Published: April 15, 2025
ESF+ Social Innovation in Sport Officer | Job Description
Title: ESF+ Social Innovation in Sport Officer.
Salary: Salary in line with the Grade 5 local authority pay scale (from €51,210).
Hours: 35 hours a week. This position will require flexibility around working hours with regards to evening and/or weekend work to accommodate the service needs, for which time off in-lieu can be taken.
Annual Leave: 30 days annual leave.
Travel Expenses: Travel expenses will be reimbursed where appropriate.
Location: The post will be based mainly in the Waterford Sports Partnership (WSP) offices at the Regional Sports Centre, Waterford and occasionally in the WSP offices at the Civic Offices, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. A level of flexibility and remote working will be considered following probation.
Reports to: WSP Chief Executive Officer.
Contract type & duration: 3-year fixed term contract, subject to satisfactory completion of a 6-month probationary period.
Application: Please apply by uploading a COVER LETTER and CV HERE by 1pm Monday 12th May 2025.
Interviews: Those shortlisted will be invited to attend for interview on Friday 23rd May 2025.
Background
Every day in communities across the country, through its network of Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs), Sport Ireland helps people – irrespective of age, gender, disability, or social circumstance – to get active. The role of the ESF+ Social Innovation in Sport Officer employed within the LSPs will be to use sport and physical activity to foster social inclusion and provide education, inclusion, and personal development programmes for people at risk of social exclusion and poverty, such as ethnic minorities, youth at risk, persons with disabilities, and people from disadvantaged backgrounds throughout the country. All programmes will be developed with an innovation and user-centric focus.
This role is funded by the European Social Fund + (ESF+) Programme 2021 -2027 through Sport Ireland. The ESF+ Programme will support the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights by seeking to:
• Support access to employment for young people and underrepresented groups
• Promote skills and lifelong learning
• Tackle poverty and social exclusion
Sport and Physical Activity will be used as a mechanism to support these principles and the LSPs will be the main drivers on this project locally.
Sport Ireland published its first policy on Diversity and Inclusion in Sport in 2022, which expresses its vision for a sport sector that celebrates diversity, promotes inclusion, and is pro-active in providing opportunities for lifelong participation for everyone. The ESF+ Social Innovation in Sport Officer will work in collaboration with key local and national stakeholders to support the implementation of this policy.
Job Purpose
The ESF+ Social Innovation in Sport Officer will support the delivery of Sport Ireland’s Sport4Empowerment (S4E) programme. This will involve leading the delivery of the S4E programme with the objective of fostering active inclusion, with a view to promoting equal opportunities, non-discrimination, and active participation, and improving employability, in ESF + target groups and organisations locally. The programmes on this project will be designed, piloted, and scaled using design thinking principles.
The ESF+ Social Innovation in Sport Officer will collaborate with local partners and stakeholders to strengthen the programme’s capacity and reach. This active involvement of stakeholders will contribute to achieving the programme’s objectives and the creation of innovative sport and physical activity projects.
Responsibilities
• Lead the design, planning and delivery of the S4E programme at a local level, with a focus on building skills and confidence to foster social inclusion and engage with and maintain sport participation independently.
• Coordinate ESF+ programmes with the objective of fostering active inclusion with a view to promoting equal opportunities, non-discrimination and active participation, and improving employability in ESF + target groups locally.
• Ensure the design and delivery of the ESF+ programme aligns with European Social Fund requirements and complements existing Sport Ireland and LSP policies and plans.
• Monitor impact on programmes and support the sharing of information and replication of programmes in other LSPs.
• Provide timely, standardised data and reporting on activity and outcomes on the programmes.
• Collaborate with Sport Ireland to support the successful delivery of this project.
• Develop and support strong working relationships with other LSPs and other outside agencies and relevant stakeholders.
• Participate in regular supervision, appraisal and education as identified.
• Undertake any other relevant and related duties that may be required.
General Responsibilities
• Contribute to and assist with the preparation and implementation of the WSP Strategic Plan and annual operational plans.
• Implement WSP monitoring and evaluation processes to understand the effectiveness of activities.
• Report with regular updates to the WSP CEO, WSP Board, and Sport Ireland as required.
• Support WSP communications and prepare promotional material for various platforms and audiences on upcoming events and achievements.
• Record accurately, and in accordance with WSP`s financial policies and procedures, all relevant financial transactions and prepare timely and accurate budgets and financial reports.
• Promote best practice health and safety awareness and reporting of all incidents.
• Be flexible in approach to work and undertake any other duties that may be required within the remit of WSP.
• Work as part of/cooperate with the WSP staff team as required.
• Ensure that all activities undertaken as an officer of WSP are in line with WSP values, codes of conduct and relevant legislation.
Diversity & Inclusion
Sport Ireland and LSPs are committed to building a diverse sport sector and therefore strongly encourages applications from underrepresented groups. LSPs are committed to equality and inclusion and welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of their background. LSPs strive to be a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Essential and Desirable Skills, Qualifications and Experience
If interested in applying for the position, Please apply by uploading a COVER LETTER and CV HERE by 1pm Monday 12th May 2025
Candidates may be shortlisted based on information provided in the Cover Letter and CV.
Canvassing will disqualify any candidate from the competition process.
Those shortlisted will be invited to attend for interview in Waterford on Friday 23rd May 2025.
WSP shall require the person to whom the appointment is offered to take up the appointment as soon as possible.
Waterford Sports Partnership is an Equal Opportunities Employer
