Director of Marketing, Communications and Business Development

Alternatives; Leinster; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Alternatives, in partnership with Fáilte Ireland, seeks an experienced interim executive to lead the Marketing, Communications and Business Development Directorate. The role ensures delivery of corporate priorities, marketing effectiveness, stakeholder engagement and business development outcomes.

Reporting to the CEO, the Interim Director will provide strong leadership across the directorate while helping embed a newly restructured operating model.

Qualifications

• Degree or Master’s in Marketing required.
• Strategic thinking essential for shaping marketing, communications and business development Strategy.
• Inspire and engage across teams and stakeholders at senior level.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Marketing, Communications and Business Development Directorate.
• Contribute to Executive Team discussions, aligning cross-functional decisions with organisational strategy.
• Lead a high-performing team through organisational change and embedding a new operating model.
• Develop insight, data and market intelligence to inform investment and performance.
• Drive bold marketing and demand generation strategies to grow domestic tourism and regional dispersal.
• Oversee communications with government, industry partners and stakeholders to protect and enhance reputation.
• Lead partnerships and business development initiatives with Tourism Ireland and other state bodies.
• Accelerate the use of AI, data and digital tools to improve tourism performance and measure impact.

Skills

Degree/Master in Marketing

Strategic Thinking

Inspire and Engage

Education

Degree or Master’s in Marketing

Job description

Role Name: Director, Marketing, Communications and Business Development

Division: Marketing, Communications and Business Development

Contract Type: Specified Purpose Contract, full-time

*The specific purpose is to cover a temporary leave of absence.

Job Purpose

Alternatives in partnership with Fáilte Ireland are seeking to recruit an experienced interim executive to lead the Marketing, Communications and Business Development Directorate ensuring the continued delivery of corporate priorities, marketing effectiveness, stakeholder engagement and business development outcomes. Reporting to the CEO, the Interim Director will provide strong leadership across the directorate while helping embed a newly restructured operating model. The successful candidate will lead a high-performing team, guide strategic decision-making and maximise the impact of marketing, communications and commercial activity.

Primary Objectives/Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the Marketing, Communications and Business Development Directorate, providing strategic direction, effective governance and delivery annual work plans and performance targets aligned to the organisational strategy.
• Contribute as a member of the Executive Team to contribute to strategic decision making and cross-functional leadership.
• Provide leadership and support to Heads of Division during a period of organisational change, strengthening cross-divisional collaboration and aligning ways of working within the new team to deliver strong organisational performance.
• Development of insight, data and market intelligence capability to inform investment.

Marketing, Brand and Demand Development

• Lead the development and delivery of bold and ambitious marketing and demand generation strategies and campaigns that will drive domestic tourism growth, particularly off-peak as well as support regional dispersal.
• Ensure Fáilte Ireland remains responsive to changing consumer trends, evolving marketing technologies and emerging visitor opportunities.
• Promote innovation and evidence-based marketing approaches across digital, media, partnership and content channels measuring marketing investment outcomes, impact and value for money.

Communications and Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead strategic communications across industry, government, media, public and internal audiences, protecting and enhancing Fáilte Ireland's reputation.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Government departments, industry partners, representative bodies and commercial stakeholders.
• Ensure communications activity supports organisational priorities and underpins external confidence in Fáilte Ireland.

Business Development and Partnerships

• Lead business development initiatives that support tourism enterprises and identify opportunities for sustainable growth.
• Drive strategic partnerships that strengthen visitor engagement, destination development and industry participation with Tourism Ireland, other state agencies and industry bodies.
• Accelerate the use of AI, data and digital tools to improve tourism business performance, implementing a new digital strategy (anticipated to be published in November 2026) that will use AI and data-driven approaches to strengthen visitor conversion and marketing effectiveness.
• Support the development of robust impact measurement and evaluation frameworks to inform investment decisions and demonstrate outcomes.
• Provide strategic advice to the CEO and Executive Team on marketing, communications, stakeholder engagement and business development matters.
• Represent Fáilte Ireland at senior-level forums, industry engagements and public events.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing culture, ensuring teams deliver with pace, quality and accountability.
• Promote strong governance, public service values and organisational effectiveness.

Person Profile

• Senior leadership experience in marketing, communications, business development or related functions within an organisation of similar scale and complexity to Fáilte Ireland.
• Experience of working with Government Departments and/or state agencies as well as effectively influencing at Board, industry or equivalent senior stakeholder level.
• Proven track record of delivering high-impact marketing and communications strategies and measurable business outcomes.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing substantial budgets, ideally through a period of significant change.
• Excellent judgement and political awareness and the ability to operate with credibility with senior tourism stakeholders.
• Strong commercial acumen, financial awareness and ability to manage significant budgets and make informed investment decisions.
• Strong communication and influencing skills with experience of presenting to senior decision makers.
• Understanding of tourism marketing, conversion and consumer behaviour with the analytical capability to use insight, data and evidence to inform decisions and evaluate impact.
• Commitment to public service values, governance, accountability and the achievement of high-quality outcomes.

Essential Qualifications/Mandatory Training

• Degree or Master's qualification in Marketing.
• Strategic Thinking
• Inspire and Engage

Locations

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

*Please note that there will be a requirement to work from the Dublin office two days per week.

* 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 Working

We do not ask for addresses as part of the application process, however it is the responsibility of the candidate to acknowledge the base location of the role. The successful candidate must regularly work from and attend the base office location of the role.

Please note: Remote working from outside the State is not permitted other than in exceptional circumstances. As this role is within the Irish public service, the post-holder must carry out a minimum of 80% of their working time within the State (Republic of Ireland). Candidates who reside in Northern Ireland must be able to meet this requirement.

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.

Candidates must be available to attend an in-person interview at the location and date specified by Fáilte Ireland. Please note that the location of the interview may vary from the base location of the role.

Closing date for applications is 3pm on Tuesday 3rd November 2026.