Early Childhood Ireland is the leading children’s advocacy and membership organisation.  We work in partnership with our members to achieve quality experiences for every child in Early Years and School Age care settings. We advocate for an effective and inclusive Early Years and School Age care system which values, supports, and invests in childhood, children and services.

The role of the Funding Specialist is an exciting opportunity for a candidate, who is keen to progress their fundraising career in a newly formed and growing team, while also creating a positive change in the lives of children in early years settings in Ireland, in line with Early Childhood Ireland’s Strategic Plan and Fundraising Strategy.

POSITION: Funding Specialist

REPORTS TO: Director of Funding and Partnerships

CONTRACT: Full-time, permanent

LOCATION: The organisation is operating on a hybrid basis for the foreseeable future. Our national office is based at Tallaght in south Dublin.

Job Purpose:
In line with Early Childhood Ireland’s Strategic Plan 2021-2026, the Funding

Specialist will support the implementation of the Funding Strategy, with the aim of growing and diversifying funding from existing and new institutional and corporate donors. The role will report to the Director of Funding and Partnerships and will be based in the Funding and Partnership Team. The role will require collaboration with all other teams across the organisation and would best suit someone with technical fundraising skills, as well as teamwork, communication, and project management skills.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

• Support the growth and diversification of Early Childhood Ireland’s institutional and corporate funding portfolio in line with the Funding Strategy and Strategic Plan.
• Lead the cross-organisational Funding Working Group.  
• Work closely with all Early Childhood Ireland teams to submit successful corporate pitches and funding applications, including consortia applications and bids for commercial contracts, in line with Early Childhood Ireland’s Strategic Plan 2021-2026 and Funding Strategy.
• Participate in and lead, where appropriate, organisational projects using a Project Management approach within Early Childhood Ireland’s matrix structure.

Institutional and Corporate Funding:

• Continuously gather institutional and corporate funding intelligence and share it with the Director of Funding and Partnership and the Funding Working Group.
• Identify, on a continuous basis, new corporate and institutional funders that are a fit for Early Childhood Ireland and keep abreast of funding opportunities.
• Cultivate new relationships and leverage existing corporate and institutional funders.
• Continuously update the funding pipeline.
• Lead or support, where appropriate, the development of successful corporate pitches and institutional funding applications, consistent with the Early Childhood Ireland’s Funding Strategy and Strategic Plan, as well as funder requirements.
• Analyse the compliance requirements of each new funding agreement and share compliance guidelines with relevant colleagues implementing the grant/contract.
• Maintain a funding reporting schedule.
• Gather and disseminate key learnings from funding relationships and applications.

Other Duties:

• Work collaboratively with all teams in Early Childhood Ireland within our matrix structure, employing a Project Management approach, where appropriate.
• Other duties as deemed appropriate by your Line Manager.

The successful candidate will have:

Essential

• A commitment to Fundraising, with the aim of creating a positive change in the lives of children in early years settings in Ireland, in line with Early Childhood Ireland’s Strategic Plan and Fundraising Strategy.
• A minimum of 3 years of work experience in fundraising from institutional and/or corporate funders.
• A relevant 3rd level qualification.
• Proven track record of making successful pitches and applications to corporate and institutional funders.
• Excellent proposal writing skills, including budget development.
• Excellent ability to exercise initiative and deliver results.
• Excellent Team Working and Project Management skills.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and negotiation skills.
• Excellent time management skills and a track record of meeting deadlines.
• An ability to be creative, innovative, and resourceful.

Desirable

• A Project Management qualification.
• A proven track record of securing consortium funding and commercial contracts.
• Experience of delivering successful Fundraising campaigns like Early Childhood Ireland’s National Pyjama Day.

Terms and Conditions

• Employer: Early Childhood Ireland
• Location: Hybrid – working remotely and at our national office – the combination will be agreed with the successful candidate.
• Contract type: This is a full-time post reporting to the Director of Funding and Partnerships.The contract is permanent, subject to funding, and the probationary period is six months.
• Salary: A salary in the range €44,000 - €52,000 is offered.  The agreed salary will be  commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• Holiday entitlement: 25 days
• Hours of Work:  35-hour working week.  The position will also require participation in some meetings/events in the evenings and at weekends. 

Benefits available to staff upon successful completion of probation:

• Defined contribution pension scheme offering 6% to 10% employer contribution based on service, plus employee contribution (membership of pension scheme is mandatory upon completion of probation)
• Access to Health Plan – group discount for the Hospital Saturday Fund (HSF) with employers’ contribution
• Death in service benefit
• Professional fees and training opportunities as applicable
• AA insurance cover if travel is required for the role
• Additional annual leave
• Paid maternity, parents’, paternity, and adoptive leave after 2 years’ service
• Paid sick leave
• Educational assistance
• 2 privilege days per annum, Good Friday, and Christmas Eve

Application Process
To apply, please submit an up-to-date CV and letter of application via email for the attention of Joanne Dunne to recruitment@earlychildhoodireland.ie, with the subject line: Application for Funding Specialist by Monday, 20 February 2023. The cover letter should address the essential requirements and convey the applicant’s understanding of the role. The CV should be no more than three pages long. Shortlisting of candidates may apply and will be based on the Job Description and Person Specification.  Candidates may be asked for further information or to undertake other tasks to assist in the assessment process. Early Childhood Ireland strives to be an Equal Opportunities Employer.