Job Title: Head of Advocacy 

Reporting to: Director of Advocacy, Communications and Technology

Contract Type: Specified Purpose Contract – Maternity Cover

Hours of work: Full Time (35 Hours/week) – 9am to 5pm - Mon - Fri          

Location: The Society operates a hybrid working model with a combination of remote and in-person (Dublin office) working.

Office Days: Office attendance days are Wednesday & Thursday weekly

Who We Are

Every three minutes, someone in Ireland hears the words 'You've got cancer'. At the Irish Cancer Society, we understand the physical, emotional and financial impact a cancer diagnosis brings. And we are determined to do everything we can to help.

As Ireland's leading cancer charity, we work across every area of cancer – from prevention and early detection, through to end-of-life care. We make a positive impact for people affected by cancer every day: investing in life-saving and life-changing research; providing practical, financial and emotional supports; and driving improvements in public cancer services.

The Role

In this role, you will work closely with the Director of Advocacy, Communications and Technology to shape political conversations and decisions about issues that affect cancer patients in Ireland. All this work is informed by the lived experiences of patients and their families and as such, is one of the most vital, dynamic and necessary public policy roles in the country.

As the leader of the Advocacy team, you will imagine, design, develop and support the delivery of new advocacy campaigns as well as deliver and improve upon existing ones, exploring novel ways and developing new ways to ensure the patient voice is at the heart of decision-making.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Overall

•  Leading the development of the exciting and growing advocacy work programme;
•  Develop the team's relationship/reach with relevant Ministers, political advisers, members of the Oireachtas and civil servants;
• Oversee the gathering of evidence to support advocacy campaigns;
• Lead on and evaluate complex policy issues independently in a fast-paced environment, with a clear understanding of the impact on cancer patients and our policy positions;
• Develop and convey content, including talking points, narrative documents, and presentation materials for engagement with policymakers, civil society and politicians;
•  Manage our relationships with stakeholders and partners internally and externally;
• Elevate the Irish Cancer Society's advocacy brand among key audiences to a high level and in doing so, demonstrate personal initiative, comprehension, judgment, fortitude, and the ability to think tactically and strategically.

Strategy and leadership

• Develop strategic advocacy campaigns that grow existing areas of work while leveraging new opportunities in an agile and innovative way;
• Identify opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the organisation, so that advocacy campaigns deliver shared value at a strategic level;
• Be responsible for the delivery of strategic projects across the organisation;
• Lead, manage, motivate and inspire your direct reports and the wider team, ensuring a culture of learning, innovation and development, through effective recruiting, training, team building and succession planning;
• Champion advocacy campaigns across the organisation, contributing to the wider understanding and learning of staff across the Society.

Project Management and Evaluation

• Develop realistic and understandable project plans, including resource and financial plans as needed, for projects;
• Lead cross-organisational advocacy campaigns that are underpinned by excellent data and multi-channel engagement;
• Oversee the application of an impact-monitoring framework that can be applied to all advocacy activities, the results of which can be used to ensure excellence and impact for patients;
• Track and monitor project delivery against plan, using clear reporting tools, and manage project delivery and the project team.

Stakeholder & relationship management

• Keep up-to-date with the current issues and developments that affect cancer patients and establish excellent contacts across the Irish Cancer Society's stakeholder network to ensure regular, two-way communication;
• Establish and strengthen collaborative relationships, both internal and external, with managers and teams across the organisation and with external organisations, to achieve shared goals;
• Take a lead role in representing the Society, and/or identify those best placed to represent the Society, in contributing to networks, committees, alliances, and coalitions with external stakeholders in the pursuit of agreed strategic objectives;
• Using formal and informal channels, remain up to date on Oireachtas and Government business and keep the team fully briefed and informed on key political developments that affect cancer patients;
• Understand and ensure the Society's adherence and compliance with charitable and lobbying legislation;
• Coordinate, and deliver, sensitive engagement with cancer patients, survivors, health professionals, academic researchers and policy-makers, as appropriate.

General

• The Irish Cancer Society operates a no-smoking policy and the post holder must not smoke in the office or when on Society business outside the office;
• Be willing to occasionally work outside of normal working hours;
• All employees are required to be aware of their responsibilities towards health and safety and to adhere to fire regulations;
• Maintain confidentiality at all times, and compliance with the Data Protection Act is an essential requirement;
• This job description is not exhaustive; it merely acts as a guide and may be amended to meet the changing requirements of the Society at any time after discussion with the post holder.

THE PERSON

· Compassionate and person-centric: you care deeply about cancer patients and their families, and bring (or quickly acquire) an understanding of how public policy can address what they need. You adopt a person-centric approach to campaign design and problem solving. 

· Strategic thinker: You think about the big-picture and are able to see how your work, and the work of others, contributes to that; you see connections and opportunities that contribute to the strategic vision. You use data and research to generate insights and can translate these into actions.

· Curious and creative problem-solver: You come up with practical and creative ways to put the issues affecting cancer patients centre-stage of political decision-making, you solve problems and you are curious about the world around you and the people at its heart.

· Exceptional at building and maintaining relationships: you have excellent stakeholder management skills, able to quickly build trust and effective relationships, with people from a variety of backgrounds. You are a strong negotiator and are confident in leading senior level discussions.

· An effective project manager: you've experience in managing projects, both strategic and operational, and are able to bring people together to achieve goals on time, on budget and to deliver impact.

· A great communicator: you are able to communicate effectively across multiple channels (face-to-face, written, digital) and adopt your style to meet the audience where they are.

Qualifications and Experience

·      Significant experience in public policy within a complex organisation, in the healthcare sector a plus;

·      Demonstrated experience shaping narratives around policy issues;

·      Proven experience interfacing with legislators and civil servants including direct Oireachtas experience;

·      Experience leading and developing teams and managing budgets;

·      Experience working collaboratively across multiple business units.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 25^th March 2026

Please note all CVs are logged through a 3rd party system for processing.

The Irish Cancer Society is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all employees. We know that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

WE DO NOT REQUIRE THE ASSISTANCE OF AGENCIES

Some of our benefits:

·      23 days Annual Leave a year or Pro Rata equivalent, plus public holidays, Good Friday and Christmas Eve (if it falls on a working day)

·      Service Days - Additional days awarded to reflect long service with the Society.

·      Sick Pay Scheme (following Probationary period)

·      Flexitime

·      Defined Contribution Pension Scheme - new starters will join the pension from the date of commencement of employment with the Society. The current contribution rate ranges from a contribution of 3%, 5% or a maximum of 8% of basic salary.

·      Group membership for VHI and HSF (health plans)

·      Bus/Rail Ticket Scheme and Cycle to Work Scheme

·      Death In Service Benefit (from commencement of employment)

·      Paid Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity, Adoptive, Force Majeure and compassionate Leave)

·      Learning and Development Programmes

·      Educational Assistance (Study and Examination Leave)

·      Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

·      Optional Flu vaccine provided