THERE ARE DIFFICULT jobs and then there is this one: Aer Lingus is looking to hire an Internal Communications Specialist.

The company is currently embroiled in a stalemate with around 300 staff members who refuse to work new rosters introduced by the airline on January 17. Talks are ongoing at the Labour Relations Commission today in a bid to break the deadlock that has seen the hundreds of employees taken off the payroll and daily flight cancellations on the Aer Lingus schedule.

However, it seems Aer Lingus is happy to put at least one new employee on the payroll. The company is advertising for an Internal Communications Specialist. The role entails communicating with all staff and in effect, acting as a conduit between management and regular staff members. Aer Lingus says:

• The successful candidate will be required to understand the Aer Lingus culture, mission, business model and strategy in order to communicate effectively to all staff.
• S/He will be required to foster positive relationships with all business areas and managers in order to act as a partner with them in communicating to staff. One major challenge lies in capturing the attention of a mobile workforce.

The company says it is looking for someone who has “excellent” communication skills and the ability to “present facts and opinions articulately, objectively and, when required, confidentially”. The successful candidate will also have to be “enthusiastic”, and have a “flexible and positive attitude to work in an ever-changing environment”.

The position was first advertised last Monday on the Public Relations Institute of Ireland website. Those who believe they are up to the “challenge” should note that the closing date for applications is Friday of next week, 11 February.