Background:
Every day in communities across the country, Sport Ireland through its network of Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) 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 European Social Fund (ESF+) target groups such youth at risk, persons with disability, disadvantaged women, ethnic minorities and migrants 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 mechanism to support these principles and the Local Sport Partnerships 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 Diversity & Social Inclusion Innovation Programme for Sport. This will involve leading with the delivery of the ESF+ programmes with the objective of fostering active inclusion in sport and physical activity 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.

Duties and Responsibilities:
• Lead the design, planning and delivery of the Diversity & Social Inclusion Innovation Programme 
   for Sport at a local level with a focus on building skills and confidence to foster social inclusion in
   sport and physical activity and engage with and maintain recreational 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 Local Sports Partnership policies and
   plans.
• Monitoring Impact on programmes and supporting the sharing of information and replication of
   programmes in other Local Sports Partnerships.
• 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 Local Sports Partnerships 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.

Diversity & Inclusion:
Sport Ireland and Local Sport Partnerships are committed to building a diverse sport sector and therefore strongly encourages applications from underrepresented groups. Local Sports Partnerships are committed to equality and inclusion and welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of their background. Local Sports Partnerships strive to be a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Persons employed will be required to work in any location within the Galway County Council administrative area.
 

It is essential that each candidate, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms have;

1. A Level 8 qualification in any of the following areas:-

2. Candidates should have a minimum of 5 years relevant experience working with the target groups mentioned and stakeholder engagement.

• Further Education or Training relevant to the post in relation to physical activity, social integration/inclusion and D&I
• Experience of facilitating physical activity and sports activities with people of differing abilities and/or from underrepresented groups
• An Understanding and Experience in the delivery and/or implementation of social innovation/design of innovation programmes and use of design thinking principles
• An in-depth knowledge and understanding of the lived experience of two or more target groups.

• Knowledge of the sport and physical activity sector and policies.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook)
• Good organisational and time management skills
• An understanding of research and evaluation methods and an appreciation of research integrity and the ethical issues of carrying out research with target populations
• Effective team player in the context of a multidisciplinary team
• Ability to work under pressure
• Health/safety and risk awareness.

Further Information is available in the Candidate Information Booklet available on our website.