LAES Programme & Organisational Impact Project Leader

ABOUT OUR ORGANISATION

Southside Partnership DLR CLG is a local development company working towards an inclusive
and just society where each person is encouraged and enabled to reach their full potential and
live with dignity in active, healthy, sustainable and safe communities.
We provide a comprehensive range of support and services to individuals, families and
communities through several funded programmes, including:
● SICAP (Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme) 2024–2028
● Tusla and HSE funded family and wellbeing programmes
● Dept Of Social Protection funds our LAES, Tús and CE (Community Employment)
Employment Programmes
● Changing Lives DLR philanthropic partnership initiatives

OUR MISSION
Through collaboration, advocacy, and responsive, person-centred programmes, we work with
and within the communities of Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown to advance social, cultural and
economic inclusion, strengthen local resilience, and create pathways for people to realise their
potential.

OUR VISION
A society where every person feels seen, heard and valued – supported to thrive in inclusive,
resilient, sustainable communities, full of possibility.

VALUES IN ACTION
At Southside Partnership, our work is guided by four core values:
● Integrity & Accountability – We act with honesty, reliability, and professionalism, taking
responsibility for our actions and ensuring our work is consistent, trustworthy, and
ethical.
● Community & Inclusion – We believe in the power of community and strive to foster
diverse, inclusive, and cooperative spaces that ensure fairness, collaboration, and a
shared sense of belonging.
● Growth & Learning Mindset – We are committed to continuous improvement, open
mindedness, and innovative thinking, embracing curiosity, ambition, and creativity to
adapt and lead in a changing world.
● Compassion & Wellbeing – We lead with empathy and care, nurturing environments
where people feel valued, supported, and connected, promoting balance, health, and
human dignity.

Role Summary
The LAES Programme & Organisational Impact Project Leader has a dual role within
Southside Partnership DLR, combining responsibility for the effective leadership and
coordination of the Local Area Employment Service (LAES) with organisation-wide
responsibility for impact reporting, communications, research and evidence-based content
development.
The role leads and coordinates the day-to-day operation of LAES, supporting and leading the
Case Officer and administration team to deliver a high-quality, person-centred employment
service in accordance with Department of Social Protection contractual requirements. A key
focus is ensuring that clients are engaged within required timelines, caseloads are
effectively managed, contractual activity is accurately recorded and the programme
achieves the levels of activity and outcomes required to maintain programme income.
The postholder will provide supportive and empathetic people leadership, establishing clear
expectations while creating an environment in which staff are treated with respect,
supported to perform effectively and able to raise challenges. The role requires the
confidence to address performance or operational issues constructively and to manage
difficult conversations where required.
Alongside the LAES remit, the postholder will lead Southside Partnership’s organisational
impact reporting and coordinate external communications content. This includes leading the
Annual Impact Report, gathering and synthesising information from across programmes,
producing high-quality written content, developing impact stories and case studies,
coordinating newsletters and communications content, and supporting the organisation to
communicate its work and impact clearly and consistently.
The role requires an individual who is exceptionally organised, an accomplished writer and
communicator, comfortable working with data and evidence, and capable of coordinating
multiple people, deadlines and information sources.

LAES Programme – Key Responsibilities
Programme Leadership, Coordination & Contract Compliance
Purpose: Ensure the effective day-to-day coordination of LAES and delivery in accordance
with Department of Social Protection contractual requirements.
● Coordinate the day-to-day operation of the LAES programme.
● Maintain a thorough understanding of LAES contractual requirements, service
guidelines, KPIs and reporting requirements.
● Ensure clients referred to LAES are contacted and engaged within required
contractual timelines.
● Ensure required client meetings, follow-up activity and Personal Progression Plans
are completed and recorded appropriately.
● Ensure employment, training, self-employment and other client progression
outcomes are accurately captured.
● Ensure appropriate follow-up of employment outcomes at required contractual
milestones.
● Monitor programme activity to ensure contractual conditions are being met and
sufficient activity is maintained to support programme income.
● Identify emerging compliance, caseload or performance issues and take appropriate
action.
● Ensure required programme administration, correspondence and documentation are
completed accurately and on time.
● Undertake direct client casework and assume responsibility for a caseload where
required to maintain service continuity, for example during a staffing vacancy,
absence or other period of operational pressure. The postholder would not
ordinarily maintain an ongoing client caseload.
● Authorise limited programme and discretionary client expenditure within agreed
organisational and programme parameters.
● Maintain effective communication with the CEO regarding programme performance,
risks, emerging issues and contractual requirements.
● Prepare for and participate in external LAES performance and contract meetings as
required.
● Support preparation for procurement/tender processes and any subsequent
transition in LAES arrangements as required.
People Leadership & Team Development
Purpose: Provide supportive, fair and effective leadership to the LAES team, enabling staff
to deliver a high-quality service and meet programme requirements.
● Provide day-to-day leadership to seven Case Officers and two CE Administration
Assistants.
● Establish clear roles, expectations and priorities for team members.
● Allocate and rebalance Case Officer caseloads having regard to referrals, capacity
and service requirements.
● Maintain regular communication and structured check-ins with team members.
● Support staff to understand and meet contractual requirements and service
standards.

