About The Wheel 

The Wheel is Ireland’s national association of community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises. We are a registered charity in Ireland and are unique in our role as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for anything related to the charity and non-profit sector.

‘Our Vision is a thriving community and voluntary sector at the heart of a fair, just and inclusive Ireland.’

We are an authoritative and trusted voice for the sector, and we are enthusiastically committed to transparency, accountability, and the highest standards of practice and governance. Together, we work to ensure that the sector is recognised and respected, adequately resourced and appropriately regulated.

Learn more about who we are here https://www.wheel.ie

The Opportunity 

An opportunity has arisen for a suitably qualified professional to join the Policy and Research team to lead The Wheel’s engagement in, and delivery of, a cross-border project in partnership with the project lead - NICVA (Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action).

This role is part of InsightLink, a project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

InsightLink is delivered under PEACEPLUS Theme 6: Building and Embedding Partnership and Collaboration, Investment Area 6.1: Strategic Planning and Engagement.

A central component of the project is the establishment of an All-Island Alliance comprising up to 50 
organisations representing a broad cross-section of the community and voluntary sector. The Alliance will provide a structured forum for collaboration, shared learning, and coordinated engagement. Its purpose is to strengthen cross-border relationships and ensure that a diverse range of sector perspectives informs research, policy development, and practical cooperation initiatives across the island of Ireland.

This role offers the opportunity to support and enhance all-island civil society collaboration, contribute to the development of research priorities, and help establish sustainable mechanisms for cooperation between civil society organisations and policymakers

The Role

Position: All-Island Alliance (AIA) Manager (Insightlink Project)

Location: Dublin 8 (Hybrid, with regular all-island and UK travel)
*Note that only candidates based in and authorised to work in Ireland will be considered. 

Reporting to: Director of Policy (The Wheel)

ROLE PURPOSE

The role will involve recruiting organisations to participate in the All-Island Alliance (AIA), leading and coordinating AIA events and engagement activities, and representing The Wheel on the Insightlink Steering Panel and Research Forum. The postholder will contribute to shaping research priorities, ensuring findings inform sector engagement, support the development of shared and comparable civil society research across jurisdictions, while working in close coordination with NICVA’s Project Manager to ensure aligned delivery, joint planning, and consistent implementation of InsightLink activities across jurisdictions

This role involves regular travel across Ireland, including Northern Ireland.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

The post holder will work closely with the Director of Policy at The Wheel. The project will be led by NICVA, and the post holder will collaborate closely with NICVA in this capacity. In addition, the post holder will work collaboratively with partners including the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), the Department for Communities (DfC), the Centre for Effective Services (CES), the Central Statistics Office (CSO), and Co-Operation Ireland.

MAIN RESPONSIBLITIES AND DUTIES

The responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:  

• Lead and coordinate The Wheel’s input to InsightLink activities, particularly the establishment and development of the All-Island Alliance (AIA) and its cross-border engagement programme.
• Develop and manage work plans, timelines and risk management processes to ensure delivery within agreed timescales and budgets.
• Lead the recruitment, establishment and ongoing development of the All-Island Alliance (AIA).
• Work in close collaboration with NICVA colleagues to align work plans, timelines, reporting requirements, and cross-border engagement activity.
• Ensure consistent communication and coordination between The Wheel and NICVA to support integrated delivery of InsightLink objectives.
• Contribute to joint planning and shared reporting processes as required under the PEACEPLUS funding framework.
• Co-ordinate and facilitate AIA meetings, ensuring effective governance, shared decision-making and meaningful member engagement.
• Oversee the planning and delivery of AIA cross-border collaborative events, ensuring integration with the wider InsightLink programme
• Monitor progress and contribute to reporting, evaluation and impact measurement processes.
• Contribute to shaping research priorities in collaboration with partners, ensuring research informs AIA engagement and wider sector development.
• Participate in the Sister Council Research Forum to support the development of shared methodologies and comparable civil society data across jurisdictions.
• Promote strong research standards, collaboration and capacity-building within The Wheel and across partner organisations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with NICVA, sister councils, policymakers, sector leaders and external advisors.
• Represent The Wheel at relevant cross-border meetings, events and forums.
• Build positive working relationships with project coordinators and stakeholders, representing The Wheel at meetings and events and undertaking travel as required. 
• Take responsibility for ensuring the delivery of project KPIs and maximise alignment with The Wheel’s wider strategic priorities. 

