Higher Executive Officer Senior Policy Officer

About Your New Employer

• Impactful Work: Join an organization dedicated to advancing the rights and welfare of children and young people under 18 years in Ireland.
• Professional Environment: Be part of a team that develops high-quality, authoritative contributions on legislation and public policy affecting children.
• Career Growth: Engage with national and international monitoring mechanisms, and collaborate with European and British networks.

About Your New Job as a Senior Policy Officer

• Policy Leadership: Lead on policy areas, analyze developments in law, public policy, and practice relating to children’s rights in Ireland, focusing on international human rights obligations.
• Monitoring and Development: Monitor and review domestic legislation and public policy affecting children, develop policy positions, and prepare advice, submissions, and reports.
• Research and Documentation: Conduct research on children’s rights and welfare, develop policy papers and briefing documents.
• International Engagement: Support engagement with UN and Council of Europe monitoring mechanisms, contribute to work with European and British networks.
• Staff Management: Manage staff to support the policy function, assist with public affairs work, and contribute to joint initiatives with other units.
• Knowledge Management: Lead on managing and sharing knowledge and information gathered by the Policy Unit, contribute to the implementation of the Strategic Plan.

What Skills You Need as a Senior Policy Officer

• Educational Background: First or second class primary honours degree (Level 8 NFQ) in law, sociology, social policy, or political science.
• Relevant Experience: Minimum of 2-3 years’ experience in a similar policy analysis or research role.
• Knowledge and Expertise: Demonstrated knowledge and experience of children’s rights, international and European human rights standards, and national legislation and public policy in Ireland.
• Research Skills: Proven experience in undertaking policy and research projects, sourcing, analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing information from multiple sources.
• Communication Skills: Effective verbal and written communication skills, including report writing and strong IT skills.
• Teamwork and Initiative: Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a multi-disciplinary team, engage effectively with diverse stakeholder groups, and work under pressure to meet tight deadlines.

Desirable Skills for a Senior Policy Officer

• Research Software: Experience using research software.
• Project Management: Project management skills and experience working across organizational functions.
• Adaptability: Ability to adapt, collaborate, and contribute constructively to the implementation of change.
• People Management: Proven people management skills.

What’s on Offer

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training and career growth.
• Meaningful Work: Contribute to impactful projects that advance children’s rights and welfare.

What’s Next

Apply now by submitting your application form via the online application portal before 12 noon exactly, Tuesday, 02 September 2025.

Only application forms fully submitted online will be accepted into the campaign. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date