Join the Team! We Are Hiring an Ignite Community Programme Lead!

Job Title: Programme Lead | Ignite Community 
Location: Remote (Based in Northern Ireland or Border Counties of Ireland) with 1 day per month based in YSI Head Office (Old Finglas Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 11).
Start Date: Immediate
Salary: €54,000 / £45,000
Line Manager: CEO
Duration: Permanent (subject to funding) 
Hours: Full Time (35 hours per week)

About Young Social Innovators

Young Social Innovators (YSI) is a non-profit organisation that believes in the power of youth. Its vision is to empower, equip and inspire young people to change the world for good. Through its programmes, training and events, Young Social Innovators enables young people to grapple with difficult social issues, advocating reform and advancing change. Each year, circa 15,000 young people are supported to explore social and environmental issues that concern them and come up with a variety of responses to these. In this way, Young Social Innovators builds social capital and helps young people create a fairer and more caring society connecting into a wider global movement for change.

Ignite Community Programme

Ignite Community (IC) is a four-year social innovation programme supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The purpose of this innovative programme is enabling young people outside the main education system to drive and own innovations that will make a real difference in tackling inequality and creating new connections across communities in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Border Counties of Ireland (BRI). These new connections will deepen links through the development of cross-border and cross-community relations within groups of young people from diverse backgrounds and communities co-creating solutions to social and environmental issues that impact upon them and their communities. We will use social innovation as the linchpin to empower communities of young people to co-design and launch new and innovative solutions.

Purpose of Role

The Ignite Community (IC) Programme Lead will be responsible for managing the overall programme tasks and partnerships involved. Activities will be across the twelve counties covered by the PEACEPLUS region and will include leading a small team of local leaders who are working remotely across the region as well as liaising with back-office programme support staff. This position will be a critical role within the IC partnership and wider YSI team. They will be the critical connection between the SEUPB, IC partners, YSI back-office and programme activities on the ground. 

The IC Programme Lead will work closely with the CEO and the wider YSI Local Leaders programme managing YSI’s IC Programme and building a network of support for YSI activities in the region. They will also be responsible for ensuring delivery of the IC programme in the target counties within project timeframe, meeting project targets and providing effective and accurate reporting to the SEUPB through their EMS reporting system.

The role requires a dynamic, driven individual with experience working on EU funded programmes, has excellent project management and reporting skills, an ability to build relationships and manage partnerships as well as an experience of working in the non-formal education sector.

Ignite Community: A project supported by PEACEPLUS; A programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)

Duties of the Role

Programme Responsibilities (include and not limited to):  

• Day to day programme management of the PEACEPLUS funded IC programme and effective and accurate monitoring and progress reporting using SEUPB online reporting systems.
• Liaise and manage IC partners and set up regular IC steering group meetings to maintain essential communication and programme performance monitoring among partners and key stakeholders.
• Manage and develop the competency of the YSI Local Leader Team in the programme area to deliver Social Innovation Education (SIE) to young people in the non-formal education setting.
• Lead the growth of SIE programme engagement, meeting recruitment, retention, and outcome targets in the programme area as per original proposal.
• Collaborate with Key Stakeholders and train Local Leader team to build new relationships and ensure legacy of programme in the region.
• Build local capacity around youth led SIE in communities across the IC programme region and promote cross-community and cross-border collaboration through online and face to face events, culminating in regular community showcase events.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to build new relationships, develop a social innovation network, and ensure legacy of programme in the region.
• Ensure all project reporting requirements are met within timeframes detailed by project funder. To include accurate data gathering and collation of data for both reporting and research purposes.
• Work closely with the CEO and the rest of the programme team to ensure timely delivery of programme milestones and outcomes.

Manage the YSI Local Leader Team

• Manage the day-to-day work of the remote IC Local Leader Team (including partners) to ensure they are fully supported to deliver the programme outcomes.
• Oversee the development of the IC Local Leader Team (including partners) to effectively engage and facilitate young people through IC programme using YSI’s youth-led participation model.
• Manage and develop the IC Local Leader Team (including partners) to support local youth workers and educators to facilitate the IC programme using YSI’s youth-led participation model.
• Coach, mentor, and enable IC Local Leader Team to cultivate local community relationships with a view to engaging young people in IC programme, mini mentoring opportunities and creating a legacy of Coder Dojos across the project area.
• Manage the activity report writing of the Local team to meet funder requirements (to include oversight and collation of partner reporting for accuracy and SEUPB reporting purposes).
• Support back-office programme administration team on management of programme administration, reporting and evaluation.
• Provide internal communication to all YSI teams and attendance at monthly YSI management team meetings to update on progress and impact of YSI work in their region.
• Ensure that YSI and SEUPB Comms teams are kept informed of IC programme developments raising awareness and wider support externally (pro-bono etc).
• Work closely with the Senior Technology and Data Officer in drafting specifications and tender documents for purchasing technology services, software, and hardware for use on programmes.
• Work closely with YSI’s Lead Researcher and SEUPB research partners to ensure development of evidence base for programme outcomes.

Other Duties

• Contribute to the overall strategic direction, management, and growth of the regions and wider organisation.
• Ad hoc duties as required, in line with the purpose of the role.

Person Specification (Essential)

• Significant experience of working in the non-formal education sector - minimum 3 years’ experience.
• Evidence of previous experience project managing large programmes (>€1M).
• Evidence of excellent management, motivation, and coaching skills - preferably experience of managing a remote team.
• Ability and evidence of building relationships (internally and externally) and confident communicator.
• Strong reporting skills and evidence of an ability to meet deadlines.
• Relevant non-profit business planning or operational experience.
• Strong commitment to realising a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient world.
• Strong creative and entrepreneurial interests and skills.
• Highly curious and creative.
• Clean UK/IRL driving license and access to a car for work purposes.

Person Specification (Desirable)

• Evidence of previous experience of managing EU programmes and reporting systems.
• Youth work qualifications and established track record of working with young people.

To apply, please send a CV and a supporting document describing how you meet the essential criteria for this role in no more than two pages to careers@youngsocialinnovators.ie The closing date for applications is Friday the 25th of October 2024. Late applications will not be accepted.

First round of interviews: 13th of November

Second round of interviews: 19th of November 

We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We are an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information or disability status