● Monitor individual and team activity and address emerging performance concerns
promptly and constructively.
● Introduce and maintain appropriate measures for monitoring caseload activity, client
engagement, contractual compliance and relevant outcomes.
● Provide coaching, guidance and practical support to staff.
● Identify training and development requirements and support appropriate
development.
● Conduct performance reviews in accordance with organisational processes.
● Address performance, attendance, conduct or other people issues appropriately and
in conjunction with organisational HR support where required.
● Approach people leadership with empathy, fairness and respect while maintaining
appropriate accountability.
● Handle difficult conversations sensitively and constructively and support the deescalation of challenging situations.
● Promote a collaborative, inclusive and client-focused team environment.
● Participate in the recruitment, induction and ongoing development of LAES team
members as required.

Caseload, Performance & Income Monitoring
Purpose: Maintain effective oversight of LAES activity and performance, recognising the
direct relationship between service activity, contractual compliance and organisational
income.
● Monitor referral volumes, client activation, caseloads, client engagement and
programme outcomes.
● Maintain appropriate systems for tracking individual and team activity and
performance.
● Ensure Case Officers are meeting clients and completing required activity within
contractual timelines.
● Monitor client engagement and identify barriers to clients engaging effectively with
the programme.
● Review performance information regularly with the team and individual Case
Officers.
● Identify emerging gaps or risks and agree appropriate corrective action.
● Monitor programme activity against the level required to generate sufficient income
to meet programme salary and administration costs.
● Provide the CEO and Finance team with reliable information on anticipated
programme activity and associated income.
● Work with Finance to understand actual programme income against expected
activity.
● Maintain awareness of the relationship between contractual milestones, client
outcomes and programme income.
● Support continuous improvement in programme performance without
compromising the quality or person-centred nature of the service.

Client Service & Quality
Purpose: Ensure LAES provides a consistent, respectful and effective service to clients.

● Promote a person-centred, empathetic and respectful approach to client
engagement.
● Ensure Case Officers work in accordance with applicable CPES/Department
guidelines and organisational policies.
● Support consistent implementation of formal programme guidance and processes.
● Monitor the quality and completeness of client records and programme
documentation.
● Ensure Personal Progression Plans and other required documentation are completed
and updated appropriately.
● Identify inconsistent practice or compliance gaps and work with staff to address
them.
● Support appropriate handling of client feedback and complaints.
● Ensure confidentiality, GDPR requirements and appropriate professional boundaries
are maintained.
● Promote continuous learning and service improvement based on client experience,
programme data and team feedback.
● Contribute to organisational quality initiatives, including relevant quality
accreditation processes where appropriate.

Systems, Data & Contractual Reporting
Purpose: Ensure accurate and timely programme information supports contractual
compliance, operational oversight and decision-making.
● Maintain oversight of the effective use of BOMI and associated programme tracking
systems.
● Ensure required client and programme information is recorded accurately and on
time.
● Maintain appropriate supplementary tracking and management information where
required.
● Maintain overall responsibility for the quality and accuracy of LAES programme data
and contractual reporting.
● Monitor the completeness and accuracy of client records.
● Produce and review programme information on referrals, client engagement,
caseloads, outcomes and contractual milestones.
● Maintain appropriate records and audit trails.
● Ensure information is handled in accordance with GDPR and Southside Partnership’s
data-protection requirements.
● Identify opportunities to improve the efficiency and reliability of programme
administration, tracking and reporting.

