Age Action: Policy Officer – closing date 8 August 2019

Age Action is Ireland’s leading advocacy organisation for older people. Age Action works to ensure that older people’s voices are heard at the highest level of Government and that the lived experience of older people informs policy responses to their needs.

Age Action supports and advocates for equality and human rights for all older people.

Everything it does is based on a recognition of the diversity of identity and situation among older people and a concern for equality for all older people. In addressing ageing, its work includes a concern to influence perspectives on and responses to ageing. This pursuit of equality and human rights is underpinned by its work to promote ageing in place, life‐long learning, and health and wellbeing for older people, empowering them to live as active citizens.

Its work is driven by an organisation that is professional in its operations and lives out its values of dignity, participation, diversity, social justice, and professionalism.

Advocacy & Communications

The Policy Officer works as part of the Advocacy & Communications team. Age Action engages with the Government, policy-makers, statutory agencies, other advocacy groups and the media to ensure that issues related to ageing and that affect older people are addressed. The advocacy work involves producing evidence-based policy recommendations to inform the development of public policy. Its communications function in the organisation involves working with the media and creating impactful digital and print communications content suitable for a broad stakeholder audience. The team is also responsible for advising and supporting other teams on issues related to policy, research and evaluation in their own work.

The Role

The Policy Officer reports to the Senior Policy Officer. You will contribute to Age Action’s evidenced based policy positions, ensuring that it is accurate, timely and that it incorporates the voices and lived experience of older people. You will contribute to research on ageing and ageing related issues in line with the priorities set out in its Statement of Strategy. You will provide support to the Head of Advocacy and Communications, helping to ensure that Age Action’s public communications and advocacy work accurately reflect the organisation’s policies and principles. You will maintain and build relationships with other organisations, research institutions and key stakeholders, particularly in the ageing sector, to ensure its policy and research is up to date, robust and fully informed.

Main Duties

General

• To produce policy submissions and research papers in support of its policy objectives, ensuring that they are shaped by the lived experiences of older people in Ireland
• To contribute to the development of its evidenced based policy positions and research initiatives across the priority areas of the organisation
• To ensure its policy positions and research are accurate, informed and up to date in relation to the ageing process and the needs of older people
• To build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders including elected representatives, Government departments, statutory bodies, academia, funders and non-governmental organisations
• To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of legislation, policies and research developments affecting older people and relevant to ageing
• To represent Age Action at events, conferences and in various partnerships and coalitions
• To support its spokespersons by enabling them to articulate its policy positions in the media and, where appropriate, to serve as a spokesperson.

Essential requirements:

• Masters level qualification in gerontology, social policy, human rights, law, economics or a related discipline
• At least 3 years’ experience in a policy development or research role
• Proven experience of policy analysis and/or of undertaking research to inform policy
• Strong editorial skills and the ability to write and present research in a concise, accessible and plain English style
• The ability to prioritise and manage multiple projects and manage conflicting demands on time
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and team working skills
• Experience of nurturing relationships with a broad range of stakeholders.

Desirable requirements

• Knowledge and experience of working within the community and voluntary sector
• Knowledge and understanding of current research on ageing and older people in Ireland
• Sound knowledge of policies, services and legislation in areas of concern to older people especially pensions, social welfare and the health and social care system.

Conditions of Service

The post of Policy Officer is a fixed term post to 31 July 2020. A salary commensurate with experience in the region of €40,000 – €45,000 per annum is offered for the post. The post will be based at its offices in Inchicore, Dublin 8 but some travel will be necessary. There will be work outside normal office hours in the evenings and weekends, for which time off in lieu will be provided.

Applications

Please apply by submitting letter in word format outlining yits suitability for the post (maximum 500 words) with a CV and contact details for two referees by email to: recruitment@ageaction.ie by 3pm 8 August 2019. Interviews will be held during week of 19 August.