Officer, Climate Action

LEVEL 4 

Permanent, full-time 

Closing Date: Monday, 29th of September 2025 at 3:00pm

Salary: €57,375 - €82,048  Per annum *  

*This role will be filled in line with Public Pay Policy at Point 1 of the relevant Salary Scale unless the successful candidate is appointed from an existing public sector role

Blended work model with office locations of: 

• Áras Fáilte, 88-95 Amiens Street, Dublin 1, D01 WR86

• 4th Fl, Wallace Hse, Maritana Gate, Canada St, Waterford, X91 PP2R

• 4th Floor, Mathew House, Fr. Mathew St., Cork, T12TN56

Job Purpose

This role sits within the Sector Development Directorate in Fáilte Ireland and plays a central role in Fáilte Ireland’s response to supporting the Tourism sector to drive action by supporting the Industry in adapting to climate change.

Fáilte Ireland uses the internationally recognised VICE Model for Sustainable Tourism. This focuses on the interaction between Visitors (V), the Industry (I) that serves them, the Community that hosts them © and the impact on the Environment (E). This approach aligns with the UN's World Travel Organisation's definition of sustainable tourism as tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.

The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting the Manager of Climate Action to implement Fáilte Ireland’s Climate Action plans and to shape practical solutions to support the industry. The officer will lead the operational delivery of key elements of the Climate Action plan working with wider Fáilte Ireland teams to ensure the development of a sustainable tourism sector that meets the emerging needs of the consumer.

Job Description 

Primary Objectives/Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will support the Manager of Climate Action in implementing Fáilte Ireland’s Climate Action plans and to shape practical solutions to support the industry.

Working with key both internal and external stakeholders, the post holder will support positive change as the industry drives towards its target of a 45% reduction in emissions by 2030, with a longer-term ambition of reaching net zero by 2050.

The core objectives include:

• Driving Change through Knowledge and Metrics: Capturing, analysing and reporting on agreed metrics to benchmark the performance of Irish tourism.

• Implementation and management of agreed projects to meet the evolving climate action challenges facing the tourism industry.

• Support the tourism sector to develop employee skills and capability in sustainability and climate action, ensuring businesses are equipped to proactively implement effective climate action plans that deliver meaningful impact.

• Support the wider Fáilte Ireland climate action team in its ongoing delivery of a one-stop-shop on sustainability for tourism businesses via Fáilte Ireland’s Climate Action Programme, helping industry to navigate this complex area and signposting them to the appropriate supports provided by government and other agencies

• Working with and management of key external partners to ensure delivery of agreed projects and KPI’s

Stakeholder Management

• Develop and maintain excellent internal and external stakeholder relationships to achieve the organisation’s objectives

• Central to this role will be collaborating and innovating with internal stakeholders as well as industry and other key external stakeholders to address shared climate action challenges

Project Management

• Lead and manage assigned projects to meet predetermined objectives

• Report on project progress to plan, delivery of objectives and impact delivered

• Work with cross-functional resources to deliver agreed projects and KPIs

Governance & Reporting

• Analyse data gathered through an internationally recognised carbon calculator to lead and advance best practice sustainability reporting, including the publication of regular reports

• Comply with all aspects of organisation policy

• Support the review of all aspects of plans, ensuring all issues are being appropriately addressed

• Submit status updates on time and brief Manager of Climate Action and Head of Climate Action on key issues as required

• Manage the effective planning and spending of assigned budgets and ensure compliance with spending policy and procedures are adhered to including public procurement regulations

• Ensure that expenditure is tightly controlled and operated within agreed budget

• Be an active member of the Climate Action and matrix team

Carry out all other duties as required and participate as a full member of the Climate Action team by supporting different work projects, as required, from time to time.

Please note there will be a requirement for some travel to Dublin as part of this role.

Person Specification 

Essential Criteria

The successful candidate will have a minimum of three years’ experience in a related role that includes data analysis and insights generation, stakeholder management, programme/project management, and budget management.

We are looking for an individual who has a desire to actively be involved in driving change, has demonstrated a capability to support the development and implementation of key projects, possesses interpersonal and communication skills, and can clearly demonstrate an ability to build strong external and internal working relationships.

Additionally, they will have the following skills:

• Ability to work collaboratively across functions with excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to manage a diverse range of stakeholders with quantifiable results

• An understanding around the area of sustainability and climate action

• Ability to identify solutions that impact in short and medium term

• An interest and passion for innovation and best practice

In order to be eligible to apply for this role you must have / demonstrate in your application form the following:

• Minimum of 3 years’ successful experience in a business / business sustainability management role within a related sector (e.g. public sector, tourism etc.)

• Experience of delivering projects in the area of sustainability and climate action that delivered positive impact

• Experience extracting insights from multiple data sources

• Strong IT skills, including team collaboration tools, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, etc.

Qualifications/Mandatory Training

• A professional qualification (minimum Level 6 under the QQI Framework) in a related discipline

Desirable Criteria 

• Experience in interpretation and presentation of data

• A professional Qualification (minimum Level 8 under the QQI Framework) in a related discipline

• A formal project management qualification

Key Competencies 

• Teamwork

• Project Management

• Managing Relationships

• Communicating Effectively

Selection Process Shortlisting will be based on applications and the selection process may involve two competency based interviews. A panel of successful candidates may be formed following the selection process.

Fáilte Ireland is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace which values and benefits from the diversity of the workforce. We encourage you to reach out to us directly at recruitment@failteireland.ie should you require assistance or reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process.