“Working for Fáilte Ireland is more than just a job,” says Fáilte Ireland HR manager Viv Egan. “When you come to work here you join a talented and diverse community of employees who are passionate about creating brilliant visitor experiences that are driven to position Ireland as an attractive and compelling tourism destination.”
Fáilte Ireland is the State organisation responsible for promoting and supporting the development of tourism as a key driver of economic growth in Ireland, she explains. “We create and invest in world class tourism brands like the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East, and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Dublin. And we provide a variety of business supports to the industry and help local communities develop their tourism and cultural attractions all with the aim of developing a vibrant and sustainable tourism sector.”
The organisation is currently recruiting for roles across all its areas. “Opportunities exist for a diverse range of people with different skillsets spread across areas such as marketing, business development, consumer Planning, accessibility, sustainability, HR, finance, ICT, governance and so on,” Egan points out.
People are not confined to set areas, however. “We are a matrix organisation and there is a huge amount of collaboration across the different directorates. It is not a case of just one team succeeding in a particular area. Everyone works together and every success is shared by the whole organisation.”
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That high level of collaboration makes for more interesting and diverse roles. “There is no typical day for most of our people,” she notes. “They can be out meeting people in the tourism industry, working on new marketing initiatives, or attending tradeshows here in Ireland or overseas. The roles are very diverse. For the most part, they are working with tourism businesses and communities around the country giving them advice and support.”
And that support varies quite widely. “They could be working with a business on a new product, helping a surf school in the west of Ireland with a marketing campaign, or working with a town to create a new festival. They could also be working with a business that’s struggling in the wake of the pandemic and helping them deal with the issues affecting them.”
Job satisfaction is just part of the equation. Fáilte Ireland also prides itself on putting its employees right at the centre of everything it does.
“We are a values-based organisation,” Egan points out. “Those values are driven from the top down. They are passion, expertise, collaboration, care, integrity, action, and imagination. Our culture is one where every employee is engaged, empowered, and supported to be at their best at work. We are certified as a Great Place to Work and as a Great Place to Work for Women. We are also ranked in the top five most trusted organisations in Ireland. Fáilte Ireland really is a unique place to work with a fantastic inclusive culture – there is a shared pride in everything we do.”
Great care and attention are paid to the employee experience, she continues. “You are never on your own in Fáilte Ireland. When someone joins the organisation, they attend an induction programme with other new starters on day one. They have two days of formal induction, and it continues informally after that.”
Career progression is also important. “We are strongly committed to the personal and professional development of our employees. Fáilte Ireland genuinely cares about its employees and their careers. There are lots of growth and development opportunities available. Being a matrix organisation means that people gain a lot of experience and can continually enhance their skills. That not only makes their roles very interesting, but it also opens career progression opportunities as people can move to different areas of the organisation over time.”
A role with Fáilte Ireland also comes with all the superior benefits and job security you’d expect from a public service organisation and a few more besides. That includes a blended working approach which sees people working partly in the office and partly remotely.
“We have people based in every county in the country,” says Egan. “We have a very flexible and blended working policy. And despite being so spread out, Fáilte Ireland is a very connected organisation. Our tech solutions were central to us being able to switch to remote working at the outset of the pandemic. That connectivity also contributes to the company’s culture of communication.”
The organisation also offers a suite of wellbeing programmes including Journies, largely an employee-driven initiative, she explains. “It has several aspects including mental, social, physical, and financial wellness. We have things like virtual coffee mornings, remote yoga sessions and so on and everyone can take part no matter where they are located.”
She advises anyone thinking of a career move to consider Fáilte Ireland. “People should take the time to find out about the organisation through our website and look at the different roles that might suit them. They will be joining an organisation that puts its people at the centre and where the employees consistently go above and beyond in rising to the new challenges facing Ireland’s tourism industry. Our culture reflects that passion and commitment. We are very proud of the people that work in the organisation.”
Interested in a career that will take you places? Learn about the roles Fáilte Ireland is recruiting for now. To make your next move click the on website Failteireland.ie to read more