Job Title: Communications Intern

Location: Unit F, The Liffey Trust Centre, 117-126 Upper Sheriff Street, Dublin 1

1. Overview

Habitat for Humanity Ireland is delighted to be recruiting a Communications Intern to join our team in Dublin.

This is an excellent opportunity for the right candidate to gain significant experience within the very busy Communications Department of a vibrant, rapidly growing organisation. The role involves multiple projects and gives responsibility for tasks to the candidate. It is a very valuable role for a CV and experience building.

Habitat for Humanity (HFH) is an international, non-profit housing organisation.  Our vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Since 1976, HFH has served more than 500,000 families by constructing, rehabilitating or preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions.

HFH Ireland was founded in 2002 and since then it has sent more than 2,000 volunteers overseas to build houses in partnership with local communities. When these volunteers return home they continue to fundraise and raise awareness of the issues they witnessed during the trip.

Our Irish programme has built or renovated 10 homes in Dublin and partnered with three other non-profits to renovate their housing facilities for their residents. More than 2,000 people have volunteered on these projects.

The communications department aims to create awareness of housing related issues and Habitat’s responses to them in Ireland and around the world. We engage several high profile supporters to draw attention to our work including rugby analyst Brent Pope and RTE’s Dragons’ Den star Bobby Kerr. We also recently welcomed the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, to our project in Inchicore.

This coming year we are celebrating our 10 year anniversary in Ireland and are currently finalising exciting new partnerships with other housing non-profits in Dublin.

The Communications Intern is a valuable member of the HFH Ireland team. The successful candidate will work closely with the Communications Manager to implement the communications strategy and will have access to relevant in-house training opportunities.

Visit www.HabitatIreland.ie for more details.

Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HabitatIreland

Follow us on Twitter: @HabitatIreland

2. Main Responsibilities

• Monitoring the local, national and international media daily
• Updating the organisation’s website and social networking platforms
• Liaising with journalists at a local and national level to secure media coverage
• Drafting template press releases and preparing press packs for volunteers
• Generating content and designing e-newsletters
• Creating and updating Google Ad Words to promote specific projects
• Assisting at events and ensuring their successful execution
• Planning and manning information sessions throughout the year
• Contacting and following up with potential volunteers
• Working with the Global Village, Local Programme and Fundraising departments to create awareness of their events and campaigns.

3. Necessary Skills and experience

• Excellent oral and written communications skills
• A professional phone manner
• Strong and committed team worker
• Self-motivated, energetic and detail orientated
• Proven ability to work without close supervision, to use initiative and meet deadlines
• Proven ability to complete tasks in a timely and efficient manner
• Excellent ability to multi task
• A good knowledge of MS Office
• Knowledge of social networking tools
• An interest in poverty and inequality issues
• Comfortable communicating the ethos, vision and values of the organisation
• Qualification in journalism, PR, communications or related field
• Knowledge of CMS and Salesforce CRM desirable
• Fundraising and volunteering experience desirable

4. Duration

This internship is for a period of 6 months. It is a volunteer role with a stipend of €440 per month.

5. How to Apply

To apply email your CV and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the position to Jeannie McCann: jeannie(at)habitatireland(dot)ie.

Closing date Until filled. Candidates will be interviewed as they are shortlisted. 

Habitat for Humanity Ireland is a signatory to the Code of Practice developed by Comhlámh and the Act Now on 2015 campaign. We are members of Dóchas and IDEA.