013, The Single Public Service Scheme applies to all first-time new entrants to the public service, as well as to former public servants returning to the public service after a break of more than 26 weeks. Compulsory retirement age will be 70.
F. Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants:
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform letter dated 28th June 2012 to Personnel Officers introduced, with effect from 1st June 2012, a Collective Agreement which had been reached between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Services Committee of the ICTU in relation to ex-gratia Redundancy Payments to Public Servants. It is a condition of the Collective Agreement that persons availing of the agreement will not be eligible for re-employment in the public service by any public service body (as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 – 2011) for a period of 2 years from termination of the employment. Thereafter the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will be required prior to re-employment. People who availed of this scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility (expiry of period of non-eligibility) and the Minister’s consent will have to be secured prior to employment by any public service body.
Please refer to Revenue circular (www.revenue.ie/en/about/foi/s16/income-tax-capital-gains-tax.../05-05-19.pdf) for information on revised tax arrangements which may apply on rehire if you have previously received a redundancy payment from University of Galway.
G. Department of Health and Children Circular (7/2010):
The Department of Health Circular 7/2010 dated 1 November 2010 introduced a Targeted Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) Scheme and Voluntary Redundancy Schemes (VRS). It is a condition of the VER scheme that persons availing of the scheme will not be eligible for re-employment in the public health sector or in the wider public service or in a body wholly or mainly funded from public moneys. The same prohibition on re-employment applies under the VRS, except that the prohibition is for a period of 7 years, after which time any re-employment will require the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. People who availed of either of these schemes are not eligible to compete in this competition.
H. Declaration:
Applicants will be required to confirm whether they have previously availed of a public service scheme of incentivised early retirement and/or the collective agreement outlined above. The above represents the main schemes and agreements restricting a candidate’s right to be re-employed in the public service. However, it is not intended to be an exhaustive list and candidates should declare details of any other exit mechanism they have availed of which restricts their right to be re-employed in the public service. Applicants will also be required to declare any entitlements to a Public Service pension benefit (in payment or preserved) from any other Public Service employment and/or where they have received a payment-in-lieu in respect of service in any Public Service employment.
J. Work Permits:
Work permits are permits which are granted to non-EU/EEA Citizens to allow them to work in Ireland legally. It's an illegal offense to work in Ireland without a work permit and both the employer and the employee are held responsible. For more information on work permits and for future updates, visit the Enterprise, Trade and Employment website www.djei.ie. Please see list of ineligible categories for work permits at https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/Employment-Permit-Eligibility//
Assessment Procedure
A. Board of Assessors
Applications will be considered by a Board of Assessors, who will shortlist and interview candidates. All applications and other materials submitted by applicants will be treated in strict confidence by all panel members and others involved in the administration of the recruitment. No information about the identity of applicants, or details of their applications, will be released to others, except where it is necessary as part of the selection process.
B. Interview Dates
Candidates will be advised of arrangements in due course. We endeavour to give as much prior notice as possible for interview dates etc. Candidates should make themselves available for interview and presentation on the date(s) specified by the University.
Candidates who do not attend for interview or other test when and where required by the University or who do not, when requested, furnish such evidence as the University requires in regard to any matter relevant to their candidature, will have no further claim to consideration.
C. Referees
Referees listed on the application form of the successful candidate will be contacted following interview, with the exception of academic posts.
D. Offer
All candidates will in due course be notified of the outcome of their application. The Human Resources Office will offer the post to the candidate appointed once the appointment has been made by the University Appointing Authority. The successful candidate will be required to submit evidence of age, original qualifications and may be required to complete a medical examination.
Once a conditional job offer has been made, the candidate will be asked to complete a confidential pre-employment health questionnaire that the University’s Occupational Health Service will use in order to assess medical fitness to undertake the duties of the post. The information provided on the questionnaire will be used (i) to assess the candidates medical capability to do the job applied for; (ii) to determine whether any reasonable adjustments may be required to accommodate any disability or impairment which the candidate may have; and (iii) to ensure that none of the requirements of the job for which the candidate applied would adversely affect any pre-existing health conditions the candidate may have.
Human Resources Office.
