Job Title Saolta Programme Manager
Company Development Perspectives
Department Saolta
Location The Mall, North Quay, Drogheda, Co. Louth
(Hybrid Working Arrangement Available – Minimum of 40% in person working)
Contract Type Fulltime, up to end of 2027. A probation period of six month will apply.
(Subject to Irish Aid approval and funding)
Remuneration €45,000 per annum – For 2026. An increase may be available in 2027
25 days annual leave.
Working Hours 35 Hours Per Week
Reports to CEO of Development Perspectives (as lead agency) and the Saolta Steering Group
About Saolta
Saolta is a Global Citizenship Education strategic partnership programme for the Adult and Community Education sector in Ireland between Irish Aid and a consortium of organisations.
Development Perspectives is the lead partner in the consortium, which also includes AONTAS, Concern Worldwide, Irish Rural Link and the Adult and Community Education Department of Maynooth University.
SAOLTA strategic goal:
Increased accessibility, quality and effectiveness of Global Citizenship Education within the adult and community education (ACE) sector.
Global Citizenship Education (GCE) is an approach to teaching and learning that links global and local justice issues. GCE explores the root causes of these issues and equips learners and educators to think critically, build empathy, challenge unjust global systems and take meaningful action towards a kinder, fairer and more sustainable world.
Job Purpose The Programme Manager is responsible for the leadership, management and development of the Saolta programme. Reporting to the CEO of Development Perspectives and the Saolta Steering Group, the Programme Manager provides vision and leadership for the programme, ensuring the successful delivery of its strategic objectives, annual work plans, Results Based Framework and budget, while maintaining strong accountability to Irish Aid as the programme funder.
The Programme Manager leads and manages all aspects of programme implementation, including human resources, financial oversight, monitoring and evaluation, governance, communications, resource development, and programme events, workshops and trainings. The programme manager ensures that the activities are aligned with the Irish Aid Global Citizenship Education Strategy, the Development Perspectives Strategic Plan, and emerging national and international developments in Global Citizenship Education.
A key aspect of the role is providing leadership across the ACE and GCE sectors. The Programme Manager represents Saolta, builds and sustains partnerships with Irish Aid, government departments, ACE institutes and agencies, NGOs and other strategic stakeholders, and contributes to the development of policy and practice relating to Global Citizenship Education.
The Programme Manager works closely with the Saolta Consortium, fostering collaboration across the sector while identifying opportunities for innovation, strategic partnerships and programme growth. The Programme Manager ensures that Saolta continues to evolve and respond to emerging ACE and GCE priorities.
Key Responsibilities Programme Leadership & Promotion
· Provide a public face for the Saolta programme and a strong voice for GCE in ACE both nationally and internationally.
· Collaborate with Irish Aid strategic partners and identify opportunities for joint initiatives and collective impact.
· Lead Saolta engagement in policy dialogue across the ACE and GCE sectors, contributing to curriculum reform, national policy development and strategic consultation processes.
· Provide leadership to embed quality GCE in ACE settings.
· Strive to influence policy and practice through networking, collaborative initiatives, research policy submissions, presentations and representation at events.
· Promote evidence-informed practice by fostering research, evaluation and knowledge exchange across the GCE sector.
· Provide leadership for the continued development of Saolta as an all-island programme, strengthening collaboration and partnerships across the ACE and GCE sectors in both jurisdictions.
· Champion the meaningful inclusion of Global South voices in line with Irish Aid’s
Global Citizenship Education Strategy.
Team Management & Leadership
· Lead, inspire and develop a committed and experienced team of GCE professionals.
· Nurture a shared culture of collaboration, innovation and reflective practice.
· Performance manage, mentor and develop the team of Programme Officers, Trainers, Finance Manager, and Public Engagement Manager.
· Undertake regular workplan reviews to ensure roles are aligned with agreed Job Descriptions, programme priorities and strategic objectives.
· Lead workforce planning, recruitment and succession planning for the Saolta team.
Programme Governance
· Support the ongoing development of the Consortium and identify opportunities to strengthen governance and strategic collaboration.
· Maintain effective communication and relationships with Consortium members and other governance structures.
· Report to Irish Aid, the Saolta Steering Group and Development Perspectives at agreed intervals on the ongoing delivery of programme outcomes and outputs.
· Coordinate the scheduling of regular steering group meetings (online and/or in-person), all communications with the Consortium, meetings with Irish Aid, and the preparation of all associated documentation.
Programme Delivery
· Lead delivery and continuous development of all key programme strategies, including CPD on GCE for target groups in ACE and FET sectors, the Global Passport framework, grants calls, curriculum linked resource development, among other outputs.
· Lead strategic engagement with ACE and GCE agencies, policymakers and other programme stakeholders.
· Lead and contribute to the integration of GCE actions into County Development plans.
· Lead and contribute to the ACE and GCE sector working groups where possible.
· Lead programme planning, budgeting, monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting to support continuous improvement and demonstrate programme impact.
· Lead strategic planning for future programme phases, including preparation for external evaluation and future funding cycles.
· Other tasks or duties that may arise, as directed and which are consistent with the position.
Key Relationships Internal
· The Saolta Steering Group– representatives of all consortium members
· Saolta Team: Programme Officers, Trainers, Finance Manager and Public Engagement Manager.
· CEO and staff team of Development Perspectives.
External
· Irish Aid
· Strategic relationships within GCE and ACE sectors
· GCE and ACE Bodies
Knowledge and Experience Essential:
· Degree with a postgraduate qualification (Master’s level or equivalent) in ACE, GCE, Development Education, International Development, Educational Leadership, or a related field.
· Experience in ACE, GCE, Development Education, social justice, sustainability education or a closely related field, including experience of strategic programme leadership.
· Demonstrable knowledge of the ACE sector, capacity building, ACE education policy, and current ACE priorities.
· Management experience, including strategic planning, programme leadership, people management, financial management, governance, partnership development and project delivery.
· Excellent relationship-building, influencing and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build strategic partnerships across ACE, GCE, government and civil society.
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience of preparing policy submissions, strategic reports and presentations for senior stakeholders.
Desirable:
· Experience of facilitating professional learning, strategic workshops or stakeholder consultations.
· Experience of contributing to education policy, curriculum reform and/or national consultation processes.
· Strong digital literacy, including Microsoft Office, CRM/database systems (e.g. Salesforce), and online collaboration platforms.
· Experience of applying research to inform programme development, policy and practice.
· Experience of working with Boards, Steering Groups or governance structures and representing an organisation.
Pay: From €45,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Bike to work scheme
- Flexitime
- Work from home
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Drogheda, County Louth
