The Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice (JCFJ) is seeking to recruit an Housing Policy Advocate, ideally starting in December 2024. 

The JCFJ promotes reconciliation and justice through social analysis, theological reflection, education and advocacy. The Centre has focused on a range of issues in recent years, including penal policy, the housing and homelessness crisis, environmental justice, and the need for a more just and sustainable model of economic development. The Centre is an agency of the Irish Jesuit Province and is actively engaged in contributing towards the Universal Apostolic Preferences, a framework for the objectives of the global Jesuit community.

The Role

With a new government soon to be formed, the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice seeks to recruit a Housing Policy Advocate who will seek to contribute to the resolution of the catastrophic and long-running housing and homelessness crisis. The ideal candidate will have expertise in and experience of housing issues combined with a strong commitment to promoting housing justice, excellent communication skills, and a creative approach to their work.

The Housing Policy Advocate will:

• Lead the Centre’s campaigning, policy and research work in domestic and global issues of housing justice;
• Assist the Jesuit province in its interpretation and application of housing justice, being informed by Catholic Social Teaching and the Universal Apostolic Preferences;
• Collaborate with partners to achieve significant housing policy development in Ireland;
• Research and describe how questions of housing justice impact on other burning issues; especially environmental care, economic development, and questions of penal policy;
• Convey those positions to target audiences, through a range of interventions including policy submissions, content creation, and public speaking;
• Ensure that the experiences of unhoused people in Irish society are a central part of policy discourse;
• Collaborate closely with other team members, and the wider international Jesuit network to ensure clear strategic objectives are met.

This list is not exhaustive; it is expected that the post holder will take on other related assignments as requested by the Director of the JCFJ.

Essential Criteria

• A relevant third-level postgraduate qualification (or a centrally relevant primary degree supplemented and augmented by a proven record of advocacy);
• A familiarity with the work of the Centre and a respect for the Jesuit ethos – along with a willingness to work towards the Universal Apostolic Preferences;
• Evidence of project/task management;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to present publicly, evidence of professional relationship building;
• Excellent analytical and drafting skills including writing briefing documents;
• Ability to think strategically and work to deadlines;
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team;
• General computer skills (MS Office suite, Adobe packages, Canva, social media familiarity).

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working directly with people who are discriminated against or excluded;
• Knowledge of international housing policy development;
• A familiarity with Irish housing policy;
• A faith tradition and an understanding of “home” from a theological perspective;
• The ability to travel to international meetings and conferences.

Terms and Conditions

Contract duration: Three-years

Place of work: Hybrid, with in-office work based at 54-72 Gardiner Street Upper, Dublin 1.

Hours per week: It is anticipated that this will be a full-time role comprising a working week of 35 hours. Some flexibility is possible. 

Safeguarding: The candidate must be willing to comply fully with the Irish JesuitSafeguarding protocols.

Starting date: Immediate.

Salary: €40,000 (Negotiable in part, based on experience).

Application

Applications should be emailed to: info@jcfj.ie or posted to: Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice, 54-72 Gardiner Street Upper, Dublin 1

Applications should include:

• Covering letter (making reference to the essential/desirable criteria outlined above).
• Curriculum Vitae (maximum of 2 pages).

The deadline for applications is: Friday, November 29th at 5pm.