DescriptionWe are Uisce Éireann. Every day, we are responsible for the delivery of secure, safe, and sustainable water services for the people of Ireland. As Ireland’s national regulated water utility, our vision is a sustainable Ireland where water is respected and protected, for the planet and all the lives it supports.
Our purpose at Uisce Éireann is to rise to the challenge of delivering transformative water services that enable communities to thrive. That means we are proud to take on the responsibility of protecting our water supply and passing on a safe and secure water system to a rapidly growing population and empowering Ireland’s social and economic growth.
We are passionate about empowering our people, enabling them to make a positive impact on communities across Ireland. We are guided by a shared vision and purpose, grounded in values that define who we are and shape how we work, where we deliver for customers and communities, we work better together, we do the right thing, we aim high, and we keep each other safe. Our behaviours define how we interact, communicate, and succeed together. These values and behaviours apply to each one of us, across every role, location, and level.
Our goal is to attract and develop skilled and talented people from diverse backgrounds, who bring a dynamic range of expertise and insights to our work. With a strong, values-driven workforce, we ensure Uisce Éireann can continue advancing Ireland’s water services and meeting the needs of the communities we serve for generations to come.
The Role
The Corporate Affairs Directorate has a clear purpose: To strengthen Uisce Éireann’s reputation and be a trusted advisor and practitioner to ensure that Uisce Éireann achieves its Corporate Strategy and Business outcomes. Our approach is to ensure we provide integrated strategic communications advice and solutions to the business and ensure we focus our communications effort on the right target audiences and channels with clearly defined measurables and outcomes.
The Corporate Affairs Directorate has a diverse mix of skillsets and responsibilities including brand strategy, market research and insights, marketing and digital marketing (websites and social media strategy), corporate affairs, public relations, crisis management, project communications, stakeholder communications, public affairs, sponsorships, media relations and internal communications.
The Communications Lead will support the Communications Lead or Communications Manager to deliver the overall objectives of the directorate by playing key roles across the team.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Consult with business stakeholders to provide expert advice on an outcomes-focused approach to delivery of clear, timely, and aligned employee communications for whole-of-company projects, campaigns and initiatives
Provide internal comms advice to major transformational programmes and facilitate access to whole-of-company communication channels
Drive alignment to strategy, brand and values, and support and coordinate delivery of whole of company announcements
Direct and oversee the implementation of leadership visibility communication programme
Act as a key member of the Crisis Management team when crises have significant impact on employees
Act as the lead on projects to develop communication channels, materials and resources to speedily and effectively communicate during crisis and drive throughout the business
Input into the development of an internal communications crisis management plan
Work with the Internal Communications management and leads to build employee communications capability across the organisation enabling the business to understand the best way to engage its teams
Where relevant, manage the relationship with third party consultants on the project to ensure Communications and Stakeholder Management Plans are effectively delivered portfolio of Corporate Affairs work.
Build and maintain critical internal and external relationships to provide advice, guidance and support on communications on behalf of Uisce Eireann
Collaborate with key internal stakeholders across the IW business including but not limited to;
People & Safety
Stakeholder & Corporate Communications
Brand Marketing & Digital
Media & Project Communications
Asset Management & Sustainability,
All other directorates as required.
Collaborate with and support relevant Communications Manager or Communications Lead to deliver legally compliant integrated 360 degree communications on behalf of the Corporate Affairs Team directed by evolving business need and as defined and agreed in employees workplan.
Be a champion for collaboration, demand and capacity management, strong adherence to clear process and documented governance for the delivery of the prioritised portfolio of Corporate Affairs work.
Build and maintain critical internal and external relationships to provide advice, guidance and support on communications on behalf of Uisce Eireann
Implement a strategic approach to the use of digital communications and research insights to adapt communications strategies and measure their success
Escalate issues and challenges to the Communication Lead/Manager or relevant business owners if required
Operationalise and drive communications strategies and plans to support the successful delivery of strategic projects as required across the Communications Directorate
Coach and manage IC advisors as direct reports.
Promote and deliver on health and safety commitments objectives and requirements across Uisce Eireann and its supply chain, and report and input into Enterprise Risk Management processes in place in Uisce Éireann as required
Work cross functionally on projects or tasks as directed by the Senior Management team when required
Some travel within Ireland and out of hours attendance at events may be required for this role
Perform other duties as required.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
Demonstrable experience working across integrated communications teams in a range of disciplines
A minimum of 5 years experience in the water, utilities or similar regulated industries is desirable but not essential
Relevant third level qualification or accreditation in communications related discipline but also including technical, engineering or environmental disciplines are also beneficial
Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders internally and externally
Proven track record dealing with complex issues, proactively and in a timely fashion along with the ability to communicate information to others
Highly motivated adaptable individual, working to the highest professional standards and with proven ability to deliver results within an agile team.