Job vacancies

Social Impact Ireland is seeking to recruit a Social Innovation Inclusion Officer on a 1-year contract 

About Social Impact Ireland: 

Funded under Regional Enterprise Development Fund The Social Impact Ireland (SII) initiative seeks to support through a range of learning and collaboration programmes the fostering of a connected growing community of social enterprises across Ireland.
 

The SII initiative aims to help foster a growing community of viable, robust & socially impactful businesses in Ireland. 

It strives to do this through: 

• Raising awareness and knowledge about the sector
• Inspiring the creation and development of social impact businesses
• Providing education, resources, and support services, and above all by
• Creating and enhancing connectivity between our participants and others, both within and beyond the sector.

Following on from its BNest pilot in the Midwest, SII extended its geographic reach across Munster with the assistance of its partner organisations, NEWKD, SECAD, CLDC and Ludgate Hub. In November 2020 this reach extended to a national reach whereby, we established ourselves as Social Impact Ireland, an impact driven organization that works with businesses to identify, articulate and assist businesses to manage their social impact.   

About the role 

The Social Innovation Inclusion Officer will play a key role in developing SII’s inclusion policy, guidelines and practical working approach. 

The person will be responsible for informing and supporting management on issues around inclusion and diversity from an evidence-based perspective.  

The aim of this 12-month contract is to support the growing our social enterprise offering in Ireland, meeting the needs of minority groups in a proactive way that enables the people, and their businesses, to reach their full potential with social impact.  

This role will work closely with internal SII teams to advance the company’s business objectives by extending education products and services to current services and marginalized communities. 

Main activities/responsibilities: 

The core role of the Social Innovation Inclusion Officer is to promote good relations and practices towards different minority groups. Assess current offerings for gaps and weaknesses in this area. Deliver pilot diversity workshops to communities and staff. Overall enhancing Individual and Community Reach.
 

In particular the role will involve:  

• Commission and execute on a review of best practices internationally on isolated/specialist group engagement methodologies.  
• To assess and align above review recommendations with current offering within the Social Impact Innovation Hub.  
• Assess, and where relevant, formulate a planned programme of initiatives, with metrics to evaluate, to advance positive participation by such groups. 
• Actively promote to and engage with such individuals/community in accordance with developed plan. 
• Merge successfully both existing and new communities into a common mutually supportive community of social initiatives, utilizing our CLOSER network. 
• Compete a formal assessment on progress and understanding developed through the year along with recommendations for actions.  
• Enhanced ability on how to both reach and engage minority groups, where social initiatives are being developed. 

Qualifications, experience and person specification: 

• A minimum of a research-based degree/masters in social enterprise, social impact, community development, Social Science or related field. 
• Knowledge and experience of the social enterprise, community and voluntary sector. 
• Dynamic interpersonal and communication skills including the ability to network, liaise and negotiate with other local groups and agencies and to form positive working relationships with local community group committees and funders. 

• Knowledge of: 
• Social Inclusion Initiatives 
• New developments in supports for Social Enterprises  
• Business development and sustainability 

• Excellent report writing skills and presentation skills – Business / Strategic/Community/Social Analysis, Profiling & planning 
• Organisational skills  
• Highly motivated and committed to working as part of a team as well as on own initiative 

Social Impact Irelands business competencies: 

Leading self: 

• Courageous
• Ethical
• Determined

Leading the business: 

• Customer focused
• Transformational
• Strategic and visionary
• Innovative

Leading others: 

• Developer
• Inspirational
• Relationship builder
• Makes it happen

Location 

SII physically operates from three locations: Innovate Communities in Dublin, at the Nexus Innovation Centre, located within the University of Limerick campus and Ludage Hub in Skibbereen while also facilitating remote working. 

The focus of the role is national, and therefore, it is essential that the Development Advisor is a self-motivated, and is largely, a self-managed individual with an ability to engage with participants regardless of location. 

A “values” driven role. 

As a “values driven” organization, each member of SII will inherently advocate, practice and hold both themselves personally and the organization as a whole accountable to the SII values. 

Role Mechanics 

The Social Innovation Inclusion Officer will report to Pauline Gannon our co-founder and Director of Impact, and is expected to participate fully as a core member of the SII Leadership team.  

As the role may require travel, access to own transport and full drivers’ license is required. 

How to apply; 

Please send your CV and cover letter to Pauline@socialimpactireland.ie. 

Applications from interested parties should be received no later than Tuesday 26th of October 2021.