HSE West and North West is seeking an experienced and strategic Grade VIII Communications and Public Affairs Senior Manager to support regional communications, stakeholder engagement, and public affairs activity across multiple counties including Sligo, Roscommon, Mayo, Leitrim, Galway, Donegal, and Cavan. This senior leadership opportunity offers the chance to influence high-level communications strategy within one of Ireland’s largest public healthcare organisations.
This Grade VIII Communications and Public Affairs Senior Manager role is ideal for communications professionals with strong leadership, media relations, and stakeholder management experience who are looking to contribute to healthcare transformation and public engagement within the HSE West and North West region.
Job Overview
The successful candidate will play a key leadership role within the Communications and Public Affairs team, supporting strategic messaging, public communications campaigns, media engagement, and regional communications planning. The position offers an opportunity to work across a diverse healthcare environment while contributing to service visibility, public confidence, and organisational reputation management.
A panel may be formed from this campaign for current and future permanent or specified purpose vacancies of full-time or part-time duration within HSE West and North West.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and support strategic communications and public affairs initiatives across HSE West and North West.
- Develop and manage regional media relations, public information campaigns, and stakeholder communications.
- Provide senior communications advice to management teams and healthcare leaders.
- Coordinate crisis communications and reputation management activities where required.
- Support internal communications and employee engagement initiatives across regional services.
- Prepare briefings, reports, media responses, and communications materials for senior stakeholders.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to promote healthcare services, programmes, and organisational priorities.
- Ensure communications activities align with HSE policies, governance standards, and public sector values.
Required Skills and Qualifications
- Relevant communications, public affairs, journalism, public relations, marketing, or related qualification.
- Significant senior-level experience in communications, media relations, or public affairs.
- Strong leadership, organisational, and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
- Experience managing complex communications projects and strategic campaigns.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced public sector or healthcare environment.
- Strong understanding of media management, public messaging, and reputational risk.
- Candidates must meet the eligibility criteria outlined within the official HSE job specification.
Salary, Benefits and Working Hours
Salary: Competitive pay aligned with HSE Grade VIII salary scales.
- Permanent Wholetime contract.
- Public sector pension and employment benefits.
- Opportunities for professional development and career progression.
- Leadership role within a major regional healthcare organisation.
- Collaborative and impactful working environment.
Location and Employer Information
This role is based within HSE West and North West, covering healthcare services across Sligo, Roscommon, Mayo, Leitrim, Galway, Donegal, and Cavan. The initial assignment location will be agreed at job offer stage. The successful candidate will contribute to regional healthcare communications and public engagement initiatives that support patient services, staff communications, and community trust across a large and diverse healthcare network.
Employer: HSE West and North West
Employer Website: https://hse.ie
Application Details
Please complete the digital application form through the Rezoomo recruitment platform using Google Chrome.
CVs are not accepted for this campaign.
Job Specification and Eligibility Criteria: https://www.rezoomo.com/job/97043/
Informal Enquiries:
Ms Caroline Crawford, Regional Director, Communications & Public Affairs, HSE West & North West
Email: caroline.crawford@hse.ie
Proposed interview dates will take place as soon as possible after the closing date. Candidates will normally receive at least one week’s notice of interview.
Advertisement Type: Confined Competition
Category: Management/Admin/ICT
Grade: Grade VIII 0655
Last Day to Apply: 22 May 2026 at 10:00 AM
