Social Innovation Manager

1. 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/ 

2. The Opportunity  

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a passionate and enthusiastic professional to join our Development and Member Services team.  

3.  The Role 

Position: Social Innovation Manager 

Location: Dublin 8, hybrid, with some regional travel required  

The Wheel operates a hybrid work environment, with a blend of remote and in-person work in our Dublin Office. This role requires frequent presence in Dublin for meetings and events, and travel to different locations within Ireland and internationally on occasion. Note that only candidates based in and authorized to work in Ireland will be considered.  

Reporting to: Director of Development and Member Services  

ROLE PURPOSE 

The Wheel is recruiting a Social Innovation Manager to lead a major new national initiative establishing Ireland’s first Social Innovation Hub. The Hub will act as a central resource for social innovators, offering training, guidance, and access to tools and funding opportunities, including a forthcoming Government social innovation fund.  

This role will have a strong focus on national dissemination, awareness-raising, and communications coordination. The Social Innovation Manager will lead the development and delivery of a multi-partner communications strategy, oversee storytelling and digital content creation, manage social media and media relations, and monitor and report on communications impact.  

Alongside this, the postholder will provide project management and partnership coordination, ensuring the development of a bespoke website for the Hub, maintaining strong collaboration across the consortium, and contributing to programme materials, reporting, stakeholder engagement, and wider project workstreams.  

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS 

The post holder will work closely with the Director of Development and Member Services, and colleagues within the wider team. The post holder will frequently work across teams in The Wheel. 

MAIN RESPONSIBLITIES AND DUTIES 

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

Leadership of the Social Innovation Hub  

• In collaboration with project partners, develop a detailed project implementation plan for The Wheel, including timelines, risks, opportunities, and communications milestones.  

• Lead and oversee delivery of The Wheel’s work on the project, including the development of a bespoke website and the implementation of a comprehensive branding, communications, and national dissemination strategy for the Social Innovation Hub.  

• Coordinate a multi-partner communications approach by working closely with internal teams, consortium partners, and external stakeholders to ensure consistent messaging, information flow, and alignment across all channels.  

• Develop storytelling content and oversee the creation of communications materials to raise awareness of social innovation, including digital content, social media activity, and media engagement where required.  

• Monitor project progress and contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities, including reporting on communications impact and other key metrics to project coordinators and The Wheel’s Senior Management Team.  

• Manage project budgets and financial records in collaboration with the Director of Finance, ensuring accurate and timely reporting to project coordinators.  

• Lead the development and coordination of complementary social innovation initiatives within The Wheel, ensuring they enhance and add value to the New Solutions Innovation Hub. This includes active participation in relevant social innovation networks and strategic engagement to maximise their benefit.  

• Provide guidance and support to The Wheel’s members and the broader community sector by responding to queries related to New Solutions and social innovation, helping stakeholders navigate opportunities, resources, and best practices.  

• Lead The Wheel’s Social Enterprise Member Network and ensure strong alignment and collaboration with the New Solutions Innovation Hub.  

• Work with The Wheel’s business development team to capture learning, maximise strategic value, and inform the development of future social innovation initiatives.  

• Build positive working relationships with project coordinators and stakeholders, representing The Wheel at meetings and events and undertaking travel as required.  

• Act as a representative for The Wheel on matters related to the Social Innovation Hub, ensuring clear, consistent, and compelling messaging in all external communications.  

• Take responsibility for ensuring the delivery of project KPIs, including communications and dissemination targets, and maximise alignment with The Wheel’s wider strategic priorities.  

• Provide additional communications and campaigning support across the organisation as reasonably required.  

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 Development and Member Services  

PERSON SPECIFICATION 

 Essential criteria 

• At least three years’ experience and/or a qualification in the area of programme management or social innovation 

• A track record of successfully implementing communications plans 

• An understanding of the social innovation sector in Ireland.   

• 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    

Desirable criteria   

• Hands on experience of creative storytelling across various mediums  

• Demonstrated track record of effective campaigning  

• Communications expertise and experience  

• Experience of overseeing the development of complex website projects    

• Experience of group facilitation and coordinating networks 

• Experience of using project management software  

• Experience of working with external stakeholders and managing relationships with project part  

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.  

4. 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.  

5. 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 mid quartile of that band (€53k-€57k) depending on the knowledge and experience of the person who occupies it, and will be decided accordingly.  

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).  

• Annual Leave of 25 days 

• Closure of the office on Good Friday, Christmas Eve and the entire 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.