About Junior Achievement Ireland

Junior Achievement Ireland (JAI) is part of a worldwide organisation, which seeks to highlight the importance of remaining in education to young people. Our purpose is to inspire young people to realise their potential by valuing their education and developing the skills and attitudes needed to shape their own future.

The Role

The Area Manager South will be part of the Junior Achievement Ireland management group and as such, will make a significant contribution to driving the organisation's growth in the region in line with the strategic priorities approved by the board. This permanent position reports to the Director of Partnerships.

The successful candidate will have responsibility for operations in the region, coordinating the work of staff assigned to the region and fundraising within the region, currently Cork and Kerry. The Area Manager is responsible for the management of existing projects and company relationships as well as attracting new corporate support, public sector support and larger scale projects.

The Person

The successful candidate will have demonstrable experience of staff management, fundraising across the private and/or public sector, and relationship management, productively engaging both internal and external stakeholders to achieve common goals. The appointed person will possess exemplary organisational and interpersonal skills and strategic planning and implementation expertise.

Key Accountabilities

New Business

• Continuous prospecting for opportunities to recruit new supporting organisations
• Prospect, draft and manage funding applications to private sector organisations and public sector agencies (with the support of the Director of Partnerships) to maximise our position as the standard-bearer in equipping young people with essential skills within entrepreneurship, STEM and financial education.
• Curate reports to funders that are well-written and well-researched to maintain our funding relationships and underpin the successful renewal of projects.
• Apply learning from trusted sources to ensure our funding proposals are well-researched and give confidence to potential funders of the benefits of investing in CSR, JAI in particular, to supporting organisations and potential funders.
• Work with all members of the management group and colleagues around the country to ensure effective cross-organisational functioning in securing meetings with potential new supporting organisations and maximising the chances of successful growth.

Member Relationship Management:

• Manage a portfolio of current supporting organisations.
• Respond to stakeholders' needs and underpin growth by maintaining strong relationships across the network, researching future trends, and ensuring our USP – the role model effect – is retained as our competitive advantage.
• Enhance partner network by increasing engagement with key stakeholders and representative groups, including management of events to promote JAI activity and raise the profile of JAI within the region.

Schools Relationship Management:

• JAI is currently working with ca. 150 primary and second level schools in the region. The Area Manager is responsible for ensuring relationships are managed successfully, maintaining and increasing programme requests.
• When required, the Area Manager will oversee new school recruitment with the team locally in line with strategic priorities and regional growth targets.

Staff Management:

• Manage the local team ensuring:
• each member is supported in their role
• the team meets on a weekly basis
• JAI's commitment to each team member's career development as outlined in our Career Development scheme is fully implemented
• Working with team members so that volunteer and activity metrics agreed with supporting organisations are achieved thus ensuring organisation wide targets are met.

Operations:

• Meet with fellow area managers regularly (currently fortnightly) to coordinate cross-team functioning ensuring targets are met and relationships with national funders are sustained.
• Contribute to the work of the Steering Group, which is charged with implementing plans for Strategy 2028 and adherence to obligations to all funders.
• The Area Manager will manage volunteer activity with a select number of key member organisations
• As part of induction process the Area Manager will manage volunteering activity with a number of companies and schools ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the business.

Benefits

Upon completion of a probationary period, this role will include the following benefits:

• Flexible hours
• Defined contribution pension scheme
• Accrued additional annual leave
• Paid sick leave
• Educational assistance
• Menopause Support Policy
• Life Assurance & Income Protection Scheme
• Generous pension contribution
• Hybrid working
• Bike to Work scheme

How to apply

Applicants should email their CV and a cover letter to Ann Butler at abutler@jai.ie by 5pm, Friday 8 May. The cover letter should address the essential requirements and convey the applicant's understanding of this role based on the job specifications listed above. Only CVs including a cover letter and sent to this email address will be considered. 

Junior Achievement Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

We do not require the support of recruitment agencies at this time.