Stakeholder & Service Relationships
Purpose: Maintain effective relationships that support LAES delivery and client progression.
● Maintain constructive working relationships with relevant Department of Social
Protection representatives.
● Participate in LAES contract, service and performance meetings as required.
● Respond to programme queries and information requirements.

● Develop effective working relationships with relevant employment, education,
training, statutory and community organisations.
● Maintain appropriate referral pathways for LAES clients.
● Work collaboratively with the Enterprise & Employment Programme Manager and
other Southside Partnership colleagues.
● Support connections between LAES clients and other appropriate Southside
Partnership services.
● Maintain awareness of labour-market and policy developments relevant to LAES
clients and service delivery.

Organisational Impact – Key Responsibilities
Impact Reporting & Organisational Reporting
Purpose: Strengthen Southside Partnership’s ability to demonstrate and communicate its
collective impact.
● Lead the preparation and production of Southside Partnership’s Annual Impact
Report.
● Coordinate the gathering of programme outputs, outcomes, achievements and
impact information from across the organisation.
● Develop and maintain consistent internal reporting templates and processes.
● Work with programme leads and managers to improve the quality and consistency
of reporting inputs.
● Consolidate information from multiple programmes into coherent organisation-wide
reporting.
● Produce clear, accessible impact reports, summaries and briefing material.
● Prepare structured written updates for senior management and Board use as
required.
● Support the preparation of CEO reporting briefs and packs summarising progress,
outcomes and emerging issues.
● Ensure impact reporting combines appropriate quantitative evidence with
qualitative insight and community experience.
● Develop impact stories and case studies that demonstrate the outcomes of
Southside Partnership’s work.
● Identify opportunities to improve how Southside Partnership captures, evaluates
and communicates its overall impact.

Communications & Impact-Led Content
Purpose: Coordinate clear, consistent and accessible communication of Southside
Partnership’s work and impact.
● Coordinate external communications content across programmes and services.
● Gather information from teams and translate programme activity, outcomes and
evidence into engaging and accessible external content.
● Develop and coordinate organisational newsletters.
● Maintain a forward communications and content plan in collaboration with
management and programme teams.
● Draft and coordinate appropriate social media content.

● Develop impact-led stories, case studies, key messages and other organisational
content.
● Coordinate communications relating to significant events, launches, announcements
and programme milestones.
● Edit and strengthen external-facing written material produced across the
organisation where appropriate.
● Ensure communications are accurate, accessible and consistent with Southside
Partnership’s priorities and values.
● Ensure appropriate consideration of GDPR, confidentiality, consent and respectful
representation of programme participants and communities.
● Attend relevant LCDN meetings as Southside Partnership’s communications
representative.
● Liaise with colleagues responsible for technical website and IT functions where
required.

Funding & Organisational Content
Purpose: Maintain high-quality organisational content and evidence that can support
funding applications and other organisational requirements.
● Develop and maintain accurate, high-quality organisational information that can be
adapted for funding applications.
● Develop and maintain organisational impact statements, evidence of need,
programme descriptions and other reusable written content.
● Work with programme leads and managers to gather appropriate evidence and
information.
● Draw on organisational impact data, research and community insight to strengthen
funding content.
● Support colleagues preparing funding applications by providing relevant
organisational content, evidence and impact information.
● Maintain an accessible bank of current organisational information and content for
appropriate internal use.

Research, Data Analysis & Community Insight
Purpose: Provide evidence and insight to support organisational planning, programme
development and communication of impact.
● Analyse relevant organisational and external data.
● Develop and update community and socio-economic profiles using CSO and other
appropriate data sources.
● Identify demographic, social and economic trends and emerging community needs
relevant to Southside Partnership’s work.
● Produce research summaries, data insights and briefing material as required.
● Translate data and research into clear, accessible written information for
organisational use.
● Contribute evidence and insight to organisational planning and strategic discussions.
● Identify opportunities to strengthen the evidence base supporting Southside
Partnership’s programmes, funding applications and communications.

