Communications Officer

Vacancy:       Communications Officer Contract:       Full time, permanent Salary:            €32,000 - €37,000 per annum, subject to experience The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) is Ireland’s leading sexual health provider. We provide a wide range of services at our medical clinics and nationwide counselling centres, including specialist pregnancy counselling, abortion care, sexual and reproductive health services, and education and training.We are committed to ensuring that every person in Ireland can exercise sexual and reproductive rights and choices with respect for reproductive autonomy and bodily integrity.IFPA is a pro-choice organisation and will support a woman’s own decision is all cases. The IFPA Communications Officer works with the Advocacy Team to develop and implement the organisation’s communications strategy, in line with the IFPA Strategic Plan. They are responsible for media strategy, including IFPA engagement with print, broadcast, and social media, and for planning, development, and delivery of IFPA internal and external communications.The Communications Officer reports to the Director of Advocacy and Communications. Key Responsibilities:Collaborating with key colleagues in the strategic development and implementation of the IFPA’s communications and media strategies.Managing all media enquiries. Drafting press releases, comments, and responses as appropriate, ensuring the correct message reaches the media in a timely manner. Building relationships with journalists and briefing and preparing IFPA spokespeople ahead of media appearances.Proactively generating media coverage for the organisation when appropriate.Monitoring media coverage of sexual and reproductive health and rights issues.Managing the IFPA website including changes and updates. Managing social media channels including planning and content creation.Drafting, proofreading, and copy editing IFPA publications and submissions, Annual Report, journal and magazine articles; reports to international networks and other content for external publication.Issuing regular in-house briefings.Developing, maintaining, and implementing IFPA branding across relevant platforms.Coordinating and managing logistics of IFPA events including Ministerial visits, press conferences, report launches, photo shoots, advocacy events and Irish and European health promotion campaigns.  The successful applicant will require:At least five years relevant employment experience.A university degree in social sciences, humanities, health or other relevant field.Knowledge, understanding, and commitment to sexual and reproductive health and rights in Ireland and globally.Understanding of the diverse communications needs of an organisation that both provides services and engages in policy and advocacy.Understanding of the media environment in Ireland.Excellent English and experience of writing in a range of styles for diverse audiences.Strong web content development and social media skills (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) in a professional/organisational context. A full job description is available here. For more information contact christina.connolly@ifpa.ie.