The Organisation
The Social Democrats are one of the fastest growing Parties in the country and have active branches and members across the entire country. We are ambitious for Ireland’s future and want Ireland to be a republic in which every person has opportunity and dignity.
The Role
The Social Democrats are seeking a Policy Officer who will assist the Policy Director in the development of policy within the Party.
Responsibilities include:
- Reviewing, researching, developing and writing the Party’s policy platform, to ensure we have a robust, evidence-based policy base.
- Staying informed on significant changes in the Irish policy landscape including economic or legislative changes, government policy initiatives, and contributions from think-tanks, civil society or representative groups.
- Supporting the Parliamentary Party in their work, including researching and developing positions for spokespeople, contributing to speeches, the development of Bills, and the development of new policy initiatives.
- Investigating Irish and international policy developments and innovations, seeking opportunities to inform policy development.
- Working with Party members and the Party Policy Committee to build policy collaboratively.
- Writing Party policy documents and manifestos in collaboration with the Parliamentary Party, senior Party staff, and the Party Policy Committee.
- Supporting the Communications Team, where required, on Party messaging.
- Administrative duties related to the Party’s policy work and, where required, assisting in the organisation of key Party events.
- Assisting the Policy Director in their various responsibilities.
This is intended to detail key responsibilities and duties, but it is not an exhaustive list.
Essential skills, traits & experience:
- A thorough understanding of political economy, and a strong awareness of the policy landscape in areas core to social democracy. These areas include housing, healthcare, climate, equality, taxation, cost of living, the economy, transparency and accountability, workers’ rights, and public services.
- Experience developing policy in some of these areas, or related areas.
- An understanding of, and appreciation for, evidence-based collaborative policy formation processes.
- Good knowledge of, and interest in, national and international politics and current affairs.
- A desire to shape the political and policy landscape in Ireland to create a fairer and more equitable society and economy.
- Excellent writing skills with ability to deliver a variety of types of communications clearly and concisely, including policy documents, speeches, campaigning materials, policy briefs, and/or manifestos.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- University degree, or equivalent, in a policy-relevant discipline.
- Candidates demonstrating equivalent professional experience or a combination of equivalent experience and undergraduate qualification may also be considered.
- A minimum of three years’ experience in a policy development or research role.
Beneficial skills & experience:
- Demonstrable ability to produce high-quality output quickly within a rapidly evolving environment, with experience working to competing deadlines and responding efficiently to competing priorities.
- Experience engaging with a range of stakeholders, professionally and collaboratively.
- Fluency in Irish, or the ability to work through the Irish language, is desirable.
Terms & Conditions:
- The salary for this role starts at €45,000 and hybrid working options may be available, subject to negotiation.
- Pension contribution: up to 6% matched contribution.
- Annual Leave days: 25 days.
- The position is based in Dublin and may entail some travel as required.
- This is a full-time position with a 35-hour working week, requiring flexibility to accommodate evening and weekend commitments where required.
- This is a fixed term appointment that expires one month after the next General Election. At that point the contract may be renewed at the discretion of Party management.
- You will report to the Policy Director.
Application Details:
Applications must be submitted to [email protected] by June 26th 2026.
CVs (max two pages) should be accompanied by a cover letter (max one page).
Both documents should be together in a single PDF file, titled ‘FIRSTNAME SURNAME – Policy Officer’.
Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.