Marketing & Communications Officer

1. The Position The Council is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates with relevant experience for the position of Marketing and Communications Officer Regional Cultural Centre (RCC), (analogous to Staff Officer Grade V). It is proposed to form a panel of qualified candidates from which permanent and temporary vacancies which arise will be filled during the lifetime of the panel. The Marketing and Communications Officer will work under the direction of the General Operations Manager, or such person as may be assigned from time to time by Donegal County Council. The Marketing and Communications Officer will deputise for the General Operations Manager and will represent the organisation as required. The main role of the Marketing and Communications Officer is the delivery of the local authority service (public and/or support) in line with the priorities identified in Cultúr le Chéile: Strategic Plan for Culture Division 2022 - 2026. All roles are reviewed periodically to reflect changing circumstances. The Marketing and Communications Officer role will evolve over time and it should be understood that as the RCC environment changes, so too will the requirements of the post.

Regional Cultural Centre The Regional Cultural Centre is based in the Housing, Corporate and Cultural Services Directorate of Donegal County Council. The Culture Division comprises the Library Service, the Arts Service, the Regional Cultural Centre, the Museum Service, the Archives Service, the Biodiversity Office and the County Donegal Heritage Office. The Regional Cultural Centre (RCC) is a multi-disciplinary arts facility developed by Donegal County Council. The centre incorporates first-floor, ground-floor, and foyer art galleries, an auditorium with 140 retractable seats, full cinema facilities, three multi-purpose workshops, two dedicated sound and video studios, and a music tuition room. The RCC presents an annual program of concerts, film screenings, exhibitions, and festivals. Major festivals include Letterkenny Trad Week and Sound! Soundtrack Film Festival as lead partners, as well as Wainfest, Bealtaine, Letterkenny Blues & Roots, Cathedral Quarter Literary Festival, and Earagail Arts Festival in collaboration with our cultural partners. An ongoing program of local, national, and international art exhibitions is presented throughout the year. The RCC has a strong commitment to developing early-career artists of promise and continuously assists in longterm practice development. This is accomplished through commissions, mentorships, and professional development opportunities. The RCC excels in music, literary, and film development and produces multiple artists in our dedicated Sound Studio and Video Editing facilities, as well as two issues per year of ‘The Pigs Back’ literary journal, featuring six writers per issue. The RCC has an extensive education and community arts program. This includes a wide range of weekly community arts activities, along with regular workshops and events run in collaboration with cultural, educational, community development, and health organisations throughout the year.

2. Roles, Duties and Responsibilities A non-exhaustive list of the duties and responsibilities are set out below: • Develop and implement a marketing plan aiming to develop and increase online and in-person audiences for the RCC, • Develop and implement a communications plan aiming at increasing national and international awareness of the RCC’s artistic programme, • Develop regular Marketing and Communications Reports that assist the RCC Director in annual funding applications, • Develop marketing strategies for RCC led and supported festivals, • Implement engaging multi-channel marketing and communications campaigns to raise the profile and reach of the RCC and its events (including email, web, social media, paid advertising, reciprocal advertising and event exhibition), • Utilise all digital platforms as potential sales tools, • Work with the team to maintain the RCC website including planning, creating, reviewing and regularly updating the website with timely and interesting content that aligns with the RCC’s brand, • Support the delivery of a strategic social media presence and undertake day-to-day management of the RCC social media channels and communication tools. Curate compelling organic social media content, including creating social media banners and videos using Canva, • Write accurate, engaging and targeted copy for a range of audiences across a range of channels, • Support the design, production and distribution of marketing and communications materials (e.g. leaflets and reports) ensuring consistent house style, branding and layout, Create copy for Press Releases and for local and national media and build on media contact-list, • Create copy and schedule for weekly ads and competitions in the local press, • Attend RCC events to coordinate on-site marketing, • Represent the RCC at external events to promote RCC services and facilities, which may involve national travel and occasional weekend working, • Manage visual arts audience database, • Assist the evaluation of the RCC’s communications activities, recording and reporting on key analytics to internal and external stakeholders to demonstrate impact, • Use insights from website, newsletter and social analytics to optimise our digital communications and build audience engagement, • Embed the principles of Diversity & Inclusion in communications and in interactions with the staff, members, stakeholders etc., • Sign-off on all marketing content from visiting producers, artists and performers, • Keep an archive of press, adverts, photos, radio and online PR, • Analyse and monitor box office audience data and prepare recommendations to the RCC Manager, • Work alongside Box-Office to ensure professionalism in branding and display, • Facilitate regular meetings with Box-Office staff for programme and ticketing support, • Organise specific promotional events such as press launches, season launches, media competitions, • Continue the development of a strong marketing strategy that includes audience analysis and development; brochure copy, design and distribution; box-office/foyer branding; E-zine, • Production; managing the centre's membership scheme; PR & media; pricing; signage; digital content, website and social media management, • supporting senior staff and partners to deliver local and national plans and policies, • developing and maintaining effective working relationships (internally & externally, • ensuring high standards of Health and Safety and Child Protection, • undertaking any other duties as required by the County Librarian/Culture Division Manager.

