Job Description
Job Title: Solidarity and Capacity Development Coordinator
Location: 12 Parliament Street, Dublin 2/hybrid option available.
Reports to: Programme Manager
Type of Contract: Part-Time (4 days per week) Permanent
Probation: 6 Months
Salary (5-day basis): €30,000 – €45,000 full-time equivalent plus three long service increments to a maximum of €49,500
Annual Leave: 24 days – pro rata
Company Leave Days: 3 days
Pension: After 9 months of service, a matched contribution up to 6% of gross salary
Application: Please send a copy of your CV and a letter (no more than 1 page) outlining why you’re interested in this role and how your skills, experience and qualifications would relate and contribute to it. These should be emailed to recruitment@comhlamh.org by the closing date of Wednesday, May 31st 2023.
We will contact shortlisted candidates by June 2nd, with an invitation to join for an interview on Thursday, June 8th 2023. Interviews will be held online.
WHO WE ARE
Comhlámh, the Irish Association of Development Workers and Volunteers, supports solidarity-based engagement on the most pressing issues of our time. We are a membership organisation with 48 years’ experience of supporting people and organisations to mobilise for global justice. All Comhlámh’s work is underpinned by a commitment to Global Citizenship Education (GCE), which deepens understanding of the structural causes of inequality, unsustainability, as well as the connections between local and global challenges.
HOW WE WORK
Comhlámh believes that transformational change can emerge from providing spaces where people can work in solidarity, bringing attention to our shared humanity and interdependence in ways that can enable us to move towards a world beyond injustice. All areas of our work are increasingly connected, particularly with regard to deepening understanding of the structural causes of inequality, injustice, and unsustainability. Comhlámh prioritises working collaboratively as a team, actively seeking synergies both within our work and with the work of others.
Comhlámh as an organisation seeks to be the change it is trying to bring about. We work to bring our values of respect, integrity, solidarity, and ecological sustainability into all areas of our engagement. We commit to looking honestly at ourselves, our policies, and practices, identifying where and how we need to change and then making those changes. We recognise this work is ongoing and needs to be a collective effort: we cannot achieve change alone, and we work closely with many individuals and organisations (nationally and internationally) whose goals are aligned around transformational change.
ABOUT THIS ROLE
The Solidarity and Capacity Development Coordinator plays a central role in Comhlámh’s mission to nurture and support work for justice, locally and globally, through managing our engagement on values-led volunteering. For almost 20 years, we have collaborated with volunteer sending agencies (VSAs) to coordinate a Code of Good Practice that’s based on a vision of volunteers working in solidarity for a just, equitable and sustainable world. There are more than 30 organisations in our Code network, and we take action to collectively deepen practice and embed shared values, vision, and a commitment to reciprocal learning on solidarity-based volunteering. We communicate learning and practice from the network nationally and internationally, to contribute to campaigning, advocacy, standards, research, and education work that deepens collective efforts for transformational change.
The coordinator’s role contributes to realising Comhlámh’s Strategic Plan 2023-28 in a number of ways:
Shaping Thinking: Collaborating with national and international organisations and networks interested in volunteering, active citizenship, and development to broaden and deepen thinking and knowledge; working closely with other staff members to conceptualise new ways approaches to solidarity-based engagement; participation in strategic networking spaces, deepening key partnerships and influencing policy at national and international levels to inspire new ways of thinking and increase Comhlámh’s sphere of influence
Shaping Practice: through coordination of Comhlámh’s Code of Good Practice, supporting and encouraging volunteer sending agencies and relevant organisations to nurture transformative models of engagement that reflect the complex, interdependent and unequal world of which we are part. Building and strengthening connections within the Irish national volunteering, development and GCE sectors, to encourage values-led expressions of solidarity and global citizenship.
Shaping Action: Developing, contributing to, and leading transformative actions and campaigns that promote accountability and standards, challenge global injustice and inequality, and highlight alternatives ways of doing and being. Key themes include ecological sustainability and child-centred care reform.
ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES
Nurturing Solidarity-Based Practice in Volunteering
- In partnership with VSAs, lead the ongoing the revision and roll-out of Comhlámh’s Code of Good Practice. The Code is collectively reviewed every five years (or as needed), to reflect the ever-changing context in which VSAs are working and to make sure it remains relevant and inspirational.
- Coordinate an expert steering committee of VSA representatives to guide the development and implementation of the revised Code.
- Drawing on the review, coordinate a new Code compliance process that focuses on relationship building, capacity development, whole-of-organisation engagement, reciprocity, and tailored accompaniment for VSAs to deepen solidarity-based practice.
- Provide one-to-one supports and mentoring for VSAs to deepen solidarity-based practice, in line with the revised Code.
- Support VSAs that are not Code members to become part of the network, building strong, lasting relationships, and encouraging them to become part of the Code’s peer support community.
- Develop the Code of Good Practice Supporter network to support the promotion of values-based volunteering and expression of global solidarity with new audiences. This involves organisations that do not directly engage in international volunteering but support the Code’s aims.
