Policy and Advocacy Officer​

Samaritans Ireland are looking for an experienced Policy and Advocacy Officer, with passion and determination to drive forward our mission to reduce suicide.

You’ll have experience working in a policy or public affairs environment and be passionate about influencing change. You’ll be insightful and up to date on developments in the public policy environment, ideally with knowledge of the suicide prevention field. Highly organised and a good communicator, with resilience and the ability to translate insights to meaningful messages, to contribute energy and enthusiasm to best influence our policy agenda and strategy.

Your role will be a challenging and rewarding one; You’ll be warm, engaging and passionate, with motivational strengths which will enable you to lead and motivate your team and inspire our wider colleagues across Samaritans, external stakeholders, and people who want to stand alongside in pushing for change. You’ll play a key role in ensuring we influence with one voice and help drive change to support suicide prevention.

This is a brilliant time to join Samaritans Ireland, as you support us to make a positive impact and deliver our strategic and operational priorities.

Samaritans is one of the best known and respected charities in Ireland and the UK. Our vision is that fewer people die by suicide – with your help we can make change that saves lives. Samaritans is needed more than ever. If you want to make a real difference to people’s lives – this is the role for you.​

The Team​

The Samaritans Ireland team includes specialists within Policy, Safeguarding, Finance and Communications. The team is friendly, collaborative and supportive. This role will work closely with colleagues within the UK central charity, including the External Engagement Department, particularly colleagues in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and the Policy, Public Affairs, Campaigns and Research staff in Samaritans Central Charity (England).​

​The Role​

The Policy and Advocacy Officer supports the delivery of the Samaritans Ireland strategy and the work of the Executive Director for Ireland to reduce suicides in Ireland by raising awareness of our work and effectively influencing policy and practice at national and local levels.

You will understand and contribute to, the importance of suicide prevention within wider mental and public health policy and practice, as well as the role of other Government functions in suicide prevention.

​In this critical role based in Ireland you’ll develop and implement Samaritans Ireland’s policy, research and influencing agenda, and maintain a strong public affairs presence for Samaritans in Ireland. Well organised and passionate about driving forward our cause, you’ll plan and organise policy, advocacy, and research work by overseeing and delivering objectives, key results, action plans, and generating new opportunities for influence.

​Outline of this great opportunity;​

• 12 month fixed term contract initially
• €38,000 - €43,000 per annum
• Full time, 35 hours per week with flexible working practices
• Part time option considered (28 hours minimum)
• Hybrid working – Linked to our central office (Dublin), with blended working between the office and home to meet your needs
• Samaritans will provide you with use of a laptop and mobile phone.
• Occasional attendance at out of hours meetings 

​A full outline of the Role available in the Job description here.​​

Application​

Samaritans recognises the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are.

We are committed to making our recruitment processes accessible to everyone and are flexible in how we receive information. If you would like to apply via a different format or let us know how we can support you to be the best you can be, please contact the People team at recruitment@samaritans.org and we will try our best to accommodate your needs.

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please apply. You’ll be asked to upload your CV and a covering letter to answer a few specific questions relating to what makes you the best candidate for this role.

This role will close for applications on 30th June 2024, with interviews scheduled to take place on the week of 8th July 2024.

If you’re interested in applying or would just like to find out more, then we'd love to hear from you.