Community Engagement Lead - Act Now

Benefits: 25 days annual leave (pro-rata) plus additional Christmas - New Year closure, 5% contributory pension following completion of 6 month probation period, monthly working from home allowance.
Reports to: Executive Director, Act Now
Role based in: Belfast area, working remotely. Some travel within the island of Ireland may be required.
Duration: 3 years, with extension subject to funding and to a six months probationary period.

Why this role is important – and why you’ll make a difference doing it: Act Now is an emerging people-powered campaigning organisation for Northern Ireland. We provide everyday people with the opportunities and tools to make change on issues they care about most, from. As a community, we’ve run successful campaigns on issues like energy payments, integrated education, anti-racism, fracking, reproductive rights, corporate greenwashing and mental health protections for our young people. 

Our campaigns are not only an end in themselves. We believe that enabling as many people as possible to have a say in decision-making here is good for the health of our democracy, gives people faith that progressive change can be made here, and ultimately helps to inoculate against despair and apathy that can be preyed upon by elements pushing hate and extremism in our society.

For the last 18 months, Act Now has worked with community and activist groups in Northern Ireland to develop a roadmap to address hate and far-right activity in Northern Ireland. This role will drive that work forward, building networks, delivering and coordinating monitoring and research work, training and holding space for communities, and ensuring the needs and priorities of those impacted by hate and extremism remains at the centre of the work. 

Key Responsibilities

• Design and deliver outreach and relationship-building with communities impacted by hate and extremist activity in Northern Ireland, to ensure their expertise is centred in designing effective response strategies and preventative initiatives.
• Lead on initiatives that grow and share knowledge and understanding of hate and extremism in Northern Ireland, providing information, resources and on the ground support where needed and appropriate;
• Recruit, coordinate and liaise closely with a working group to be established to contribute expertise to support the Community Engagement Lead’s work, using their own networks and increasing the efficacy of interventions on hate and extremism;
• Undertake and maintain a monitoring log and research activities required to understand the landscape, origins, catalysts, and systemic causes behind hate and extremism activity in Northern Ireland
• Design, adapt and deliver training, workshops, resources and guides to communities directly impacted by hate and extremism, communities seeking to respond to far right activity, activist groups, allies and other parties.
• Develop and support campaigns that advance the work of Act Now, including work to tackle institutional accountability  for hate and extremism (e.g. PSNI, housing providers, government departments), disinformation, misinformation, and the role of tech companies
• Prepare accessible, evidence based communications for publication, including press releases, blogs, articles, reports;
• Lead on developing a communications strategy for Act Now’s work on hate and extremism including website, contact databases, and social media presence;
• Participate in public and media engagements where relevant and appropriate.
• Establish and operationalise risk assessments and security protocols
• Liaise with stakeholders including politicians, media, public figures, artists, trade unions locally, nationally and at international level to build alliances and coalitions that strengthen efforts to counter hate and extremism
• Design, organise and host public events to further the work of Act Now on hate and extremism.

General Responsibilities

• Externally represent Act Now in a way that supports our values and work 
• Author briefings, blogs and communications work including social media 
• Contribute to funding and board reports as required.
• Participate positively in Act Now’s team meetings, planning and reflection and evaluation sessions.
• Maintain and promote the mission of Act Now. 
• Uphold Act Now’s values when working with communities, stakeholders and colleagues. 
• Attend agreed supervision and review meetings with your line manager. 
• Contribute creatively to the future development of Act Now. 
• Identify and undertake other duties as appropriate to this role. 

To be considered for this role you need to be someone who:

• Has experience/knowledge of how extremist and far right groups operate in Northern Ireland.
• Has relevant experience in a role related to social justice, equality and/or countering far-right extremism;
• A strong track record of building relationships across a diverse range of civil society/community groups from all parts of the community in Northern Ireland
• Is deeply committed to and passionate about equality and social justice;
• Has excellent decision making and teamwork skills that foster ownership, accountability, leadership, inclusiveness and equality;
• Has strong project management experience and skills;
• Has experience with designing and delivering training tailored to a range of audiences, and leading workshops and meetings
• Is a self starter and has experience of working proactively and independently
• Is able to demonstrate strong risk management and problem solving skills; 
• Is an exceptional communicator adept at thinking through complex information and communicating simply and clearly; adapting communications to suit people from a wide range of backgrounds 
• Can work strategically in a fast moving start-up environment.
• Is a creative thinker who is constantly innovating to improve systems and output;
• Is a team player always endeavouring to be a positive force within an inclusive workplace environment;

It is also desirable that you will have:

• Experience leading social change campaigns and advocacy initiatives;
• Experience with frameworks and tools for data collection and analysis;
• Experience with start up initiatives.
• Experience in budgeting and managing funds;

Act Now is committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace and people from communities that experience discrimination and exclusion are especially encouraged to apply. We are building a healthy, collaborative and sustainable work environment with great opportunities for learning and growth.

To apply, please submit a CV and cover letter outlining your suitability for the role to Nicola Browne, Executive Director, Act Now at nicola@actnowni.org 

Applications close on 30th October 2024 

Interviews will take place on 11th/12th November by Zoom.