Head of Government Relations & Strategic Partnerships – 1 Year fixed term Contract (Internal Position to Rethink Ireland Staff ONLY) Contract: Year fixed term contract full-time Based: Dublin or Cork, with travel within Ireland Salary: €82,000–€90,000 per annum (Dependent on experience) Benefits: days of annual leave Pension: Pension contribution Hybrid working: Hybrid, with travel around Ireland. Attendance at meetings and events is a regular part of the role, including some evening events. JOB PURPOSE To lead Rethink Ireland's government relations and strategic partnerships, strengthening the organisation's income, influence and impact at both national and regional levels. The role will be responsible for developing and managing high-level political and donor relationships, securing sustainable funding, and positioning Rethink Ireland as a trusted partner to government, corporates, and philanthropic stakeholders. This role will also provide strategic leadership for regional engagement in Munster and contribute to the overall direction of the organisation. JOB DESCRIPTION Government Relations & Policy Engagement Lead Rethink Ireland's engagement with government, political representatives, and senior civil servants. Shape and deliver lobbying strategies, manifesto inputs, and policy submissions aligned to organisational goals. Oversee the design and execution of government-facing events, briefings, and strategic communications. Negotiate and secure multi-million euro government contracts and funding agreements. Strategic Partnerships & Fundraising Develop and manage relationships across High Net Worth individuals, corporates, and trusts/foundations. Secure significant and sustained funding to meet and exceed agreed income targets. Provide national leadership on donor stewardship and partnership development. Identify and pursue new strategic partnership opportunities to diversify income. Leadership & Organisational Representation Serve as Rethink Ireland's senior spokesperson for Munster, representing the organisation in media, political, and donor circles. Build Rethink Ireland's profile and credibility as a partner of choice among stakeholders, including political leaders and major donors. Contribute to organisational strategy as part of the senior leadership team. Lead coaching and knowledge-sharing initiatives across the business development team and wider organisation. Operational & Financial Oversight Partner with relevant areas of the organisation (Operations, PMT and Finance) to oversee fund compliance and fund budgets. Provide input into tendering processes and ensure compliance with contractual requirements. Monitor and report on performance metrics, ensuring delivery of agreed outcomes. Experience Essential Experience Proven track record (10+ years) in government relations, public affairs, fundraising, or strategic partnerships at senior level in Ireland Demonstrated success in securing and managing multi-million euro government contracts and/or major donor relationships. Experience influencing policy and engaging with Ministers, senior civil servants, and political stakeholders. Evidence of exceeding fundraising or income generation targets across multiple channels (HNW, corporate, foundations). Leadership experience, including managing teams, mentoring, or acting at Director level. Familiarity with Irish political and funding systems, particularly DRCD and other relevant government departments. Desirable Experience Previous experience in the not-for-profit, social impact, or philanthropic sector. Regional leadership experience in Munster or other key powerbroker political constituencies. Key Skills & Attributes Exceptional relationship-building and negotiation skills with senior external and internal stakeholders. Strong strategic thinking and ability to influence organisational direction. Excellent communication and public speaking skills, including media representation. Financial acumen and ability to oversee budgets and contracts. High resilience, adaptability, and political awareness. Team player, but self motivated Strong commitment to Rethink Ireland's mission and values. Our Values We work with our hearts and our heads – we value compassion, passion and fun. We take smart risks and we allow permission to fail because we know that innovation and risk are two sides of the same coin. We believe that social change is a team sport. We build trusted relationships, and we choose to collaborate to achieve our goals. We are curious and hunger to learn. We value bold ideas and bold leadership, and we develop remarkable people. COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY We are an equal opportunity employer. We believe that diversity and inclusion drive success and help us to achieve our highest potential as an organisation. We are committed to Respect, Equality, Inclusion and Diversity both in our workforce and in our engagement with others. We strongly welcome applications from members of minority and marginalised communities. In line with Ireland's Equality Legislation we actively oppose discrimination on the following 9 grounds: Gender. Civil status: single, married, divorced, etc. Family status: if you're the parent or person responsible for a child over 18, or if you're the main carer or parent of a person with a disability. Sexual orientation. Religion. Age. Disability. Race. Traveller community. We also actively oppose discrimination on the grounds of socio-economic disadvantage. HOW TO APPLY? Application deadline: Submit applications by 5pm on Monday, 5 January 2026