Head of External Affairs
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Monthly Salary:
Posted on:
2 days ago
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Job Summary
JOB DETAILS
The Head of External Affairsis responsible forshaping and leadingIbecsexternal positioning and reputation nationally and internationally.
The role shapesIbecspublic narrative and influence ensuring the organisation leads rather than reacts in national and international debate. Operating across the enterprise it ensures thatIbecspriorities policy positions and strategic initiatives are clearly articulated and effectively represented across membership media public discourse and the wider business and economic environment.
Working in close partnership with all divisions and particularly with the Policy Lobbying and Global Affairs division the Head of External Affairs brings deep understanding of the policy and government landscape translating complex issues into compelling public framing that strengthensIbecscredibilityauthorityand role contributes to enterprise-level decision-making by advising on reputational and influence implications of strategic and policy choices.
Closing date for applications will be 13th March 2026.
The role shapesIbecspublic narrative and influence ensuring the organisation leads rather than reacts in national and international debate. Operating across the enterprise it ensures thatIbecspriorities policy positions and strategic initiatives are clearly articulated and effectively represented across membership media public discourse and the wider business and economic environment.
Working in close partnership with all divisions and particularly with the Policy Lobbying and Global Affairs division the Head of External Affairs brings deep understanding of the policy and government landscape translating complex issues into compelling public framing that strengthensIbecscredibilityauthorityand role contributes to enterprise-level decision-making by advising on reputational and influence implications of strategic and policy choices.
Closing date for applications will be 13th March 2026.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Strategic PlanningandLeadership
- Set the strategic direction and multi-year plan for External Affairs in alignment withIbecsenterprise strategy and agreed organisational priorities.
- Establish clearobjectives performancemeasuresand priorities for the function.
- Contribute to enterprise planning processes ensuring external positioning and influence considerations are integrated frominception.
- Lead and develop a high-performing External Affairs team building capability aligned to the divisions future-state ambition.
- Manage budgets and resources responsibly to deliver strategic impact.
Enterprise PositioningandNarrative Leadership
- Lead the development and stewardship ofIbecsexternal positioning framework across all divisions and sector associations.
- Ensure external positioning informs and supports organisational strategy and major initiatives frominception.
- Proactivelyidentifyopportunities to shape national conversation on issues affecting business theeconomyand employers.
- Ensure claritycoherenceand consistency in howIbecrepresentsits priorities policypositionsand member interests.
- Set standards and provide guidance for external engagement across the organisation tomaintainalignment and protect reputation.
- Develop and coordinate thought leadership initiatives that reinforceIbecsauthority andexpertise.
Strategic Partnership Across the Organisation
- Partner closely with:
- Policy Lobbying and Global Affairs
- Employer Relations
- Members & Sectors
- Business Services and Commercial divisions
- Advise and guide divisions and sector associations to ensureexternally facingpositioning aligns with enterprise strategy and agreed standards.
- Providestrategic guidance on reputational and influence implications of major initiatives policydevelopmentsand commercial activities.
MediaandPublic Engagement
- LeadIbecsstrategic engagement with national and international media and opinion-formers to advance agreed enterprise positioning.
- Position the CEO and senior leaders as authoritative voices on business economic and employer issues.
- Lead senior non-government stakeholder engagement strategy to strengthenIbecsinfluence and standing across businesscivicand societal audiences.
Strategic CampaignsandPublic Impact
- Provide strategic leadership and oversight of public-facing campaigns across the organisation.
- Work collaboratively with Marketing to ensure campaign execution aligns with enterprise positioning and brand standards.
- Monitor and evaluate the impact of campaigns and external engagement to inform future strategy and strengthen influence.
Issues ForesightandCrisis Leadership
- Monitor and interpret politicaleconomicand societal developments to inform proactive positioning and risk mitigation.
- Identifyemerging issues that may present reputational risk or strategic opportunity forIbec.
- Lead crisis preparedness and coordinated response across divisions and sector associations.
- Provide calm senior-level judgement and advice in high-profile or politically sensitive situations.
International EngagementandReputation
- Support and coordinateIbecsinternational engagement and external reputation.
- Build relationships with international stakeholders and partners asappropriate.
- Support international advocacy positioning in partnership with PolicyLobbyingand Global Affairs.
- Ensure consistency between domestic and international positioning.
LeadershipandInfluence
- Act as a senior enterprise leader within the Corporate Affairs division.
- Provide strategic counsel at Executive level on external positioninginfluenceand reputational risk.
- Operate with authority and judgement in complex politically and commercially sensitive environments.
