Position: Policy and Advocacy Coordinator

Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week)

Start date: Immediate

Duration: 1 year

Reports to: Policy and Research Manager

Location: Coleraine House, Coleraine Street, Dublin 7.

Mental Health Reform (MHR) operates a hybrid system of remote working and in office working.

1. Position summary

This position sits in the Policy and Research Team. The role has overall responsibility for shaping and delivering MHR’s political advocacy and policy reform agendas, and assisting MHR to deliver on its overall strategic goals. This includes project management, producing high quality submissions, reports and political briefing notes, and developing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders. 

2. About Mental Health Reform: 

Mental Health Reform (MHR) is the national coalition driving reform of Ireland’s mental health services and supports. Our vision is of an Ireland where everyone can access the support that they need in their community to achieve their best possible mental health. With 83 member organisations and thousands of individual supporters, MHR provides a coordinated voice to Government, its agencies, the Oireachtas and the general public on mental health issues.

Main responsibilities:

a) Developing and implementing MHR’s policy reform agenda

• Lead on the preparation of policy submission, reports and briefings in line with international human rights conventions
• Maintain watching briefs on own policy areas, liaising with key stakeholders in order to identify, react and participate in significant opportunities for influence as they arise
• Work on request with the communications team to identify, secure and act on opportunities to communicate MHR policy positions through writing policy content to inform press releases, campaigns and media speaking notes
• Ensure policy positions are coherent with the views and experiences of people with lived experience of mental health difficulties and their family members through regular consultations
• Proactively monitor relevant developments in Irish and international mental health policy, practice and law
• Conduct regular consultation with MHR’s member organisations, advisory groups and international and national experts
• Chair MHR’s Policy and Advocacy Working Group

b) Building political support for MHR’s reform agenda

• Work with the communications team to develop public facing campaigns (e.g. pre-budget submission for pre-budget campaign) 
• Oversee the production of high quality policy submissions, political briefings etc.
• Organise events as appropriate, e.g. Oireachtas Meet & Greets 
• Develop and implement political advocacy strategies and identify key influencing targets with a view to influencing Mental Health policy and amplifying Mental Health Reform’s voice and work
• Plan and organise work to build MHR’s credibility, influence and relationships with members of the Oireachtas and political advisers, in support Mental Health Reform’s priority issues
• Monitor opportunities within the Oireachtas for MHR to advance its agenda – debates, committee meetings, consultations etc. Advise on and coordinate responses to these opportunities in collaboration with colleagues as appropriate
• Develop and implement a monitoring system to oversee MHRs relationships and interactions with key Oireachtas stakeholder (TDs, Senators, committees, staff etc.) to enable reporting and evaluation.

c) Developing and strengthening partnerships

• Develop and maintain a network of contacts to inform and increase the impact of our work
• Consult regularly with members, people with lived experiences, peer organisations, allies and other relevant actors in order to stay current with trends and to ensure that MHR’s research, policy and advocacy agendas are responsive to these trends
• Represent MHR in cross-departmental consultative forums and at public events

d) Assisting Mental Health Reform to deliver on its overall strategic goals 

• Work within the framework of the overall objectives and the policies and practices of MHR
• Ensure all work undertaken complies with data protection and GDPR rules
• Contribute to the promotion of equality of opportunity, anti-discriminatory practice, diversity, individual rights and choice in all aspects of work
• Update MHR’s contacts database
• Carry out other administrative duties as required 
• Supervise staff, interns and/or volunteers as required  
• Participate in relevant training and development courses as agreed with the CEO
• Undertake such other duties as might be reasonably assigned from time to time by the CEO
• Be vigilant to any Health, Safety and Welfare risks in the workplace and bring any concerns to the attention of the CEO or Health & Safety Representative

4. The person

Skills, knowledge and experience required:

• A third-level qualification in a relevant discipline
• Satisfactory relevant experience in a senior advocacy or policy role  
• Adept at building strategic partnerships 
• Knowledge of advocacy campaigning and methods of influencing change
• Proven experience of political advocacy including understanding of the political system and policy making in Ireland and at European level
• Ability to translate policy and research messages for broad dissemination 
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage tight deadlines
• Fluent speaker and writer of English
• Proven exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, both verbal and written

Desirable: 

• Experience in and familiarity with community and voluntary sector in Ireland
• Proven knowledge of mental health policy in Ireland
• Knowledge of Salesforce and online project management tools an advantage

Pay & Benefits:

• The salary will be commensurate with skills & experience within a salary band of €40,000 – €50,000.

Mental Health Reform operates the following benefits for its employees: 

• A pension scheme.
• Annual leave 24 days, exclusive of public holidays, 1 wellbeing day per year.
• Hybrid working arrangement
• Additional 4 days of PTO per year (Good Friday & Christmas)
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme

Additional notes;

• This job description is not a definitive list of tasks; rather it is designed to give an overview of the job.
• This is a one-year position with the possibility of extending. Flexibility will be required as out of office work may be a feature of the role from time to time.
• Mental health Reform is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
• All documentation received by Mental Health Reform will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Acts, 1988 and 2003 General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR; 2018). The information will only be used by Mental Health Reform in the processing of job applications and for ongoing administrative purposes with job candidates.

Application process:

• Please email your completed application form to info@mentalhealthreform.ie. In your cover letter please state your salary expectations and when you would be able to begin the role.
• Requests for additional information can be sent to info@mentalhealthreform.ie.
• Closing date for the submission of applications is Wednesday 12th March 2025 at 11.59 pm.
• Interviews are expected to take place the week starting 24th March.

Mental Health Reform is an equal opportunities employer