9/6/2025 A) Innovation and EU Funding Manager

We are delighted to be recruiting for our client Sport Ireland, for an Innovation and EU Funding Manager to join their team. Job Purpose The Innovation and EU Funding Manager will lead the development and implementation of Sport Ireland's strategic objectives in innovation and EU funding. The Innovation and EU funding Manager will coordinate and support innovation and EU funded projects across Sport Ireland units and the broader sports sector of Local Sports Partnerships, National Governing Bodies of Sport and relevant partner organisations. Reporting to the Director of Research and Innovation, the Innovation and EU Funding Manager will work closely with the Research Manager and Evaluation Manager in the unit as well as managers in other Sport Ireland departments to ensure the effective development of innovative programmes and investments in the sports sector. Key Duties and Responsibilities Develop and proactively manage a plan for Innovation in Irish Sport aligned with Sport Ireland's strategic objectives. Drive the implementation of Sport Irelands High Performance Innovation Plan. Oversee the management and development of Innovation and Digital Transformation Funds, reviewing and evaluating the impact of the Funds and sharing the learnings from this internally and with the sector. Develop strategic relationships with public sector, private sector and academia to identify and deliver opportunities for innovation in sport. Identify innovation opportunities with key stakeholders, working in collaboration with the relevant units within Sport Ireland. Identify and apply for suitable funding and / or partnership opportunities where appropriate. Develop, coordinate and support the delivery of Sport Irelands Innovation capacity building programmes. Commission and disseminate reports on innovation in sport. Present on behalf of Sport Ireland to both staff and external stakeholders. Lead and deliver event management including Sport Innovation and EU funding events, meetings and workshops. Develop and deliver an EU funding roadmap for Sport Ireland. Deliver or commission training and host meetings on EU funding opportunities to the sector. Support the effective implementation of EU projects, including: ESF+ and Erasmus+ programmes. Oversee the financial management and take responsibility for the submission of financial claims of relevant EU projects. Build strategic relationships with EU funding stakeholders and represent Sport Ireland at International and European events. Person Specification: Essential: Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Must have a relevant third level qualification. Must have at least 5 years' prior professional experience in delivering development programmes for innovation, enterprise, and/or EU funding. Must have excellent interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, demonstrating an ability to communicate effectively and build strong relationships inside and outside the organisation. Must have direct work experience in project management and stakeholder engagement. Must be capable of bringing innovation and expertise from previous projects to bear on existing issues, making proposals for improvements and efficiencies where appropriate. Must be able to multi-task, leading multiple projects simultaneously. Must have leadership skills and effective people management ability. Must have strong IT skills and knowledge of MS Office suite especially Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Must be capable and comfortable managing a busy workload, prioritising tasks effectively and meeting tight deadlines. Must be organised and flexible. Must have a proven ability to work effectively and constructively as part of a team and on own initiative when required. Must be enthusiastic, curious and highly motivated, relishing the challenge of working with an ambitious team in a dynamic and busy work environment. Desirable: Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Third level qualification with innovation or enterprise development modules. Experience in managing EU funding programmes. Knowledge and experience of developing and delivering training courses or workshops to a wide range of stakeholders, online and in person. Knowledge and understanding of sports policy in Ireland and knowledge of the Irish sports landscape. Knowledge of best practice, emerging trends and new technologies in sport. Ability to be discrete and effectively handle sensitive, confidential issues as required. Additional Information: Contract: 18 Month - Career Break Cover. Salary Scale: Higher Executive Officer Standard Scale. The appointment will be made on this scale at a point in line with the current Government Pay Policy. New entrants to the public sector commence on the first point of scale. Location: Sport Ireland, Sport Ireland Campus, Snugborough Road, Blanchardstown, D15. If you would like to apply for this position, please send your CV in confidence to . Closing date for applications is Sunday 21st September 2025 5pm. Sport Ireland is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace which values and benefits from the diversity of the workforce. Sport Ireland is an equal opportunity employer of all qualified individuals. We actively welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on any protected groups. If you require reasonable accommodation for the interview, please let us know and we will do our best to assist. Sport Ireland is a Great Place to Work Ireland.