PROGRAMME EXECUTIVE (IRE) - SHARED EDUCATION FOR POSITIVE INNOVATION PROGRAMME

Co-operation Ireland

Co-operation Ireland is an all-island peace-building organisation. We work to build a shared and cohesive society by addressing legacy issues of conflict and facilitating contact and collaboration between people from different backgrounds across these islands. Due to recent success under the PEACEPLUS Programme we are now looking to appoint an IRE based Programme Executive for a new cross border, cross community schools project, SEPI.

This role will be based in Co-operation Ireland's Office in the Monaghan Peace Campus. This is a fixed term contract until 30th October 2027.

SEPI Background

The Shared Education for Positive Innovation programme (SEPI), funded under PEACEPLUS measure 3.1, is a transformative initiative that brings together schools – school leaders, teachers and students - from Northern Ireland, the border counties, and the wider island creating networks for relationship building and shared learning amongst students and educationalists. The programme aims to foster cross-border and cross-community collaboration amongst all target groups through a structured programme of best practice exchange, shared learning and collaborative engagement on common challenges to deliver on the ambition of the PEACEPLUS programme of a more cohesive society.

Co-operation Ireland will lead the delivery of SEPI in partnership with Catalyst, and with assistance and input from the Education Authority NI, and Léargas.

SEPI will be delivered to 500 schools over a 4-year period and incorporates 2 concurrent and complimentary elements of activity with 2 overarching objectives as follows:

Core Programme: Shared Challenges and Shared Solutions: Building Educational Networks for Peace

• Over a 4-year period, SEPI will establish and operate a dynamic, innovative Shared Education platform, facilitating continuous interaction and collaboration among a core group of 100 schools.

Transformational Schools Leadership Programme: Shared Learning and Collaboration

• Over a 4-year period, SEPI will engage with 400 schools (100 each year) in a programme of shared learning and best practice exchange for school leaders and educationalists.

Job Purpose Summary

Led by the Programme Manager, SEPI (NI), the IRE based Programme Executive will work together with a counterpart in NI and staff within Catalyst as well as a wider support team to deliver on the activities and deliverables as outlined in an agreed workplan.  Although each will lead on specific areas and bring specialisms, all members of the team will be involved with the design, planning, delivery, evaluation and reporting of all deliverables.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Programme Implementation and Management

• Coordinate collaboration and shared learning among schools, leaders, teachers, and students.
• Manage a Shared Education platform for 100 core schools, encouraging interaction and collaboration.
• Facilitate engagement with 400 additional schools through a transformational program, organising learning opportunities.

Relationship Building and Networking

• Foster relationships among schools, promoting cross-border and cross-community collaboration.
• Collaborate with partners to develop joint approaches to shared leadership issues.
• Organize conferences, workshops, and seminars for networking among educationalists and leaders.

Curriculum Development and Training

• Develop and deliver training on climate change, peace-building, and relationship building.
• Organise virtual courses to expand understanding of climate change and promote problem-solving skills.

Event Management and Coordination

• Assist in planning and executing impact days and design sprints for environmental challenges.
• Help organise end-of-year summits for students to present ideas to business leaders.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Monitor program activities and assess outcomes, collecting data for evaluation.
• Identify areas for improvement and innovation in collaborative efforts.

Partnership Development

• Collaborate with project partners to develop thematic areas and deliver training.
• Establish and maintain partnerships with schools and community organisations.

Documentation and Reporting

• Maintain accurate records of program activities and outcomes.
• Support in preparing reports for stakeholders, highlighting achievements and recommendations.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with regulations as instructed by the programme manager.
• Participate in the identification, mitigation and monitoring of financial, operational and safeguarding risks.