Policy Officer, Advocacy

Location: Dublin

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent

The purpose of this role is to contribute to Focus Ireland’s work of influencing public policy towards the elimination of homelessness, with particular emphasis on the areas of housing policy and youth homelessness.

What you will do:

• Monitoring changes in public policy, Government and wider economic and social trends, to assess the implications for our customers and the wider organisation.
• Translating complex information or data into accessible policy messages for a wide range of audiences.
• Developing proposals for changes in a range of public policy areas that will impact positively on Focus Ireland’s customers and contribute to our mission of preventing and ending long term homelessness.
• Taking a lead role in the strategy to end youth homelessness, working with Government and NGO sector stakeholders to implement the strategy.
• Supporting Focus Ireland services to understand and respond appropriately to the implications of public policy impacting on them.
• Writing high quality papers, reports, submissions and summaries for internal and external audiences.
• Effectively represent the organisation at local, senior official and national levels, in public forums and to the media, as appropriate.
• Enabling Focus Ireland to lead and shape the public debate regarding homelessness and other policies which impact on it, using a wide range of media tools.

What you will need:

• A degree level qualification in social policy, housing policy or equivalent.
• Ability to analyse complex information from a wide variety of sources.
• Ability to understand the practical implications of policy proposals as they impact on services and customers.
• Ability to write clearly and communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences.
• A good understanding of the Irish political system and public policy in Ireland, particularly in relation to social welfare and housing policy.
• Ability to attend some meetings, events outside of normal business hours if required. (Will involve some regional or international travel)
• IT literacy; including website and social media.
• Knowledge of housing policy and experience of working in a housing policy role would be of distinct advantage (Desirable)
• Experience and commitment to working from a rights-based perspective (Desirable)
• Experience of working independently and deliver projects to a high standard and on time (Desirable)
• Experience of working on homelessness or particularly youth homelessness/youth service (Desirable)

To apply please submit your CV & Cover Letter Here
Closing date for applications: 12.00pm, 26th of July 2024

Focus Ireland is an equal opportunities employer.