Assistant Director

About Coimisiún na Meán

Coimisiún na Meán has been established further to the provisions of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 ("OSMR Act 2022"). The OSMR Act 2022 was enacted on 10 December 2022. The OSMR Act 2022 amended the Broadcasting Act 2009 to establish Coimisiún na Meán and dissolve the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland ("BAI").

In addition to undertaking the functions of the BAI as the regulator for broadcasting in Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán is to establish a regulatory framework for online safety, update the regulation of television broadcasting and audiovisual on-demand services, and transpose the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive into Irish law.

Mission

Our mission is to ensure a thriving, diverse and safe online and media landscape. This means a mix of different voices, opinions and sources of news available over the air and online. It means children and all of us being protected from harmful content

Role Mission

This role represents an exciting opportunity to bring your existing skills to new challenges and contribute to Coimisiún na Meán during a significant period of growth. Coimisiún na Meán's is establishing an expert Media Literacy and User Education function that is focused on enhancing media literacy in Ireland in line with the key priority areas of Coimisiún na Meán, and in particular in relation to online safety for minors and mis- and disinformation in the context of electoral integrity. The team will also provide ongoing support for the Irish Media Literacy Network called Media Literacy Ireland. Additionally, the team is also responsible for the design, development and implementation of media literacy and user education initiatives that support Coimisiún na Meán in meeting its statutory obligations with regard to media literacy. The Assistant Director will be managing a small team tasked with increasing collaboration, information-sharing and debate to improve media literacy in Ireland, deliver effective resources for the public, raising awareness and evaluating impact of key interventions so that Coimisiún na Meán's strategy may evolve.

Role Purpose

The Assistant Director (Assistant Principal Officer) in An Coimisiún is a senior management role with significant strategic and operational delivery responsibilities. Assistant Directors are expected to contribute actively to the development and implementation of the organisation's strategic objectives, to the continuous improvement of the organisation and team in terms of its effectiveness and efficiency and to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the organisation's culture, values and reputation.

As Assistant Director, reporting to the Director of Media Literacy and User Engagement, you will work closely with An Coimisiún's colleagues in Regulatory Policy, Communications, Platform Supervision and Media regulation, providing expert input and supporting strategic delivery. This role offers a fantastic opportunity to shape and enhance the understanding, engagement and participation of the public in the media landscape and promote media literacy.

Key Responsibilities:

· Developing strategies and initiatives to make a material contribution to the existing media literacy sector in Ireland,

· Mapping and management of the Media Literacy and User Education workplan, budgets, project and operational plans, aligned with organisational strategic priorities

· Initiating pilot trials, initiatives and campaigns to promote media literacy, user engagement and public awareness of rights, and regulatory processes.

· Contributing to the Media Literacy and User Education agenda, strategy and approach both internally and with external stakeholders, including Ireland's leading media literacy network Media Literacy Ireland and international stakeholders

· Hiring, developing, and managing a high-performing team

· Design and implement strategic evaluation of initiatives, using a Theory of Change framework

· Supporting the identification and prioritisation of annual media literacy themes, to be rolled out across the function and aligned with Coimisiún na Meán's Communications strategy

· Exploring the feasibility of developing and implementing Coimisiún na Meán funded grants for media literacy initiatives and/or research based on these themes

· Identifying areas of research required to deliver the goals of the User Education Function and liaise accordingly with the Research Unit within Coimisiún na Meán

· Representing An Coimisiún externally, including at closed meetings and public conferences

The above is intended as a guide to the general range of duties and is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to review.

Essential Criteria

· A recognised qualification/degree of at least Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications in a relevant discipline, for example in education, sociology, social sciences, media studies, journalism, psychology, psychology of learning, digital education, digital communications and marketing, instructional design, media education and/or media literacy.

· Considerable knowledge of the media literacy landscape and An Coimisiún's user education remit with at least 5 years relevant work experience, with a minimum of 2 years of senior line management experience

· Deep understanding of, and commitment to the role of media literacy and user education in supporting public and civic empowerment.

· Expertise and practical experience of media literacy and/ or media education and an interest in developing media literacy and user education materials for a variety of audiences.

· Knowledge of delivering, evaluating and optimising public awareness messaging and digital media campaigns.

· Well-developed interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to build relationships with many different stakeholders in different environments.

· Strong analytical skills, and ability to use your judgement to cut through complex issues to identify and communicate the bigger picture.

· Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage a varied and demanding workload and to prioritise resources effectively in an agile manner

· A demonstrated ability to communicate clearly, concisely and confidently to a variety of audiences, orally and in writing summaries and analysis.

Desirable Criteria

· Experience in working as part of multi-disciplinary teams, and in cross-functional ways.

· Experience working with networks and representative bodies

· Qualification in project management and / or policy development

· Flexibility and adaptability to changing or ambiguous circumstances.

Application Process

​

If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit:​

· A CV and a letter/personal statement (i.e., no more than 2/3 pages) outlining why you believe your skills, experience and values meet the requirements of the position

· If you have any special requirements throughout the recruitment process, for example, if you have a visual impairment or are neuro-divergent, we are happy to accommodate your needs where possible, please reach out to us via to request support.​

· Appointment to this role is subject to the candidate's eligibility to work in Ireland and all positions require candidates to live in the Republic of Ireland.​

· Candidates who engage in canvassing will be disqualified and excluded from the process.​

Closing Date: 3pm Thursday the 9th of May