Join the team: Education Outreach Manager
Applications for this position are now closed.
Education Outreach Manager is a new role within Children’s Books Ireland which aims to strengthen the organisation’s relationships with education stakeholders.
This includes primary and secondary schools, initial teacher education programmes, education centres, unions, representative groups, libraries, relevant Government Departments and initiatives (including Creative Schools), other charities and networks, and the media.
The ideal candidate will have experience working in the education system and will have an in-depth understanding of the key policies, curricula and stakeholders in both in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. They will be required to understand and keep abreast of current national educational priorities as they emerge.
The Education Outreach Manager will build on existing relationships with education sector partners and will create new links, growing Children’s Books Ireland’s reach and depth of engagement. They will increase the number of participants in key activities, including the Junior Juries as part of the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards, and ensure that our schools resources are widely used.
They will identify new opportunities to increase our impact in the education sector and will scope the needs of teachers and other education sector stakeholders to ensure that Children’s Books Ireland’s resources and programmes are relevant to the needs of those who encourage reading in the classroom.
The successful candidate will work on their own initiative with the ultimate aim of encouraging a positive culture of reading for enjoyment in schools, and bringing about impactful change which supports all children to develop a love of reading.
Responsibilities
- Monitor education policy and curricular developments
- Lead Children’s Books Ireland’s advocacy campaigns for sustained school library funding
- Develop new resources and campaigns to encourage reading for pleasure in schools, including the Junior Juries resource pack to support engagement with the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards shortlist
- Design and deliver training and/or information sessions to educators on relevant topics
- Work in partnership with other organisations to ensure that school-aged children have equal access to excellent books
- Attend relevant conferences and networking events island-wide
- Promote Children’s Books Ireland’s publications, activities, resources and membership to education stakeholders
- Support teachers to encourage reading in their schools, using contemporary, representative children’s books informed by Children’s Books Ireland’s publications and resources
- Support communications by making connections and identifying relevant social media accounts
- Work closely with the book-gifting team to inform the development of in-school reading promotion programmes
- Identify new funding streams which will allow Children’s Books Ireland to increase its impact in the education sector
Requirements
- Experience working in the education sector
- In-depth knowledge and understanding of the key policies, curricula and stakeholders in both in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, particularly in relation to reading, literacy and the arts
- An interest in children’s books and relevant experience in reading promotion
- Strong interpersonal skills: the ideal candidate will be friendly, professional and able to work with a wide range of partners
- Presentation skills – an ability to communicate clearly with a range of audiences
- Being a self-starter with strong organisational skills, with the capacity to prioritise and balance multiple demands in a fast-paced environment
- Excellent digital literacy, with a high level of proficiency in MS Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint/Keynote and ability to work with Dropbox, Zoom and Slack
- Ability to be work effectively as part of a small, creative and dynamic team
The following are desirable, but not essential:
- Proficiency in written and spoken Irish
- Driving licence and access to a car; the successful candidate will be required to travel frequently to events, meetings and conferences around the island of Ireland
Reporting To: Deputy CEO
Location: First floor, 17 North Great George’s Street, Dublin 1. Office location may change, but will remain in central Dublin. The successful candidate will have the choice of working fully in person or on a hybrid basis, and will be expected to work from the office at least two days a week.
Start date: As soon as possible
Contract duration: Three years, with a six month probation period, and possibility to renew thereafter.
Hours of work: 40 hours per week including 1 hour paid daily lunch break, working hours are flexible between 8 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required, for which time off in lieu can be taken in accordance with company policy.
Remuneration/benefits: €47,000 per annum. 5% matching pension contribution after initial probation period. 25 days’ annual leave. Ability to work flexibly. Mobile phone allowance of €35 per month and work from home allowance of €3.20 per day provided.
To apply: email cover letter and CV (preferably in one combined document) to recruit@childrensbooksireland.ie, with EDUCATION OUTREACH MANAGER in the subject line, before 4pm on Friday 7th July 2023. Children’s Books Ireland is committed to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our work and we welcome applications from all qualified candidates. The position will be subject to reference checks.
