Summary of the role
JOB DETAILS
Title: National Safeguarding Manager
Contract Type and Duration: Three year fixed term
Job Family: Programme / Project Manager
Salary Range: €60,000 – €65,000
Reporting to: Head of Legal and Compliance (with dotted lined accountability to the Secretary General)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Irish Red Cross Society (IRC) is part of the world’s largest independent humanitarian network, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The IRC is committed to and bound by, its Fundamental Principles of Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality. The vision of the Irish Red Cross is to be a leading humanitarian organisation, providing impartial services and support to vulnerable communities both at home and abroad. Our mission is to identify and deliver humanitarian assistance to those who are most in need.
SUMMARY OF ROLE
The National Safeguarding Manager (NSM) is the staffing role in the Irish Red Cross with primary responsibility for managing and reporting concerns about children and vulnerable persons and for putting into place procedures to safeguard children and vulnerable persons in the Irish Red Cross. Covering the areas of safeguarding, Garda Vetting and protection, as well as volunteer and staff training programmes in safeguarding, the position holder works closely with the National Safeguarding Committee (NSC) and the Senior Management Team to ensure strong adherence to good safeguarding policy and practice across the organisation. This role currently has 3 direct reports.
Responsibilities of the role
ROLE RESPONSIBLILTIES
- Promote a culture of safeguarding within the Irish Red Cross.
- Mandated person for the organisation in line with relevant legislation
- Designated Liaison Person (DLP) for the organisation with responsibility for reporting to and liaising with Statutory Authorities regarding safeguarding concerns as required.
- Act as the first point of contact for all safeguarding enquiries.
- Act as the organisation’s information source and support resource to and for members of the organisation
- Ensure legislative compliance with vetting procedures and coordinate implementation of vetting related administration at national level.
- Promote awareness of the Irish Red Cross policies and procedures on child protection, Garda Vetting and safeguarding to Irish Red Cross members and staff at all levels of the organisation
- Coordinate, assist with the development of and where appropriate, deliver safeguarding training at all levels with the organisation in conjunction with the National Safeguarding Committee (NSC).
- Manage the organisation’s dedicated mobile phone for reporting safeguarding concerns in line with current policy and practice (including evening and weekend coverage as required)
- Provide regular briefings and reporting to the Senior Management Team as required.
- Liaise closely with the Chair of the NSC to ensure work of Committee is supported and progressed.
- Support the Chair of the NSC in the operation of the Committee in line with its terms of reference, ensuring the production of relevant reports, minutes and the implementation of agreed actions.
- Develop the understanding of protection in the Irish Red Cross, in line with the Movement Protection Framework
- Manage the system of record keeping which maintains confidentiality while allowing for appropriate reporting on progress and appropriate information to be passed to relevant authorities where necessary.
- Drive and contribute to the review and development / updating of safeguarding and child protection procedures, policies and practices at all levels within the organisation ensuring they remain complaint with relevant national policy, legislation and regulation, including equality and anti-discrimination legislation and observe national/international good practice principles.
- Submit any new or reviewed/updated safeguarding procedures, policies and/or practices for approval through the relevant channels
- Complete any reviews or reports needed by the NSC, Senior Management Team or Board in relation to safeguarding and associated work across all levels of the organisation.
- Work actively towards the achievement of the Irish Red Cross goals.
- Undertake training and development as required
- Abide by and uphold the Principles of the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.
- Undertake any other reasonable work-related duties and responsibilities assigned by the relevant line manager that are consistent with the nature of the job and level of responsibility.
Requirements
ROLE REQUIREMENTS
Essential Criteria
- At least 3 years’ experience (paid or voluntary) of working in a similar role with Safeguarding and Child Protection responsibilities.
- A high level of proven organisational ability and administrative and IT skills
- Excellent communication/presentation skills (verbal and written)
- Strong teamworking skills
- Deep understanding of safeguarding/child protection procedures and policies including legislative requirements as applicable in Ireland
- Hold educational qualifications relevant to the role
- Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise with a range of personnel (such as young people, volunteers & parents).
- Ability to be self-motivated, resourceful, work on own initiative in a flexible and co- operative manner.
- Ability to work out of normal office hours when required.
- The post holder will be required to have a clean drivers licence and the appointment will be subject to Garda vetting.
- Ability to respect confidentiality of service users at all times and remain responsive to their specific needs, adhering to the IRC confidentiality policy.
- Experience in line management
Desirable Criteria
- Knowledge of the Society and of its mission and values
- Experience working with volunteers
- Experience working with voluntary committees
- Experience in designing, delivering and evaluating training programmes
KEY SKILLS
- Leadership and strong organisational skills
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, in individual and group contexts
- Empathic and pragmatic approach
- Experience of lone working and ability to use own initiative
- Project Management skills
- Proficiency in using Microsoft Office suite
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
Placeholder
FURTHER INFORMATION
The Irish Red Cross is an equal opportunities employer. We value diversity and aspire to reflect this in our workforce. We welcome applications for people from all sections of the community, irrespective of gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race or membership of the Traveller community.
This role requires applicants to have the right to work in Ireland.
The Irish Red Cross offers the following benefits in addition to salary:
- Up to 5%matching employers’ contribution to a company pension scheme
- Annual Leave of 22 days
- Closure of the office on Good Friday plus two additional ‘privilege days’ to be used at Easter and Christmas/New Year respectively.
- Death in Service benefit of four times salary
- Flexible working hours.
- Further Education / Training and learning investment programme
- Professional subscriptions (as applicable)
- Travel (bike-to-work schemes/tax-saver commuter tickets)
- A ‘hybrid working policy’ generally requiring three days a week in the office in Merrion Square, Dublin 2.
Placeholder
Shortlisting for interview will be on the basis of the essential and desirable criteria for this role. Please include a cover letter detailing your suitability for the role.
The closing date for applications is 6pm on 16th September 2026. It is expected that interviews for this role will be held the week commencing 21st September 2026. Please note that there may be a second round of interviews.