Senior Sports Development Officer

The Role

This role is funded by the European Social Fund + (ESF +) Programme 2021 -2028 through Sport Ireland. The ESF+ Programme will support the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights by seeking to:

• Support access to employment for young people and underrepresented groups

• Promote skills and lifelong learning

• Tackle poverty and social exclusion Sport and Physical Activity will be used as mechanism to support these principles and the Local Sport Partnerships will be the main drivers on this project locally.

Sport Ireland published its first policy on Diversity and Inclusion in Sport in 2022 which expresses its vision for a sport sector that celebrates diversity, promotes inclusion, and is pro-active in providing opportunities for lifelong participation for everyone.

The ESF + Social Innovation in Sport officer will work in collaboration with key local and national stakeholders to support the implementation of this policy.

Job Purpose

The ESF + Social Innovation in Sport officer will support the delivery of Sport Ireland’s Diversity & Social Inclusion Innovation Programme for Sport. This will involve leading with the delivery of the ESF+ programmes with the objective of fostering active inclusion with a view to promoting equal opportunities, non-discrimination and active participation, and improving employability, in ESF + target groups and organisations locally. The programmes on this project will be designed, piloted and scaled using design thinking principles.

Responsibilities

Lead the design, planning and delivery of the Diversity & Social Inclusion Innovation Programme for Sport at a local level with a focus on building skills and confidence to foster social inclusion and engage with and maintain recreational sport participation independently.

Coordinate ESF+ programmes with the objective of fostering active inclusion with a view to promoting equal opportunities, non-discrimination and active participation, and improving employability, in ESF + target groups locally.

Ensure the design and delivery of the ESF+ programme aligns with European Social Fund requirements and complements existing Sport Ireland and Local Sports Partnership policies and plans.

Monitoring Impact on programmes and supporting the sharing of information and replication of programmes in other Local Sports Partnerships. The project is cofunded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.

Provide timely, standardised data and reporting on activity and outcomes on the programmes.

Collaborate with Sport Ireland to support the successful delivery of this project.

Develop and support strong working relationships with other Local Sports Partnerships and other outside agencies and relevant stakeholders.

Participate in regular supervision, appraisal and education as identified.

Undertake any other relevant and related duties that may be required.

Diversity & Inclusion

Sport Ireland and Local Sport Partnerships are committed to building a diverse sport sector and therefore strongly encourages applications from underrepresented groups. Local Sports Partnerships are committed to equality and inclusion and welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of their background. Local Sports Partnerships strive to be a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Qualifications For the Post

Candidates shall be of good character.

Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Citizenship

Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or

b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or

c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

d) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa; or

e) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa; or

f) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa.

Qualifications & Experience

A) Level 8 in any of the following areas Health, Exercise Science, Physical Activity, Diversity and Inclusion, Social Justice, Community Development, Education or related field. And Candidates should have a minimum of 2 years’ relevant experience working with the target groups mentioned and stakeholder engagement.

OR

B) Candidates should have a minimum of 5 years’ relevant experience working with the target groups mentioned and stakeholder engagement.

Knowledge & Skills

Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills.

Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook).

Good organisational and time management skills.

An understanding of research and evaluation methods and an appreciation of research integrity and the ethical issues of carrying out research with target populations.

Effective team player in the context of a multidisciplinary team.

Ability to work under pressure.

Health/safety and risk awareness.

Other requirements

Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning.

Be prepared to work evenings & weekends when required.

Ability to travel efficiently between sites.

Must have access to a car and hold a current EU/Irish driving licence.

Salary

Remuneration will be at the Staff Officer Scale of the national wage scales. The present minimum scale is €52,761 increasing to €63,109 per annum (including LSIs) with annual increments subject to satisfactory performance via PMDS. The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.