Women's Aid are recruiting for a Policy Officer
Reports to: Strategic Communications and Fundraising Manager.
Location: Women’s Aid, 5 Wilton Place, Dublin 2, D02 RR27.
Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week).
Contract: 18-month fixed contract, subject to review.
Salary: €24,601-€40,592 per annum, pro-rata.
Purpose of the Role
To support the development and delivery of the policy strand of work for Women’s Aid and to support the development of proposals for change in public policy that will impact positively on women and children experiencing abuse and contribute to preventing domestic violence including coercive control.
The Policy Officer will assist with the smooth and efficient running of the Strategic Communications and Fundraising team and provide support on all national, regional, and local policy initiatives and activities.
Main Duties:
- Support the development, distribution, and archival of policy submissions, legislative proposals, reports, and papers.
- Provide support in meetings with government officials and policymakers.
- Assist with consultations with relevant groups and survivors of domestic violence.
- Relevant networking with relevant agencies, groups, and individuals in regard to the issue.
- Support the collection and dissemination of data and research relevant to the Women’s Aid policy objectives.
- Research, collate date for, and write all to Annual Reports.
- Represent Women’s Aid on national and local fora.
- Draft op-eds for media the CEO based on Women’s Aid’s policy initiatives
- Ensure the timely acquisition and maintenance of up-to-date internal and external statistical information in relation to domestic violence and abuse both nationally and domestically
- Gather and submit quarterly lobbying returns to the Register of Lobbying
- Attend team meetings with other departments in Women’s Aid to gather gain insight into the frontline work and to update them on changes in the political and legislative landscape.
- Support the curation of the Women’s Aid library and e-resources.
Occasional Duties
- Participate in organisational meetings, events, and working groups.
- Attend regular one-to-one meetings with the Strategic Communications and Fundraising Manager.
- Perform other duties as appropriate to the post as may be assigned from time to time, commensurate with the responsibility of the post.
- Promote the overall aims and values of Women’s Aid.
- Working as part of a small dynamic team a degree of flexibility will be required.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria:
- 1-2 years experience working in the NGO sector, preferably in a policy or campaigning role.
- Strong interest in and commitment to tackling violence against women and children and to promoting gender equality.
- 3rd level qualification in relevant field (e.g. Politics, Social Policy, Gender/Women’s Studies, Human Rights Law).
- Experience in developing policy and advocacy campaigns.
- Good research and analytical skills.
- Editing and proofing skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to write for and present to a wide range of audiences.
- Knowledge of the policy environment within which Irish NGOs operate.
- Proven record of delivering on objectives.
Desirable Criteria:
- Proven project management skills.
- Extensive knowledge of legislation and policy (domestic and international) that relates to the prevention of violence against women and girls.
Working with Women’s Aid:
- Annual Leave: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days per annum pro-rata.
- Pension: Women’s Aid operates a contributory pension scheme which all employees may join after 6 months in the organisation.
- VHI: Women’s Aid operates a group VHI scheme which you may join.
- Employee Assistance Programme: Women’s Aid provides an extensive employee assistance programme operated by Peninsula.
- Health Services Staffs Credit Union: Employees of Women’s Aid may join the Health Services Staffs Credit Union.
- Trade Union Membership: The staff of Women’s Aid has an option of joining any recognised Trade Union.
- Domestic Violence Leave Policy: Women’s Aid has in place a Domestic Violence Leave Policy for Staff experiencing domestic abuse.
How to Apply:
- The closing date is 5 pm, Tuesday 2nd November 2021.
- Applications, clearly referenced, should be sent by email to carmen@womensaid.ie.
- Please note that we accept application forms only. CVs will not be considered.
- Interviews for this post will take place the week of 15th November 2021.
Women’s Aid is committed to the promotion of equal opportunities and cultural diversity.