Summary of the role
ABOUT THE ASSIGNMENT
Dublin City Volunteer Centre (DCVC) is looking for an experienced external facilitator to design and lead a one-day retreat for our team of 10 staff. We want to strengthen our working environment, teamwork and collaboration, and to move from a mainly task-based approach to performance towards an objective- and results-based one, where everyone is clear on priorities, outcomes, accountability, and how their work contributes to our wider goals. This is not a formal performance-management training: objective-based working should be woven naturally into reflection on how we work together.
WHAT WE WANT FROM THE RETREAT
By the end of the assignment, we want our team to have:
- a clearer shared understanding of how we work together, with stronger communication, trust and collaboration;
- greater clarity on roles, priorities, organisational objectives and accountability;
- practical improvements to internal communication, coordination and teamwork; and
- a small number of realistic, agreed actions to follow up after the retreat.
Responsibilities of the role
- Consult: meet DCVC management and consult staff (e.g. confidential interviews, a questionnaire or small-group discussions) to identify needs and key themes, keeping individual input confidential.
- Design: develop the retreat objectives, outcomes and agenda from the consultation findings, using participatory activities clearly linked to how the team works.
- Facilitate: lead the full day in an inclusive, constructive way, handling different perspectives sensitively and helping the team agree practical actions.
- Report: provide a short post-retreat summary of key themes, agreed actions and recommendations by 13 November 2026.
Requirements
- Proven experience facilitating staff retreats, team development or organisational development, including assessing needs before designing a process.
- Strong participatory facilitation skills, the ability to handle sensitive discussions impartially, and an understanding of team dynamics, workplace culture and results-based performance.
- Experience with charities, NGOs or community organisations. Experience in the Irish community and voluntary sector is an advantage.
- Availability to carry out consultation and design between mid-October and early November 2026.
Placeholder
Dublin City Volunteer Centre (DCVC) is the local volunteer centre for Dublin City. Our mission is to address social issues and strengthen quality of life through the development and support of quality volunteering. We connect people with volunteering roles that suit them, including short-term and once-off opportunities through our Community Volunteers programme. We also support community and voluntary organisations to build strong volunteer programmes through recruitment support, training in volunteer management, policy and safeguarding guidance, and Garda vetting. Our events and networking programme brings together volunteers and the organisations that rely on them across the city.
Placeholder
Please send the following by email:
- a short expression of interest setting out your understanding of the assignment and your proposed approach, including the pre-retreat consultation;
- your CV or professional profile, with examples of similar assignments;
- a proposed work plan and timeline, stating the number of days for each activity; and
- a financial proposal of no more than €2,000 (all-inclusive), showing your daily rate and number of days.
A detailed retreat agenda is not needed at this stage. Shortlisted applicants may be invited to a brief discussion.
Deadline: 10 October 2026 | Apply to: [email protected]