Overview
Job Title: Communications Manager in the Civil Service
Employer: Government of Ireland
County: Dublin
Closing Date: 3pm, Thursday, 18th September 2025
Starting Salary: €81,475
About the Employer
The Civil Service is at the heart of Irish society. Everything we do impacts our country, and most importantly, our people. We are a robust and trusted institution, which has served the people of Ireland since the foundation of the State. While the challenges which face the Civil Service today are different to those faced at the foundation of the State, our core values remain the same.
The Civil Service is a large complex organisation employing over 50,000 people in approximately 40 Government Departments and offices and a range of other bodies. Every day the Civil Service makes a vital contribution to Irish life. Everything the Civil Service does, from carrying out the work of Government to delivering frontline public services, impacts Ireland in some way.
Why work in communications in the Civil Service?
Working in communications with the Civil Service provides an excellent opportunity to lead and shape communications policy, strategy and practice within Government and to develop your career as a skilled communications professional.
The role of Communications Manager gives you the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. You will work on some of the most important issues, keeping the public informed and supporting the delivery of policy and public services.
Improving communication capacity across government departments and offices is a key enabler to ensure effective policy implementation and understanding.
Opportunities now exist for experienced communications professionals with leadership experience and a record of significant achievements to take up the role of Communications Manager in the Civil Service.
This senior level position offers an exciting opportunity for ambitious, enthusiastic and committed professionals with a strong commitment to serving the public interest. The role involves collaborative working and a willingness to take on new challenges. Successful candidates will be offered a dynamic, satisfying and varied career, with competitive terms and conditions.
About the Role
The Communications Manager position is a senior role that will have responsibility for leading and shaping communications programmes within an organisation.
As a senior manager, you will set the strategy and workplan for your team and take responsibility for delivery. Your specialist knowledge and experience will support the delivery of excellent, public-focused communications.
Focusing on departmental priorities and business objectives, you will provide leadership to team members and help build capability across the communications function.
As a key member of the departmental/organisational communications team, you will play a pivotal role in managing the team and communications across a variety of work streams. This could include, for example, strategic communications and campaigns, media relations, event management, digital communications, stakeholder engagement or internal communications.
You will have a keen understanding of the political system in Ireland, and a strong interest in current affairs.
You will have the authority, experience and personal impact to provide communications advice and support to senior leaders and build excellent working relationships with counterparts in other government departments and agencies as well as external organisations.
About You
Candidates must have on or before Thursday 18th of September 2025:
1. a) A qualification at minimum level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) or NARIC Ireland Foreign Qualifications equivalent in a relevant discipline such as Communications, Public Relations, Marketing etc.
2. and b) At least 4 years’ experience managing communications projects or programmes for an organisation, including experience across at least four of the areas below:
o Media relations
o Social / digital media
o Public affairs / stakeholder engagement
o Event management
o Internal communications
o Campaign management
o Marketing / advertising
3. OR 2. At least 6 years’ experience managing communications projects or programmes for an organisation, including experience across at least four of the areas below.
o Media relations
o Social / digital media
o Public affairs / stakeholder engagement
o Event management
o Internal communications
o Campaign management
o Marketing / advertising
4. Candidates must also have:
5. 3. Experience of leading multi-disciplinary teams including line management and staff development.
6. 4. Experience of leading on the planning and delivery of communications with demonstrated evidence of having devised and implemented effective communications strategies and programmes based on analysis, data, audience understanding and business objectives.
7. 5. Experience of managing day-to-day media and stakeholder enquiries.
8. 6. Experience of managing digital and social media, including developing bespoke content, for effective communications purposes.
9. 7. Demonstrable experience of exercising sound judgment and making the right call under pressure.
10. 8. Experience of handling budgets and ensuring value for money.
11. 9. Strong research and analytical skills with excellent attention to detail.
12. 10. Proven organisational skills with the ability to deal with multiple demands and competing priorities to tight deadlines while producing high-quality work.
13. 11. The ability to act as a spokesperson and to manage communications on behalf of an organisation in a professional and comprehensive way considering reputation and risk management.
14. 12. Excellent interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to network, build relationships and engage effectively with, influence and secure support from stakeholders at all levels of seniority.
15. 13. Excellent written and verbal communication skills (including presentation skills) with proven experience in communicating complex issues clearly and concisely to a diverse audience.
16. 14. A motivated, flexible and adaptive approach, the capability to contribute positively to the implementation of change, and the ability to use their own initiative as and when appropriate.
17. 15. A keen understanding of the political system in Ireland, or the capacity to quickly acquire same, and a strong interest in current affairs.
18. 16. Well-developed IT/digital skills including a good working knowledge of MS Office suite and familiarity with specialist software packages used in the communications area.
19. 17. A commitment to continuing professional learning and development.
The Closing Date for this competition is Thursday, 18th of September at 3pm.
We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and encourage applications under all nine grounds of the Employment Equality Act.
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