Integrating a Global Citizenship Education (GCE) Approach
- With input from the Education and Outreach Coordinator and the Training and Education Coordinator, lead and support an active community of practice, through peer support and capacity building that is rooted in GCE methodologies. This includes organising tailored capacity building training with Code members, coordinating biannual peer support meetings, and convening issues-based committees to deepen knowledge and practice relating to values-led volunteering.
- Develop and deepen the recently initiated Dara Project, which supports VSAs to adopt whole-of-organisation approaches to ecological sustainability.
- Contribute to the development and delivery of GCE training and resources that support VSAs and national Volunteering Centres to nurture active global citizenship. This Coordinator will in future be the focal point for Volunteer Centres around inclusion of international volunteering placements in the national online volunteering database, I-VOL.
Deepening Solidarity-Based Networks
- Through regular online communications, meetings, and outreach visits, growing the Code’s reach and bringing new members and supporters into the network.
- Working with the Communications Coordinator to grow public awareness of Comhlámh’s role in encouraging values-led volunteering, through social media engagement and media work.
- Hosting and delivering talks, workshops and awareness raising events with sectoral partners and others with an interest in values-led international volunteering.
- Participating in, contributing to, and learning from national and international networks and working groups with the aim of shaping thinking and practice on volunteering, global citizenship, and solidarity responses. This includes groups convened by Dóchas (the Irish Association of Non-Government Development Networks) and The Irish Development Education Association (IDEA).
- Through active participation in the Forum (the international network for volunteering in development) and its working groups, facilitate knowledge sharing and learning between national and international organisations.
Research, Campaigning and Policy Work
- Lead and contribute to campaigns that promote accountability, challenge global injustice and inequality, and highlight alternatives, including the End Orphanage Care and Volunteering Campaign (see https://comhlamh.org/volunteering-and-orphanage-care/)
- In collaboration with national and international networks, educators, institutions, and groups working for local and global justice, co-create think-pieces, research, case studies, resources, and publications that generate opportunities for different ways of knowing and being. This includes think-pieces for international volunteering events, and joint research initiatives on solidarity-based engagement in global justice.
- With the Communications Coordinator, stimulate public discussion on values-led volunteering and solidarity-based action for change. This includes contributing to national and international workshops, conferences, and information events.
- Pilot innovations and share examples/case studies of emerging shifts in volunteering, drawing on national and international research and practice, to help embed a framework for transformative practice across VSAs.
Other Duties
- Respond to queries about international volunteer placements and contribute to the provision of psychosocial supports for volunteers through debriefing.
- Contribute to the conceptualisation and framing of public engagement initiatives, primarily Comhlámh’s First Wednesday series.
- Monitor and evaluate programme activities.
- Maintain records on database on a regular basis.
- Ensure that activities are managed within budget where responsibility has been delegated for specific activities and report on expenditure as required.
- Contribute towards the effective working of the team through consultation, support, and shared working.
- Input into planning, funding applications, evaluations, and reports.
- Recruit and mentor interns and student placements as required.
- Represent the organisation externally as appropriate.
- Act as designated Staff Safeguarding representative.
- Carry out such alternative duties as may be assigned by the Line Manager following consultation, from time to time.
Profile:
We have identified these criteria for this role. However, if you don’t fit all the criteria and feel strongly that this job is the right match for you, we encourage you to apply.
- Experience
- Experience working on capacity development with values-led groups, e.g., with social movements, grassroots organisations, or NGOs/civil society organisations. Experience in the Global South is welcomed.
- Project management experience with programmes that involve budgeting, donor reporting and evaluation.
- Experience of using consultative and participative approaches to build consensus and create strong, trustful working relationships.
- Experience of advocacy and campaigning work.
- Knowledge and Skills
- An understanding of global development issues and the role of values-based international volunteering.
- Knowledge of and commitment to using approaches grounded in global citizenship education to deepen personal and organisational engagement for change.
- Strong event organisation skills, with attention to designing atmosphere and participant engagement.
- Strong networking and facilitation skills, with the energy and sensitivity to support and challenge organisations in ways that can deepen their practice.
- Excellent communications and presentation skills.
- Strong research, policy, and report-writing skills.
- Personal qualities
- Demonstrated commitment to issues of equality, justice, and solidarity-based action for change, either through formal training (e.g., a degree in any relevant subject) or through participation in voluntary initiatives.
- Integrity and commitment to having an impact and creating change through your work.
- Ability to embrace difference, work professionally and engage respectfully with people with different views and lived experience.
- Good relationship-building and collaboration skills, with a talent for connecting people and ideas.
- Ability to take a ‘collective problem-solving’ approach to challenges that might arise in the course of the work or within the team.
- Discretion and respect for confidentiality.
- Ability to work in a small team and within the financial constraints of an NGO.
Comhlámh has an Equal Opportunities policy, and all employees are expected to develop an understanding of and commitment to equality and social justice.
All staff are required to adhere to: Comhlámh’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct and Comhlámh’s values.