Role Overview
Job Title: EU Communication Officer
Start Date: Immediate start, a panel may be formed from this recruitment process.
Salary: €28,000–€35,000 gross per annum (pro rata where applicable), depending on experience.
Location: Kilkenny
Contract type: This is a specified purpose contract to provide maternity leave cover. The duration of the contract is expected to be approximately [e.g. 9–12 months], however this is subject to the return date of the substantive postholder. The contract will terminate upon the return to work of the substantive postholder. This role is temporary and does not confer any expectation of a contract of indefinite duration.
Working Hours: Full Time, Monday to Friday 37.5 hours per week
About South East Energy Agency
South East Energy Agency is a non-profit, independent energy agency working primarily with clients across the Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford regions and beyond. Our key focus is to increase awareness and promote behaviour change to accelerate ‘energy transition’ for the South East Region of Ireland. We have a broad remit across the energy sector and work on a wide range of local, national and EU projects which require multi‐disciplinary teams and skills. SEEA provides a range of energy services to its clients including developing and delivering EU projects, Sustainable Energy Management, Energy Auditing, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Development, project management & delivery, Grant administration, Energy Master Planning and more.
What you will be doing
Communication Strategy
o Develop and implement communication plans aligned with the goals of EU projects.
o Ensure consistent messaging and branding across all communication channels.
o Develop comprehensive communication plans around project initiatives to support South East Energy Agency’s technical delivery team to execute EU project deliverables.
o Provide communication support for partner companies who work closely with the Energy Agency to advance the development of renewable technologies in Ireland.
Content Creation
o Create compelling content, including press releases, articles, social media posts, and visual materials.
o Collaborate with project teams to gather information and stories for effective communication.
o Translate technical project language into user friendly accessible content
o Maintain projects’ web-platforms
o Coordinate and upload content on the web-platforms on an on-going basis
o Producing blog posts and articles on EU project activity, updates, news, events etc.
Media Relations
o Build and maintain relationships with media outlets, journalists, and relevant stakeholders.
o Prepare and distribute press releases and respond to media inquiries when required, work closely with our PR partner as required.
Digital Presence
o Manage and update project websites and social media platforms.
o Monitor and analyse online engagement metrics to optimise digital communication strategies.
o Promote South East Energy Agency EU project visibility through our digital communications channels and develop relevant and engaging multi-platform content
o Produce blog posts and relevant articles on projects updates and share through social media
o Coordinate the delivery of projects periodic newsletters as required.
o Handling live social media during events (both online and physical).
Event Coordination
o Manage South East Energy Agency communications around major EU project events.
o Participate and represent the organisation at EU Partner meetings and events across the EU and nationally.
o Organise and coordinate events, workshops, partner meetings and webinars to promote project objectives.
o Support the planning and execution of project-related conferences and meetings and support the EU team with event / partner meeting preparation (presentations, materials, promotion and other communications etc).
Stakeholder Engagement
o Engage with project partners, beneficiaries, and external stakeholders to ensure effective communication.
o Foster positive relationships and address inquiries regarding project activities.
o Stay up to date with ongoing energy efficiency and renewable energy technology grant programs in Ireland.
General Tasks
· Day-to-day administration and co-ordination of EU Projects, communication and marketing management and successful delivery of such programs
· Undertaking other duties and other active projects to meet the needs of the department and the organisation such as administrative and marketing tasks.
· Participating and presenting in project partner webinars, events, tele-conference calls, partner and steering group meetings etc.
· Manage day to day communication and project management activities to drive project awareness and deliver on project tasks .
· Manage the project communications budget and ensure timely reporting, collate report and analysis of communication initiatives.
· Act as the EU project focal point for all stakeholders
· Liaise with the other members of the wider Team, to assist with general strategic objectives of the organisation and daily tasks as required.
Qualifications and Experience
· 2+ -years’ experience in a similar role (Communications, Business, Project Management).
· Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Communication, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field.
· Excellent communication, customer service, writing and networking skills.
· Proactive and Proven experience as a communication professional, preferably in the context of EU projects.
· Strong written and verbal communication skills in English; proficiency in additional EU languages is a plus.
· Familiarity with EU communication guidelines and policies.
· Past experience in relation to energy, data, building industry, construction etc is a bonus, but not essential.
· Excellent organisational and project management abilities.
· Proficiency in digital communication tools and platforms.
· Proven experience working on multi-stakeholder projects.
· Availability to travel and work EU wide is essential
Person Specification
The successful candidate will have a collaborative, flexible and innovative approach to his or her work. They will be highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple projects, with a specific focus on budgets, deadlines and quality. They will:
· Apply creativity and attention to detail across all of their work for effective communication to stakeholders.
· Possess the skills and initiative to design successful projects communications strategies and activities for projects and new project proposals.
· Have strong time management skills and is comfortable working to meet tight deadlines.
· Be an experienced user of web content management systems, confident in managing the content of one or more websites and proficient user and creator of word documents, spreadsheets, presentation packages etc.
· Have a good understanding of technology and IT with detailed knowledge of the social media marketing landscape and tools. Have the ability and the ambition to navigate and grow social media following across Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and other channels as necessary.
· Seamlessly manage the coordination, production and design of projects’ periodic newsletters and communication tools (presentations, brochures, event flyers, videos, factsheets etc), targeting identified relevant audience.
· Have the capacity to coordinate, proofread and edit reports to ensure quality is consistent.
· Demonstrate experience in their ability to take initiative and multi-task across multiple projects.
· Possess excellent English verbal and written skills
How to apply?
Please complete the Application Form available on http://www.southeastenergy.ie/careers and return to Joanne Brennan at [email protected] with a subject line ‘EU Communications Officer” telling us more about yourself, your experience/ambitions. Please also indicate your earliest available starting date
NOTE. If you do not wish that we contact current or past employers, please state so and explain the reasons in your letter of motivation. All applications will be treated confidentially and by respecting the privacy of the candidate. Applications that do not meet the deadline will be excluded. South East Energy Agency is an equal opportunities employer. *Note: your CV may be attached but will not substitute for a completed South East Energy Agency Application Form.
A panel may be established for future temporary or fixed-term vacancies. Placement on a panel does not guarantee appointment.
All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and proof of the right to work in Ireland.
This specified purpose contract is objectively justified on the basis of providing temporary cover during a period of maternity leave.
Pay: €28,000.00-€35,000.00 per year
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Kilkenny, County Kilkenny: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work authorisation:
Willingness to travel:
Work Location: In person
