Senior Public Affairs and External Communications Manager – 12 month contract (Maternity Cover)

Job Title: Senior Public Affairs and External Communications Manager – 12 month contract (Maternity Cover)

Reporting to: Communications and Corporate Affairs Director

Affiliate: Irish Distillers

Location: Simmonscourt, Dublin 4 / Hybrid

Contract: 12 month contract (Maternity Cover)

Positions Reporting to The Job Holder: 0

Key Relationships Internal: IDL Communications & Corporate Affairs Team, Global Marketing Team, Domestic Market Company, Production team leads, Pernod Ricard Group Centres of Excellence, Pernod Ricard Aged Spirits & Champagne Division Communications Team & Pernod Ricard Group Public Affairs & Communications

Key Relationships External: Trade Associations, Government, EU institutions, Embassies, Key Media and Media & Public Affairs Agencies

Irish Distillers

Irish Distillers (IDL), a Pernod Ricard company, is a producer of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys, and one of Ireland’s leading suppliers of spirits.

Our whiskey portfolio, which is distilled in Midleton, Co Cork - the World’s Most Awarded Distillery in the World [1] and bottled in Dublin, include Jameson, the World’s Most Awarded Irish Whiskey: Redbreast, the World’s Most Awarded Single Pot Still; Midleton Very Rare, the Pinnacle of Irish Whiskey as well as The Spot Whiskeys, Powers and Method and Madness.

Irish Distillers Communications & Corporate Affairs Department

The Communications and Corporate Affairs Function at Irish Distillers is a team of talented individuals with expertise across a diverse mix of disciplines from corporate communications, content production, to public affairs and internal engagement.

Adept at relationship building, we are strategic storytellers and business partners, engaging our stakeholders to build belief in our brands and drive growth across our business.

The team sits at the heart of Irish Distillers, playing a central role within Pernod Ricard’s Aged Spirits and Champagne Brand Unit.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Communications and Corporate Affairs Director, this role plays a key role in:

• Advancing the interests of Irish Distillers within trade associations and with key decision-making bodies such as the Irish Government, the EU, industry regulators, local government and non-departmental public bodies.
• Executing high quality, strategic corporate communications and reputation-building activities across a range of channels, to promote and protect the business’ interests to stakeholders, key opinion leaders and consumers, supporting an ambitious growth strategy for the business.

Key Responsibilities

Public Affairs Strategy:

• Shape and execute an engaging & innovative Public Affairs Strategy to shape and protect the reputation of Irish Distillers as a leader in the Irish whiskey category with a range of stakeholders, including politicians, Government officials and agencies, industry and community partners.
• Actively represent Irish Distillers with industry bodies, government & their agencies and other political stakeholders, contributing expertise and insight to help shape positions that are balanced, credible, and aligned with the business needs
• Shape the Irish Distillers’ Stakeholder Engagement Plan to identify, understand, and engage with its key stakeholders in a consistent and strategic manner
• Monitor proceedings of the Irish Government, European & global institutions and provide analysis for key decision making and planning in areas relevant to the business
• Provide internal forecasts of the likely effect of public policy changes on the business
• Write or edit submissions to Government, EU or regulator consultations

Corporate Communications Strategy:

• Shape and execute engaging External Communications Strategy to enhance Irish Distillers corporate reputation across proactive and reactive opportunities, including feature interviews, proactive media outreach, media relations - working closely with spokespeople and business units.
• Work closely across business units to ensure planned corporate communications activities align to corporate reputation strategy, i.e., HR/employer brand, Archive, Midleton Distillery, Fox & Geese, Brand Launches etc.
• Define and implement a corporate spokesperson strategy, including framework, training, support for media interviews
• Deliver the Reputation Tracking Strategy for Irish Distillers to protect and enhance Irish Distillers’ corporate reputation.
• Evaluate performance of Irish Distillers corporate comms activities to maximise effectiveness, regularly report and share insights gained
• Brief and manage agency partners effectively

Crisis Management:

• Prepare for and manage issues and crisis effectively from a communications perspective to protect Irish Distillers corporate reputation.
• Deputise for the Communications Director on the Crisis Management Team.

Budget Management:

• Manage the Communications and Corporate Affairs budget and reporting to ensure delivery of value and efficiency within time and budgetary constraints.
• Working with the Communications & Corporate Affairs Director, coordinate the Team Budgeting process.

Team:

• Along with the Internal Communications Manager, develop the Communications Manager, including setting clear objectives, driving performance, and supporting ongoing development & growth.

Key skills required

• Excellent communication skills to include strong presentation and copy writing skill
• Strong understanding of strategic communications landscape, including social media
• Intimate knowledge and strong interest in national and global politics
• Strong networking skills
• Ability to work across multiple stakeholder groups, from senior leadership to all levels within the business
• Ability to balance driving strategy with tactical delivery
• Excellent organisational skills, ability to prioritise tasks and attention to detail 
• Results orientated and creative problem solver
• Strong analytical ability to interrogate data, information and research to inform planning and decision making
• Demonstrate up to date knowledge of all emerging communication channels, media and consumer trends
• Effectively (and calmly) manage communications during crisis/issue
• Strong budget management skills

Qualifications and experience:

• Educated to degree level (Honours), ideally in Public Affairs, Communications, Marketing or related discipline; A Masters degree would be an advantage
• Minimum of 8+ years + classic FMCG Corporate Communications and Public Affairs experience, achieved in a high performing environment with proven ability to develop strong relationships and influence senior stakeholders
• Experience in agency management, strategic communications and public affairs
• A track record of best in class development and execution of integrated communications planning and public affairs strategy.

Person Specification:

• Strong team player
• Strong interest in politics & business
• Passion for communications 
• High energy, high creativity and ability to work under own initiative
• Growth mindset
• Collaborative
• Drive engagement
• Ability to deliver results efficiently
• Consumer centric
• Grow & support diverse teams

What we offer

We understand our people are our special ingredient. We offer an environment that is engaging, supportive and collaborative.  We understand that employees require different supports at different stages of their working lives and our benefits, perks and programmes look to support your full employee journey. We want to make you feel recognised and valued for your contribution to our shared success. Some of offerings include;

• Hybrid working: A blended working arrangement office and where you work best
• Profit share: An annual profit share scheme to reward your contribution to the company’s success.
• Allowance: An annual allowance to spend on our portfolio of products and merchandise, for you to enjoy responsibly
• People Development: We enable continuous development for our people at every stage of their careers through our people development, online learning, and leadership training programmes
• Family leave: Fully paid maternity, parent and paternity leave, allowing you spend precious time with your new family member
• Parental Support: Our ‘Reconnect’ programme includes access to a workplace parenting coach, a phased return to work and a supportive environment for new parents
• Health & Wellbeing: Our Wellbeing Programme “THRIVE” supports employees across the three main pillars: Life, Body and Mind
• Charity Days: Up to 2 days paid leave every year to volunteer at a charity of their choice

At Irish Distillers, we know that great spirits are crafted by blending unique ingredients, and we believe the same is true for people. We actively welcome individuals from all walks of life, and warmly welcome those with diverse religious backgrounds, ethnicities, members of the Irish Travelling community, genders, abilities, and identities. It’s the mix of our experiences, voices, and cultures that gives us our true character.”

Our recruiting team are more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process, in order for you to participate fully in our recruitment experience. For assistance, please contact us at  [email protected]

Learn more about working with Irish Distillers www.irishdistillers.ie/careers

[1] 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC)

IND1

Job Posting End Date:

2026-09-10

2026-10-05