Manager, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands

Level 3

Full-time, Fixed-Term Contract, full-time (approximately 3 years)

Closing date: Thursday, 30th October 2025 @ 3pm

Fáilte Ireland invites applications for the position of Manager, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands for a fixed-term three-year contract. This will be a key role within Fáilte Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands team with the opportunity to deliver on the Regional Tourism Development Strategy 2023- 2027, to prepare and deliver a number of Destination and Experience Development Plans and to contribute to the implementation of Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism Scheme 2023-2026 as part of the EU Just Transition Fund 2021-2026.

This role will play a key role in supporting the industry and stakeholders to improve existing and create new visitor experiences that meet and exceed visitors’ expectations, resulting in increased visitor revenue and local jobs, while protecting and enhancing both the unique environment of the region and local communities, in an area that does not have a high level of awareness among visitors and does not have a strong tourism sector.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join Fáilte Ireland and work on an exciting regional tourism brand that is at an early stage in its development and to help set a sustainable course for the future of tourism in the region. This is a full-time role for a three-year period which will deliver on the objectives of the Regional Tourism Development Strategy 2023-2027, as well as having a particular focus on the delivery of the

EU Just Transition Fund. This role will report into the Head of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands but will work very closely with a range of other Divisions in the organisation.

Job Purpose 

Manage a team to co-ordinate the sustainable development of the Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands region by preparing and implementing destination development plans that seek to raise awareness, enhance the visitor experience, grow economic impact, improve sustainability and build effective industry and stakeholder networks. There will also be a focus on delivering elements of the EU Just Transition Fund 2023-2026, as it relates to the region.

Job Description 

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES/KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Sustainable Destination Development

• Oversee, co-ordinate and contribute to the development and implementation of the Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands Regional Tourism Development Strategy, as well as a number of Destination and Experience Development Plans (DEDPs) with internal and external stakeholders. There will be a focus with the role on the northern half of the region but this may change during the course of the contract.

• Contribute to a knowledge bank of best practice approaches to destination development and identify opportunities to integrate these approaches into work programmes.

• Liaise with other Fáilte Ireland Divisions to deliver sustainability solutions for the industry in the region, with a particular focus on reducing carbon emissions and developing tourism based on sustainability and regenerative principles.

• Contribute to a number of sustainability initiatives, including the Regional Sustainable Tourism Indicators initiative.

• Collaborate with other Fáilte Ireland Divisions in the delivery of Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme 2023-2026, as part of the EU Just Transition Fund 2021-2027, including the co-ordination of the network of Local Authority Just Transition Tourism Activators.

• Work closely across the matrix organisation within Fáilte Ireland including other regional teams, marketing, product development, commercial development, industry digitisation, accessibility, climate action & sector development to ensure consistency of approach to maximise effectiveness in the implementation of plans & activities.

• Support the Head of Division in the delivery of Divisional KPIs.

Industry and Stakeholder Engagement

• Build alignment around the Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands brand proposition and work closely with partners to deliver on the shared vision for the region as set out in the Regional Tourism Development Strategy 2023-2027.

• Manage relationships with key stakeholders such as Local Authorities, public agencies and tourism industry partners to collectively develop and deliver agreed plans and objectives.

• Develop and work with a number of destination-based industry networks and cluster groups to deliver a range of capacity and capability building measures, in accordance with an agreed network development strategy.

• Present on behalf of the Hidden Heartlands region at internal and external events.

• Provide support to visitor experiences to seek innovative approaches to leverage opportunities, adapting to changing market conditions.

• Identify and engage key industry partners and stakeholders and foster and maintain strong working relationships to achieve organisational and regional objectives.

• Build alignment around the brand proposition and the vision for the destination among the industry providers.

• Manage a team of key account managers with responsibility for working with businesses to drive their commercial success.

Marketing & Commercial Development

• Assist with the development of our domestic marketing campaigns and aligning our key stakeholders behind them.

• Represent Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands at sales events in Ireland and maximise the number of businesses in the region attending key sales events.

• Assist with identifying and creating saleable experiences across Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and developing the sales capability of tourism providers in the region.

Leading Others

• Manage a team who are responsible for multiple projects and deadlines, and navigate an effective path to deliver agreed KPIs.

• Demonstrate impact of team and report performance against agreed KPIs.

• Successfully manage a range of different projects and work activities at the same time.

• Delegate work and tasks appropriately, ensuring oversight and structured follow up, empowering team to make decisions within their own role.

• Proactively identify areas for improvement and develops practical suggestions for their implementation.

• Adhere to Fáilte Ireland budgetary processes, tracking spend and triggering remedial actions should variances occur.

• Ensure that any procurement of work from a third party is implemented in line with the Fáilte Ireland procurement policy.

Carry out all other duties as required and participate as a full member of the Ireland's Hidden Heartlands Team. This role requires travel, with attendance at a number of national and regional events on an annual basis.

Person Specification

 Essential Criteria

We are looking for an individual who has experience in leading teams, has a commercial mind-set, understands sustainability in the context of Irish tourism, has highly developed interpersonal skills and has demonstrated an ability to build strong external and internal strategic partnerships.

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

• The successful candidate will have a proven track record with a minimum of five years’ experience in a managerial role and will demonstrate experience  working in tourism, a service industry, or a related industry.

• Experience in developing and managing a high performing team

• A track record of commercial aptitude, understanding the key drivers of commercial success at firm and destination level.

• Experience  of sustainability as it applies to tourism.

• Experience leading a team that delivered large scale projects with multiple stakeholders demonstrating innovation and best practice and strong project management expertise

• Own means of transport/full driver’s licence

Qualifications/Mandatory Training

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

Desirable Criteria

• Proven track record in sustainable destination development/tourism experience development projects.

• Experience working with both public and private stakeholders and an understanding of their operating models.

• Project management.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Thinking

• Commercial Awareness

• Managing Relationships

• Inspire and Engage

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.