EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

· Minimum 3 years’ demonstrable experience in areas such as community activation, community development, stakeholder engagement and mobilisation. Experience working with disadvantaged communities is highly desirable.
· A 3rd level degree in a relevant field e.g. Health Promotion, Public Health, Community Development, Social Science is desirable – but equivalent experience will also be considered.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

· Comprehensive knowledge of community and local health structures.
· Strong administration, project management and time management skills with an ability to prioritise workload, plan and work to multiple deadlines in a demanding environment.
· Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills.
· A confident, self-motivated person able to operate independently in the field.
· Ability to build rapport, to listen and have empathy and find opportunities to support stakeholders as they arise.
· Strong influencing and negotiation skills.
· Experience in qualitative research methods including interviews and focus groups.
· Passionate about health equity and community development. Knowledge and experience of working with disadvantaged communities.
· Culturally sensitive and adaptable.
· Understanding of health promotion, particularly the social determinants of health and a community settings approach.
· Digital proficiency including MS office suite and CRM database
· Ability to represent the Irish Heart Foundation in a professional manner at all times.
· A full clean driving licence and access to a car is essential.
The above is a guide to the nature of the work required. It is not wholly comprehensive or restrictive. This job description will be reviewed in line with business needs.
Benefits of working with Irish Heart Foundation:

We provide benefits to help you protect your health and financial security; and give you peace of mind.

• Pension scheme with employer contributions, from day 1 of service
• Life assurance of 4 times base salary with immediate effect
• Income continuance/disability benefit, at no cost to you from day 1 of service
• Paid Maternity leave
• Company sick pay
• Company health checks
• Generous annual leave policy including additional company days
• Bike to Work Scheme, Excellent public transport links
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• A wonderful office we are proud of with excellent working, kitchen and changing facilities
• Events organised by social club and Health and Well-being Committee
• CPR Training for all employees
• Ongoing Training and Development initiatives to help you grow your career with the IHF

THE ROLE

The Irish Heart Foundation’s Health Promotion team develops and runs health and wellbeing campaigns and programmes in various settings nationwide. We are passionate about reaching those most at need and finding innovative solutions to health challenges. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work collaboratively within a team setting and with varied stakeholders.
Since 2022, the Irish Heart Foundation has run the ‘Her Heart Matters’ national awareness and behaviour change campaign which aims to reduce the alarming number of women in Ireland living with and dying from cardiovascular disease. The aim is to create a national conversation around women’s heart health with the primary focus being those in midlife i.e. 56+ years.
In 2025, thanks to the Department of Health Women’s Health Taskforce fund, the Irish Heart Foundation is seeking its first dedicated Co-ordinator to lead our community activation efforts for the “Her Heart Matters” campaign in the Midlands region. This role will focus on building and expanding our relationships with local community groups, coordinating campaign activities, and ensuring the successful dissemination of health resources.
The suitable candidate will be a self-starter, a natural at developing professional relationships and experienced in collaborating with community groups.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• In collaboration with the head of department, the health promotion team, and the campaign project team, ensure delivery of the Her Heart Matters campaign goals and funder requirements.
• Lead the Her Heart Matters campaign community activation in Midlands counties. Coordinate relevant community engagement activities, leveraging Irish Heart Foundation resources and community partnerships.
• Forge new links with relevant local organisations, for example ethnic minority groups, disability groups, and other relevant stakeholders. Develop and maintain relationships with existing community organisations.
• Ensure the effective distribution of campaign materials, including translated resources and accessible formats.
• Establish a Midlands advisory group to provide feedback on campaign activities and foster a sense of ownership within the local community.
• Collect and analyse feedback from community activation activities to inform impact measurement and future national scaling of the campaign.
• The successful candidate is expected to be flexible in this role and carry out other duties that may be assigned to them from time to time.