Embassy of Ireland in Pretoria Hiring Public Diplomacy and Information Officer – Applications Open Until 31 July 2026 ·Applications Open Until 31 July 2026

The Embassy of Ireland in Pretoria is inviting applications for the position of Public Diplomacy and Information Officer, offering communications professionals an opportunity to contribute to Ireland’s diplomatic engagement across Southern Africa.

The full-time position supports the Embassy’s mission to promote and protect Ireland’s values, interests, and economic well-being while strengthening bilateral relations with South Africa and countries across its regional accreditation, including Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius, and Zimbabwe.

Applications are open until 31 July 2026, with the successful candidate expected to begin work on 1 October 2026.

About the Embassy of Ireland in Pretoria

The Embassy of Ireland in Pretoria represents the Irish Government in South Africa while supporting diplomatic, political, economic, cultural, and consular engagement throughout Southern Africa.

Its work includes:

• Promoting Irish trade and investment.
• Strengthening bilateral diplomatic relationships.
• Supporting Irish citizens abroad through consular services.
• Promoting Irish culture, arts, sports, and public diplomacy.
• Building partnerships across government, academia, business, and civil society.

The Public Diplomacy and Information Officer will play a central role in enhancing Ireland’s public profile and advancing the Embassy’s strategic communications objectives.

About the Position

The successful candidate will lead the Embassy’s public diplomacy, communications, media engagement, and digital outreach activities while supporting Ireland’s cultural and sports diplomacy initiatives.

Working closely with Embassy teams, the Regional Arts and Culture Coordinator, and the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin, the officer will help strengthen Ireland’s visibility and reputation across the region.

The position also involves collaborating with communications colleagues across Sub-Saharan Africa to coordinate regional public diplomacy initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

The Public Diplomacy and Information Officer will be responsible for:

• Designing and implementing public diplomacy campaigns that support Embassy priorities.
• Building relationships with media organisations and securing coverage across print, broadcast, and digital platforms.
• Monitoring political, economic, and development issues relevant to Embassy activities.
• Managing the Embassy’s website and social media platforms.
• Producing digital content and analysing online engagement.
• Organising Embassy events and coordinating logistics.
• Developing an annual events calendar aligned with strategic objectives.
• Reporting on media coverage, public diplomacy activities, and event outcomes.
• Identifying communication opportunities across consular, political, trade, development, and economic programmes.
• Supporting Ireland’s cultural diplomacy and International Sports Diplomacy Strategy.
• Collaborating with regional and headquarters communications teams.

The role may also require occasional evening, weekend, and after-hours work, including support for the Embassy’s consular duty service.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

Applicants must demonstrate:

• A relevant undergraduate degree.
• Fluency in English.
• At least three years of professional experience in communications.
• Strong information technology skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Strong organisational and project management skills.
• The ability to analyse large volumes of information and prepare concise reports.
• Proven relationship-building skills across media, academia, government, industry, or related sectors.
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• A results-oriented and solutions-focused approach.
• A permanent legal right to live and work in South Africa.

Desirable Qualifications

The Embassy will also consider the following as advantageous:

• A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline.
• Previous experience working with an embassy or international non-governmental organisation.
• Experience managing social media campaigns.
• Event management experience.
• Advocacy and public policy experience.
• Knowledge of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic operations.

Salary and Employment Conditions

The successful candidate will be based at the Embassy of Ireland in Pretoria under the following employment conditions:

• Full-time position.
• Location: Pretoria, South Africa.
• Working hours: Monday to Friday, 37 hours per week.
• Standard office hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Occasional travel and work outside normal office hours may be required.
• Annual salary: ZAR 625,541.52.
• Medical aid benefits.
• Proposed start date: 1 October 2026.

Recruitment Process

The recruitment process may include several stages depending on the number of applications received.

Candidates may be required to complete:

• Shortlisting based on the essential requirements.
• Competency-based interviews.
• Skills and language assessments.
• A second interview where applicable.

Successful candidates will also undergo police security clearance before appointment.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit the following documents by email:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Cover letter.

Applications should be sent to recruitment.pretoria@dfa.ie with the subject line Public Diplomacy and Information Officer.

The application deadline is 31 July 2026 at 16:30 (South Africa local time). Late applications will not be considered, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The Embassy of Ireland in Pretoria is an equal opportunity employer and encourages qualified candidates with the required experience and legal right to work in South Africa to apply.

VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.