3. Qualifications & Requirement of the Post This post is analogous to a Staff Officer and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has declared that the qualifications for Staff Officer will be as set out below: (a) Character: Candidates shall be of good character. (b) Health Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service. Successful candidates will be required to undergo a medical examination carried out by the Council’s Occupational Medical advisor prior to appointment. (c) Education, Training, Experience etc. Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed applications forms - (i) (a) have obtained at least Grade D (or a Pass), in Higher or Ordinary Level, in five subjects (or four if Irish is included) from the approved list of subjects in the Department of Education Established Leaving Certificate Examination or Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme including Irish and/or English and one of the following: Mathematics, Accounting, Business Organisation or Economics,

and (b) have obtained at least Grade C (or Honours) in Higher Level (or Honours) papers in three subjects in that examination (or two subjects if Irish and/or one of the following is included: Mathematics, Accounting, Business Organisation or Economics), OR (ii) have obtained a comparable standard in an equivalent examination, OR

(iii) hold a third level qualification of at least degree standard. (d) Desirable skills and experience • Relevant experience in a similar role, • Project management skills, • Experience with email marketing software, • Experience in working with design packages, • Experience in updating and managing websites, • Demonstratable knowledge of engaging music, film and visual arts audiences.

(e) Key Competencies Key Competencies for the post include the following and candidates will be expected to demonstrate sufficient evidence within their application form and at interview of competence under each of these. Please take particular note of these when completing the application form as any short-listing or interview processes will be based on the information provided by candidates:

Personal Effectiveness • Demonstrates knowledge of the structure and functions of arts facilities and services, including an understanding of developing and implementing innovative communication and marketing plans for cultural organisations • Demonstrates knowledge of local and national policies and plans as they relate to the RCC • Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of Donegal County Council • Understands the structures and environment within which the Culture Division and the RCC operates and the role of the Marketing and Communications Officer in that context • Displays an interest in information, the local community and its history and culture • Maintains a positive, constructive and enthusiastic attitude to their role • Displays excellent marketing, digital marketing, and social media skills across offline and online digital platforms including a strong track record in the marketing of music, festival and visual arts events

Delivering results

• Demonstrates the ability to take ownership of tasks and determination to see them through to a satisfactory outcome • Demonstrates the ability to manage time and workload effectively • Demonstrates flexibility and openness to change and new challenges • Contributes to the delivery of high-quality service and customer care • Demonstrates the ability to ensure their work contributes to meeting the purpose and priorities of the Service • Identifies problems and contributes to solutions • Displays high level of ICT skills

Performance through People • Displays excellent interpersonal skills • Displays excellent verbal and written communication skills and high level of attention to detail • Displays excellent administrative and organisational skills • Develops and maintains positive and productive working relationships (internally & externally) • Demonstrates ability to resolve conflict situations • Demonstrates ability to lead by example and show initiative • Demonstrates ability to work productively, both independently and as part of a team

4. Particulars of the Post (a) General Donegal County Council proposes to create a panel of qualified candidates for the position of Marketing and Communications Officer, RCC from which it will fill any vacancy that may arise. (b) Probation The successful candidate shall be required to be on probation for an initial period, as determined by the Council. This period may be extended at the discretion of the Council. (c) Remuneration The current annual pay-scale is €49,706 minimum to max LSI2 €59,456. (as per Circular EL 02/2024). Holders of the post will be paid at the appropriate point on the salary scale in accordance with the relevant Department Circular. New entrants will commence on the minimum point of the scale. (d) Base The base for the post shall be the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny or any other location as determined by the Council. The role of Marketing and Communications Officer may involve some travel, with some trips involving overnight stays and associated costs covered by the appropriate allowances. (e) Residence Holders of the post shall reside in the district in which their duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof. (f) Working Hours / Annual Leave The normal hours of work will be 35 hours per week. The Council reserves the right to alter the hours of work from time to time. The Marketing and Communications Officer may be required to enter into arrangements to work on an on-call rota basis and work out of hours including public holidays.

Annual leave allowance will be in accordance with Circular LG(P) 07/2011. (g) Conflicts of Interest The post holder shall not engage in any gainful occupation, other than as an employee of a local authority, to such an extent as to impair the performance of his or her duties as an employee of a local authority or in any occupation which might conflict with the interests of the local authority or which might be inconsistent with the discharge of his duties as a local authority employee. (h) Garda Vetting Candidates for the post of Marketing and Communications Officer are subject to Garda Vetting. Prior to appointment, candidates must undergo and satisfactorily complete the Garda Vetting process.