Senior Policy and Engagement Manager

JOB PURPOSE

The Senior Policy and Engagement Manager (EU) is charged with leading the design, development and application of a European Union (EU) Policy Programme that develops an organisation wide understanding of how the All-Island Strategic Rail Review aligns with related EU policies and advocates for stakeholder support to fully implement all proposed strategic interventions.

DIMENSIONS

• Reporting to the Head of Transport Planning in IÉ Capital Investments, the role holder will be a member of the extended Capital Investments leadership team, strengthening Capital Investments understanding and position on all EU related affairs.
• Act as a catalyst for the organisation to deliver on IÉ’s current capital programme of projects, the All-Island Strategic Rail Review and all related strategic ambitions
• engages widely across the organisation While committed to supporting hybrid working from our offices across the rail network, and elsewhere in line with our Remote Working Policy, it is anticipated that the role holder will require regular attendance in IÉ Dublin offices. This role will also require foreign travel.
• This job description is not exhaustive, merely outlining key duties and responsibilities

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH

As a leader of a significant transformational programme this post interfaces with a wide range of internal company functions and external stakeholders, with the following as key relationships:

• Members of all management teams across the full organisation, providing support, advice and subject matter expertise on all role related areas
• Colleagues at all levels and in all functions, across the full organisation

External stakeholders – policy makers at Irish and EU levels, industry wide stakeholders

KEY QUALITIES (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE)

This role is for a highly motivated self-driven leader, with a passion for bringing about new futures, for someone who can take a strategy with a clear vision for rail and support its implementation with subject matter expertise on how it connects and contributes to related European Union policies.

The post holder will be a creative collaborator, with deep subject matter expertise and experience of exceling in engaging and enrolling others across diverse stakeholder groups in their participation of a transformative journey to a new desirable future.

Working with the Head of Transport Planning, the role will be responsible for Capital Investments engagement with Europe, both at a European Union level and with the various bodies and representatives in the European political ecosystem. The role will be responsible to assisting Capital Investments in securing funding for projects and programmes and enabling a greater understanding of the impacts of EU policies and regulations on projects and programmes, influencing key decision makers.

Essential:

• A passion for bringing about new futures through creative collaboration
• Deep experience and knowledge of the EU structures, policy development process and implementation, and funding structures, especially as it relates to rail transport and sustainability, along with how it may apply to Ireland
• A minimum of five years’ experience in a leadership role, with substantive expertise of engaging with and influencing stakeholders at senior levels in complex ecosystems
• Possess strong leadership, creative, enrolment and communication skills, together with an ability to confront and resolve complex personnel and/or technical challenges

Desirable:

• A degree or third level professional qualification
• Experience from a public sector environment within a complex stakeholder ecosystem
• An established network of contacts across the Irish and EU transport ecosystem
• Experience of securing funding and/or finance for rail investments from EU / EIB programmes and / or supranational funders

RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead the development of an IÉ understanding of EU policy, as related to transport and sustainability in particular, how all related policies connect with IÉ corporate ambitions for rail development in Ireland and progress a programme of associated actions, with this to include:

Programme Development and Application

• Identify funding and financing opportunities across all areas of interest, available through EU institutions and funding programmes, that may be supportive of implementing IÉ strategies, advise on and assist in securing associated funds – particular focus on possible funding from the EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) (MFF) 2028-2035 (the EU Budget)
• Lead the design, development and application of an EU Policy Programme, taking the IÉ Rail2050 Strategy, showing how it may contribute to the achievement of associated policy objectives and advocate for support to implement its proposed interventions
• Lead an EU Policy Programme, of IÉ engagement with European stakeholders, to include policy makers, industry, administrators, at central level and across member states, with an objective of securing their support for Rail2050 implementation
• Deepen support for a progressive vision of rail development and use in Ireland, for both passenger and freight transport, engaging widely, demonstrating alignment with EU policy while drawing learnings from European examples of best applied practice
• Assist in the development of best practice governance structures, processes, policies and resources, to ensure compliance and reporting, for any IÉ projects approved for EU funding, taking full account of likely funder and wider stakeholder requirements
• Support Ireland and IÉ in developing and applying industry proposed technologies and innovations, suggesting opportunities for piloting any such proposals first in Ireland before scaling and wider implementation across the European rail system
• Represent IÉ on different EU bodies as relevant opportunities arise

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Create collaborative relationships with European organisations, across policy makers, industry and academia, working on projects of common interest, sharing learnings, inputting to policy development and demonstrating alignment with corporate strategies
• Determine how best to weave EU policy objectives into the cultural conversations of all parts of the IÉ organisation – operations, infrastructure, investment, procurement, shared services, commercial units, while working collaboratively with colleagues in each function on the integration of all such policies into the delivery of strategic interventions
• Work with colleagues to integrate EU policy and regulations into supply chain considerations, widening an understanding of all associated policies while supporting existing and potential suppliers in aligning their approaches to best achieve mutually desired outcomes
• Network widely across the European and Irish transport stakeholder ecosystems, form and manage associated relationships, for shared learnings and mutual benefits
• Work with national and regional bodies to develop shared objectives and actions

Building Expertise

• Be the IÉ source of technical expertise on all EU related policies, supporting colleagues across the organisation with any advice and input into their works
• Monitor Government and parliamentary activity, liaise with relevant departments on development of European legislation, identify and advance opportunities for policy development in alignment with and supportive of IÉ ambitions for rail development, in collaboration with Irish and other stakeholders
• Input to the preparation of cases for rail development proposals, bringing a broad perspective to considerations, including on how EU policy criteria may be addressed
• Learn lessons from other European countries and companies on how progressive rail policies may support the achievement of Ireland’s National Strategic Outcomes, sharing learnings in support of building cases for like developments. In return, share learnings where applicable from IÉ experiences with interested parties across Europe

Communications

• Work with Corporate Communications to develop an EU Engagement and Communications Plan, seeking firstly to understand the most effective forms of approach for IÉ, then deploying these to best effect with refinement for enhanced effectiveness as engagement develops over the life of the EU Policy Programme

Governance

• Lead the establishment of a holistic view of the EU Policy Programme across IÉ, including development of targets and KPI’s with appropriate analysis of performance
• Monitor and report on programme benefits, value creation and return on investment
• Oversee the management of a budget to cover all associated programme costs

Sustainability:

• To embed sustainability in project planning and delivery, ensuring environmental compliance, carbon reduction and continuous improvement.