Essential Qualifications, Skills & Experience
● Relevant third-level qualification and/or substantial relevant professional experience
in community development, programme delivery, employment services,
communications, research, social sciences or a related field.
● Experience coordinating or leading a client-facing programme, service or comparable
operation.
● Experience supporting, supervising or leading staff.
● Ability to undertake direct client casework and support clients experiencing barriers
to employment where operationally required.
● Strong organisational and project coordination skills, with demonstrated ability to
manage multiple priorities, information streams and deadlines.
● Excellent written communication skills and demonstrated ability to produce clear,
high-quality professional content for different audiences.
● Experience producing reports, briefings, organisational content or similar written
material.
● Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
● Ability to interpret data and translate quantitative and qualitative information into
clear insights and written outputs.
● Ability to monitor programme activity, performance and compliance requirements.
● Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
● Ability to build constructive relationships with colleagues, clients and external
stakeholders.
● Ability to provide supportive people leadership while maintaining appropriate
expectations and accountability.
● Confidence in managing difficult conversations and resolving or de-escalating
challenging situations.
● Strong IT capability, including confidence working with data, spreadsheets, reporting
systems and Microsoft Office applications.
● Understanding of GDPR, confidentiality and appropriate information management.
● Commitment to equality, inclusion and person-centred service delivery.

Desirable Qualifications, Skills & Experience
● Experience in community development, local development or the community and
voluntary sector.
● Experience of employment services or programmes supporting people experiencing
barriers to employment.
● Knowledge or experience of LAES or another Department of Social Protectionfunded service.
● Experience operating within a contractually driven or outcomes-based service.
● Experience producing impact reports, annual reports or similar organisation-wide
publications.
● Experience developing communications content, newsletters, case studies or social
media material.
● Experience undertaking research or analysing socio-economic/community data.
● Experience using CSO or other public data sources.
● Experience contributing evidence or written content to funding applications.
● Experience working with BOMI or comparable case-management systems.
● Experience working across multiple programmes or teams to gather and consolidate
information.

Core Competencies & Personal Attributes
● Exceptional organisation and attention to detail.
● Strong writing and editing capability.
● Empathy and emotional intelligence.
● Clear and confident communication.
● Supportive and respectful people leadership.
● Ability to establish expectations and maintain accountability.
● Flexibility and adaptability.
● Sound judgement and practical problem-solving.
● Ability to have difficult conversations constructively.
● Conflict-management and de-escalation skills.
● Analytical thinking and confidence working with evidence and data.
● Ability to turn complex information into clear and accessible content.
● Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
● Collaborative working style.
● Initiative and personal accountability.
● Commitment to high-quality, person-centred services.
● Commitment to equality, inclusion and respectful representation of communities.
Working Conditions
● Full-time role, normally 35 hours per week.
● Based within Southside Partnership DLR, with the primary work location to be
confirmed.
● Travel within Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and the wider Dublin area may be required.
● The role involves regular interaction with LAES clients and staff, Department of Social
Protection representatives, community and statutory partners, programme teams
and other external stakeholders.
● Workload will fluctuate in response to LAES contractual deadlines, referrals,
organisational reporting cycles and communications requirements.
● The postholder will have access to sensitive client, employee and organisational
information and must exercise appropriate confidentiality and professional
discretion.

Additional Duties
This role profile sets out the principal responsibilities of the post but is not intended to be
exhaustive. The postholder may be required to undertake other duties consistent with the
level, scope and purpose of the role and to support the effective operation of Southside
Partnership DLR.
Application process
To apply for this position, please submit your CV and a Cover letter outlining why you
believe you are suitable for this role by email to HumanResources@sspship.ie before
close of business on 5 pm Friday 2 October, 2026.

Please include “LAES Programme & Organisational Impact Project Leader” as the email
subject for your application.
Alternatively, please apply online through the link provided on the Job Advertisement
posted on Indeed.
Please note that referees will not be contacted until offer stage and not without your prior
permission.
Please note that:
● Southside Partnership DLR CLG. is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
● Southside Partnership DLR CLG. does not require the assistance of recruitment agencies.
● No late applications will be accepted, and canvassing will lead to disqualification.
● Any offer will be subject to satisfactory references and Garda vetting as appropriate.
● All applicant data will be treated securely as per GDPR and the Data Protection Acts.