- Lead with a collaborative mindset across a multi-stakeholder organisation.
ABOUT YOU
Qualifications
Knowledge
Experience
Competencies
Strategic ThinkingandJudgement
InfluenceandExecutive Presence
StakeholderandRelationship Leadership
LeadershipandCapability Development
CollaborationandOrganisational Alignment
- Degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant discipline (e.g. public affairs communications politics economics businesslawor related field).
- Postgraduate qualification in a relevant field desirable.
- Ongoing professional development in public policy corporate affairsleadershipor strategic communicationsadvantageous.
Knowledge
- Deep understanding of the Irish politicaleconomicand public policy environment.
- Strong understanding of the interplay between public policy media businessinterestsand publicperception.
- Knowledge of enterprise brand and reputation management principles.
- Understanding of governance and stakeholder dynamics within complex multi-division organisations.
- Awareness of international political and economic trends relevant to business and employer representation.
Experience
- Significant senior experience in external affairs corporate affairs publicaffairsor reputation leadership within a complex organisation.
- Demonstrated experience shaping enterprise positioning and influencing externalperceptionaround complex economic and policy issues.
- Experienceoperatingin politically and commercially sensitive environments with material reputational exposure.
- Proven experience advising senior executives in high-profile externally visible roles.
- Experience leading media engagement and senior stakeholder relationships at national level; international exposure desirable.
- Experience leading and developing teams and managing budgets.
- Experience working across multiple business units or divisions in a federated or matrix structure.
- Experience contributing to strategic planning processes at senior level.
Competencies
Strategic ThinkingandJudgement
- Ability tooperateat enterprise level connecting external positioning to organisational strategy.
- Strong analytical capability with the ability toanticipateemerging risks and opportunities.
- Sound judgement in high-pressure and politically sensitive situations.
InfluenceandExecutive Presence
- Credible and authoritative presence with the ability to influence at Executive and senior stakeholder level.
- Skilled in framing complex issues clearly and persuasively.
- Able tooperatewith confidence in national and international environments.
StakeholderandRelationship Leadership
- Builds strong relationships across divisions sectorassociationsand external stakeholders.
- Balances competing interests whilemaintainingenterprise coherence.
- Demonstrates political awareness and contextual sensitivity.
LeadershipandCapability Development
- Leads with clarity and direction.
- Builds high-performing teams aligned to strategic priorities.
- Sets andmaintainsprofessional standards across the function.
CollaborationandOrganisational Alignment
- Operates effectively in a matrixed multi-stakeholder environment.
- Promotes alignment across divisions without undermining accountability.
- Leads with a collaborative solutions-focused approach.
Why us
IbecCore Competencies
Bias towards action
Member and Customer Focus
Drive and Personal Leadership
Bias towards action
- Collaborative work together as oneIbec.
- Dynamic approach initiatives with careful planning energy drive and resilience.
- Decisive make clear well-informed decisions.
Member and Customer Focus
- Agile and Adaptive embrace change and be adaptive to members needs and in ambitious situations.
- Creative and Innovative not afraid of dynamic thinking in finding solutions.
- Curious and Critical Thinking open minded and proactive in gathering data in developing opinions.
Drive and Personal Leadership
- Ambitious driven and can take responsible risks.
- Accountable committed to highest standards and takes ownership of actions.
- Continuous Improvement proactive on personal and professional development
- Navigate Ambiguity
- Strategic Growth Mindset
- Integrity and Trust
- Business Acumen
About us
Working in Ibec
Join Ibec and further your career.
Working in Ibec means you are part of an overall effort to deliver on a vision for Ireland to be a balanced growing and prosperous society. We look to the workplace of the future with the changing needs of our members as well as our workforce to create a dynamic and exciting working environment.
We hire people from many backgrounds who are highly knowledgeable engaging professional and most importantly passionate about business.
Join Ibec and further your career.
Working in Ibec means you are part of an overall effort to deliver on a vision for Ireland to be a balanced growing and prosperous society. We look to the workplace of the future with the changing needs of our members as well as our workforce to create a dynamic and exciting working environment.
We hire people from many backgrounds who are highly knowledgeable engaging professional and most importantly passionate about business.
Required Experience:
Director
Key Skills
- Marketing & Promotions
- Attorney At Law
- Jni
- Airlines
- Art
About Company
Working in Ibec Join Ibec and further your career. Working in Ibec means you are part of an overall effort to deliver on a vision for Ireland to be a balanced, growing and prosperous society. We look to the workplace of the future with the changing needs of our members as well as our ... View more
