Director Of Services

Overview
Aware
is a national organisation providing free support, education and information services to people impacted by anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and related mood conditions.
The organisation delivers its services through approximately 300 highly trained volunteers and 50 mental health professional contractors.
In 2024, Aware supported in excess of 40,000 people through our range of Support, Education & Information services.
Aware's service offering has expanded to include a therapeutic free Counselling service and two out of hours crisis cafés operating under the Solace Café brand.
The Solace Café provide an out-of-hours friendly and supportive community crisis prevention and crisis response service in the evenings and at weekends in a safe, café style, non-clinical environment.
Aware will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2025 and is one of Ireland's most well-known and respected charities.
THE POSITION
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Aware is seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Services to join its Senior Management Team.
This is a key leadership role with responsibility for the delivery and development of Aware's core services: Support Services, Counselling, and the Solace Cafés in Dublin and Waterford.
The successful candidate will oversee an experienced and motivated team of staff and volunteers, ensuring the safe, effective, and impactful delivery of services to the public.
They will lead on governance, service quality, budget management, and strategic development, working closely with the CEO, the Clinical Director and other colleagues, along with external partners including the HSE.
Since 1985, Aware has been a national leader in providing support to people impacted by depression and bipolar disorder.
Volunteer-led services remain at the heart of our work, while new service innovations such as counselling and crisis cafés operating under the Solace Café brand continue to strengthen our impact.
This is a unique opportunity for a senior leader who shares Aware's mission and brings a strong track record in service delivery, governance, and people leadership.
REQUIREMENTS
Suitably qualified and interested candidates should bring extensive experience in managing frontline service delivery to the public, ideally with large teams or volunteer networks, and must be able to demonstrate a proven ability to lead services operating under strict governance, compliance, or clinical guidelines.
They will have experience in devising and implementing successful strategic change, together with strong financial acumen and comfort in managing budgets, reporting, and service performance metrics.
Applicants should have extensive professional experience, coming from a senior or leadership role, and hold a degree-level qualification in a relevant field such as mental health, social care, health services, or a related discipline.
Experience in the not-for-profit or mental health sector is desirable but not essential, while experience managing volunteer-led services will be an advantage.
The ideal candidate will be a collaborative, strategic leader with excellent communication skills, strong stakeholder management experience, and a deep commitment to Aware's mission and values.
REMUNERATION
A competitive remuneration package will be on offer to successful candidate.
HOW TO APPLY
If you believe that you meet the requirements necessary to take on this important role, please submit a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae via the available "Apply Option" in strictest confidence, for the attention of Mark Middleton, Partner of our retained executive search partners, Principal Connections – executive search, on or before 12 noon on Friday 26th September 2025.
For a confidential discussion please contact Mark Middleton on +353 (0)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Principal Connections is acting as an employment agency and has been retained to manage this important appointment process.
We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and encourage applications under all nine grounds of the Employment Equality Act.
Candidates for this post will be sourced through both an advertised selection and executive search process.
Only applications submitted through the available online application options or via the email address provided where a print advertisement will be considered.
Please note that any offer of employment will be made subject to satisfactory reference checks as well as any other background checks and/or assessments deemed appropriate to the process.
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ABOUT PRINCIPAL CONNECTIONS
Principal Connections
is a leading executive search and leadership consulting firm serving organisations across Ireland, the United Kingdom and internationally.
We are also part of Agilium Worldwide LLC (Est. 1984), independently ranked one of the world's top global executive search groups.
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