Chief Executive Officer

1. Strategic, National and Systems Leadership

• Provide national leadership in influencing policy, legislation and public discourse to achieve systemic change in the prevention and eradication of DSGBV.
• Support the Board of Directors in developing Safe Ireland’s vision, purpose and values, and inspire the Senior Management Team and staff to deliver on them.
• Develop, resource, monitor and evaluate a strategic and operational plan to enable Safe Ireland to achieve its objectives, with due regard to the organisation’s long-term sustainability.
• Lead sector development, working across government, statutory agencies and civil society to strengthen the national response to DSGBV and to advance systems-level change.
• Ensure that Safe Ireland’s vision, mission and services remain relevant, evidence-informed and reflective of best practice in the DSGBV sector.
• Provide strong, visible leadership that builds confidence and commitment among staff, member services, and the wider Safe Ireland community.
• Lead, manage and hold to account the Senior Management Team and, through them, the wider staff team, in delivering the strategic objectives.
• Develop a strong, positive organisational culture that models Safe Ireland’s values, and through personal conduct, influence the behaviour of staff, volunteers and partners.
• Ensure a trauma-informed, survivor-centred and safeguarding-focused culture is embedded across all aspects of the organisation’s work.

2. Membership and Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with Safe Ireland’s 38 affiliated member services, understanding their needs and ensuring effective structures are in place to support them.
• Lead constructive engagement with member organisations, balancing advocacy for sector-wide priorities while respecting the autonomy and independence of affiliated services.
• Understand Safe Ireland’s different stakeholder groups, including survivors, member services, funders, statutory agencies and the public, and ensure their needs are met and their voices heard.
• Collaborate with other national and community-based organisations and statutory agencies working to address DSGBV.

3. Governance and Board Relations

• Work closely with, and report to, the Board of Directors to realise its vision of a safe Ireland for women and children.
• Ensure the Board, its sub-committees, and staff understand their respective roles, legal duties and delegated responsibilities for decision-making.
• Prepare and present the CEO Report and supporting documentation to the Board in advance of meetings, and attend all Board and relevant sub-committee meetings.
• Support the Board in reviewing its recruitment, development and succession processes to ensure the competencies required to realise Safe Ireland’s objectives are in place.
• Ensure Safe Ireland is compliant with charity law, company law, and the governance and reporting requirements of all statutory and regulatory bodies, including the Charities Regulatory Authority.

4. Financial, Risk and Resource Management

• Be responsible for the strategic leadership and financial sustainability of the organisation, ensuring resources are available to deliver its strategic goals.
• Ensure appropriate internal financial and management controls are in place and operating effectively, working closely with the Director of Operations and Financial Controller.
• Identify the major risks facing Safe Ireland and put in place appropriate strategies to manage and mitigate them.
• Ensure adequate measurement and reporting frameworks are in place so that organisational and programme performance can be monitored and reported accurately and on a timely basis, in line with best practice and legal requirements.

5. Advocacy, Fundraising and External Relations

• Drive the vision of the organisation and engage key stakeholders in the development of a national movement for social change in relation to DSGBV.
• Work strategically to attract investment and diversify income, including leading fundraising initiatives and building strong relationships with funders, donors and statutory funding bodies.
• Act as the principal spokesperson and public face of Safe Ireland, representing the organisation with government, the media, and other national and international stakeholders.
• Build effective relationships at senior levels of government, including with Cuan, Government Departments, Ministers, State agencies and other decision-making bodies, to influence public policy affecting the DSGBV sector.
• Maintain a deep and current knowledge of the DSGBV policy landscape, contributing to national policy development, including pre-budget submissions where appropriate.
• Identify how Safe Ireland can differentiate its work and ensure this is communicated clearly, consistently and compellingly across all channels.

6. People Leadership and Culture

• Provide strategic leadership and support to the Director of Operations and Senior Management Team in leading the staff team.
• Develop a high-performing management team, agreeing direction and motivating the team to achieve results.
• Champion equality, diversity and inclusion, and ensure Safe Ireland’s values are embedded in how the organisation manages and supports its people.

7. Integrity and Accountability

• Act with honesty, fairness and independence at all times.
• Identify, declare and manage any conflicts of interest or conflicts of loyalty.
• Protect and promote Safe Ireland’s reputation, and respond to stakeholder queries regarding the work and governance of the organisation.

The role holder may be required from time to time to perform other duties as deemed reasonable and necessary by the Board, and to attend training, meetings or events at other locations, with reasonable notice given.