Other 

• Uphold and promote The Wheel’s values, integrity, and national role in strengthening the community and voluntary sector. 
• Participate in relevant cross-organisational teams and collaborative initiatives. 
• Undertake any other duties reasonably assigned by the Director of Policy.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

 Essential criteria

• At least five years’ experience and/or a qualification in the area of high-level programme management 
• Demonstrable experience managing complex, multi-partner or cross-jurisdictional projects from planning through to delivery, including coordination of multiple workstreams and stakeholders.
• Experience working with research, data, or evidence to inform policy, programme development or sector engagement
• Excellent organisational skills  
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and confidence to address a group
• Ability to build sustainable relationships with key individuals inside and outside of the organisation
• Highly motivated and enthusiastic team player, ability to motivate others, happy to share learning and collaborate while able to work on own initiative   
• A collaborative and diplomatic working style, with strong relationship-building skills and the ability to work constructively across organisations and jurisdictions.

Desirable criteria  

• Experience working in cross-border and/or cross-community contexts, including coordination across different jurisdictions.
• Experience engaging with government departments, public bodies, or statutory agencies.
• Experience working within or alongside the nonprofit sector.

Behavioural Competency Framework: 

The Wheel uses a Behavioural Competency Framework as a key cornerstone of its performance management processes. The priority behavioural competences identified for this role are:  

Collaborative Working: 

Co-operates with others and participates outside of own work area, seeks to understand fully the work of the organisation, willingly offers support where needed. Creates a friendly work environment where any conflicts can be resolved amicably. 

Open Communications: 

Listens attentively, speaks clearly and to the point, and responds positively to questions. Uses relevant building/linking to improve on what has been said. 

Quality: 

Pays attention to detail to produce high quality work; Is concerned with good outputs and thinks ahead to consider what is needed. Sets quality targets and aims to reach them; drives commitment to high quality work and ensures this through quality review processes.  

Adaptability: 

Understands, accepts and adapts to change quickly, finding new ways of working while continuing to be productive and effective; Responds with enthusiasm & communicates clearly.   

Leadership:  

Seek and find new approaches and options to reach organisational goals and motivate others towards those goals. 

Successfully shortlisted applicants will be provided with the Behavioural Competency Framework prior to interview.  This will form the basis of the interview. 

Key Information about this role

This is a fixed term position with The Wheel offered for two years as per the current funding. This may be extended, subject to the funding at the time. The Wheel’s offices are currently located in Dublin 8.  

This contract is for 36-hour week and salary is payable monthly in arrears. 

The Wheel both offers and expects flexibility in terms of hours and location of work for a role such as this and the remuneration and benefits package offered reflects this. 

Terms and Conditions

The pay band for Manager level posts in The Wheel is €46,098 - €62,368. We anticipate that the salary for this role will be within the lower quartile of that band.

The Wheel offers the following benefits in addition to salary

• A 6% employers' contribution to a company contributory pension scheme (subject to a 4% employee contribution). Participation in the pension is mandatory, but a lower contribution option is available. 
• Annual Leave of 25 days
• Closure of the office on Good Friday, Christmas Eve and the Christmas / New Year period which comes additional to annual leave entitlement 
• Death in Service benefit of four times salary
• Access to our Employment Assistance Programme with HSF Assist 
• Working hours 9-5:30pm Monday to Thursday and 9-4pm on Fridays
• Further Education / Training and learning investment programme
• Professional subscriptions (as applicable)
• Travel (bike-to-work schemes/tax saver commuter tickets)
• A ‘hybrid working pilot’.  Blended working will be available to all employees. Please note specific location requirements outline above.
• Travel expenses in line with our Travel and Expenses Policy
• Volunteering leave- up to 3 days per year
• Fully paid Maternity/Paternity Leave subject to service tenure requirements

A complete list of all the terms and conditions will be made available to the candidate offered the role through The Wheel’s Staff Handbook. 

Shortlisting will apply.