£42,000 - £45,000 • Tourism Northern Ireland • Belfast, Northern Ireland
The post-holder will be responsible for the following areas of activity:
Communications Management
- Oversee the development and implementation of Tourism NI’s Corporate and Industry communications strategies and plans.
- Provide leadership and management for the team in the provision of a proactive corporate communications service, utilising print, broadcast, online, social, and digital channels.
- Develop, execute, and manage a comprehensive PR campaign to improve awareness of Northern Ireland tourism product and corporate activity amongst the tourism industry and other key audiences and stakeholders.
- Prepare briefings, speeches, and remarks for the Minister, departmental officials, the Chief Executive, Board, and Executive Leadership Team as required.
- Co-ordinate with the Department for the Economy on key tourism-related issues and provide support to the Departmental Press Office as required.
- Provide advice and guidance to Tourism NI colleagues and management teams on communications and PR issues.
- Work with teams internally, such as Destination PR to ensure alignment of communications activities, messaging, and distribution.
- Work closely with Tourism NI’s ROI-based team and partner agencies such as Tourism Ireland and Failte Ireland to share content, co-ordinate planning and ensure consistency of messaging.
- Act as account manager for Tourism NI’s nominated Public Relations Agency.
Media Relations & PR
- Lead and manage Corporate PR for Tourism NI, developing key messages, managing media, press office, media briefings, and press releases.
- With support from the Communications Officer, develop a programme of engagement with key media partners to include briefings and visits to new and high-priority tourism projects and experiences.
- Prepare and issue press releases, media kits, and other PR material in collaboration with teams across Tourism NI.
- Co-ordinate and manage responses to media inquiries and interview requests in a timely and professional manner.
Stakeholder Management
- Nurture, develop and maintain partnerships with key stakeholders (both internal and external) to support the delivery of communications and PR activity.
- Work with stakeholders to deliver key projects, as well as further enabling Tourism NI to grow its organisational presence and reputation.
- Proactively engage with internal and external stakeholders to remain abreast of issues, developments, and opportunities which may impact upon, or provide a benefit to, the organisation.
- Represent Tourism NI at conferences, events, PR opportunities, meetings, and working groups etc.
Content Creation & Editorial Duties
- Oversee the creation of high-quality content across print, broadcast, online, social, and digital channels.
- Provide editorial support for the team including proof-reading.
- Ensure an excellent standard of accuracy, and quality of spelling, grammar, and syntax for all content.
- Conduct research and analysis on content and able to make sound editorial decisions including appropriateness and tone.
People & Budget Management
- Provide line management responsibility for the Communications Officer and leadership for the team, ensuring that all activities are managed in line with Tourism NI’s policies, procedures, values, and behaviours.
- Take responsibility for employee development ensuring motivation, providing coaching, and ensuring efficient and effective use of people and their skills.
- Ensure that learning and development plans are in place and performance reviews are undertaken within the required timescales.
- Assist the Divisional Director in the management and maintenance of the budget, taking account of value for money and ensuring that resources are used effectively and in accordance with Tourism NI’s financial policies and procedures.
- Liaise with the Divisional Director in relation to Economic Appraisals and Business Cases.
- Ensure the administration of all payments are in accordance with Tourism NI’s financial governance policies and procedures.
- Provide regular budget reports, as and when required, to the Divisional Director.
Corporate Management Responsibility
- Deliver effective leadership to create and sustain a high-performing team.
- Act as the central point of contact for all matters relating to the business unit.
- Provide briefing material and draft responses / correspondence as and when required by Tourism NI’s Executive Leadership Team, Board, Department for the Economy, the NI Assembly, members of the tourism industry and the general public within the specified timelines and in an appropriate format.
- Lead on the delivery of project work within the Unit and across Tourism NI including representation at working groups and meetings.
- Contribute to the development of the Annual Operating Plan, the achievement of tourism targets and promote the corporate values and behaviours within the Team and across the organisation.
- Provide cover for management within the Division to include decision making and attending meetings in the absence of colleagues.
- Attend training as and when required and keep abreast of current developments in your area of work.
- Maintain, store, and dispose of records in accordance with Tourism NI’s information governance policy.
- Any other duties commensurate with the grade as required by Tourism NI.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria – Education / Qualifications & Experience:
Option 1
A relevant* sixth-level qualification (undergraduate degree) as detailed in the qualification framework overleaf.
*A relevant qualification would include communications, marketing, public relations, or journalism for example. Other fields accepted where relevance to the role is clearly demonstrated.
AND
A minimum of 3 years’ experience in a Communications, PR, Marketing, or Media environment.
OR
Option 2
A minimum of 5 years’ experience in a Communications, PR, Marketing, or Media environment.
Essential Criteria – Personal Effectiveness:
The post holder will possess an excellent standard of:
- Communication and creative writing skills with the ability to deliver high-quality outputs to a wide variety of audiences.
- IT / computer, and media literacy on a range of platforms.
- Negotiation, interpersonal and problem-solving skills including the ability to influence and build strong working relationships with multiple internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to deliver to strict deadlines whilst maintaining a high degree of attention to detail.
- Organisational and project management skills including the ability to prioritise tasks and effectively manage a team.
- Analytical and strategy development skills, combined with a commitment to continuous improvement.