CES Transitions Programme Coordinator

CES Transitions Programme Coordinator

The role supports the delivery of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy which is an initiative of the Department of Education and Youth.

Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) is excited to invite candidates to apply for the position ofCES Transitions Programme Coordinator. This is a role supporting the delivery of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy which is an initiative of the Department of Education and Youth. This programme supports the post-school transitions of students in Special Schools across Ireland. The CES Transitions is a pilot programme that forms part of the National Strategy and Action Plan for Lifelong guidance which has been operating since 2022. The pilot programme aims to support the transition for young people with disabilities to improve access to, and opportunities for, post-school options (including training, education, employment and apprenticeship opportunities).

The purpose of the role is to support up to 20 special schools across Ireland to provide work readiness and work placement supports to groups of students and individual students in their final year of school. These supports are to provide insights, increase awareness, build skills and explore possible careers through work placement experiences. The supports include CV and interview preparation and careers talks, leveraging our member network and supporting companies who could support the students. 

This role is a specified purposes hybrid contract for 28 hours per week. The funding is guaranteed until June of 2026 and may continue beyond that date.This role is based in our offices in Phibsborough, Dublin 7, but also requires travel to Special Schools across Ireland who are part of the CES Transitions Pilot programme, for which mileage is remunerated. 

JOB SUMMARY

Salary Band C which is €35,650 - €45,000 FTE, pro rata as per contract hours noted above.Requires a minimum of 3 years working in a business or education environment.The ideal candidate would have knowledge or experience of providing training and supports to people with disabilities.An advantage will be experience managing relationships within the education or business sectors in Ireland and some knowledge of the Irish education system.Please note that this role requires some flexibility in the application of working hours across the week and will require some attendance in office (the current BITCI hybrid policy is 2 days in office for FT staff) and some travelling to schools across Ireland. 

Please note that you must hold current eligibility to work in Ireland to be considered for the role.

Please note that Garda vetting and the completion of Child Safeguarding training are required for this role.

SEE FULL JOB DESCRIPTION BELOW FOR FURTHER DETAIL

Benefits offered:

Annual leave: 23 days annual leave per year pro rata, rising to 26 days after 1 year,PRSA: Option to join the Company’s PRSA scheme after six months’ service,Remote/Flexible/hybrid working practices,Career growth – We want you to grow with us,Access to our Employee Assistance Programme including virtual GP visits,Cycle to work scheme; including claiming back your millage,TaxSaver commuter scheme,Supports to set up home office and provision of all necessary IT infrastructure for remote working,Volunteer days – We encourage you to give back to the community,Did we mention great teammates?

JOB DESCRIPTION

The role holder will coordinate the delivery of career supports; workplace skills and work readiness supports to students in their final year in up to 20 special schools who are participating in the CES Transitions (Comprehensive Employment Strategy) pilot programme. 

The person will provide a professional service by leading and facilitating on the CES Transitions programme with existing schools through connecting with the business community to provide support to the students in their future post-school transitions. The role holder is required to be a good communicator and facilitator, and to provide a high standard of support to ensure that relationships are of a very high quality. There will be a requirement to liaise with the school principal and school CES Transitions coordinators. It will also be necessary to recruit and brief companies who can provide career talks, work experience, life skills training and so on.

Furthermore, impact measurement will be required to ensure schools and companies complete feedback surveys in order to record feedback on the programme and its impacts. The role involves some in-school session delivery (with training and materials/resources provided) which could include ice breakers, soft skills sessions and vocational skills. Please note that this is not a fully desk-based role and involves some travel (for which mileage/train fare is paid). For this role Garda vetting and safeguarding training is required.

Primary Responsibilities:

Provide a professional service by leading and facilitating the programme scope delivery, in accordance with the existing Service Level Agreement for this programme.Contribute to the development of the delivery plan for the CES Transitions programmes and implement accordingly.To use, develop and provide feedback on resources available for the school-based training sessions.To liaise with the school principal, school and business supporters to facilitate the planning and delivery of the programme.Attend schools to deliver sessions including career overviews, workplace etiquette, CV and interview preparation, mock interviews and preparation for work placements.Presenting periodic programme updates to Shared Learning Days with all teachers and programme managers in NCSE (National Council for Special Education) involved in the CES Transitions programme.Measuring impact - ensure schools and companies complete a programme feedback/evaluation survey in a timely manner towards programme end and prepare an evaluation report on the programme to the Department of Education and NCSE.Recruit businesses and schools and promote all BITCI initiatives and programmes to ensure continuance of programmes in targeted schools and expansion of our programmes.Manage expectations of companies and schools.Utilise existing resources as efficiently as possible to meet programme objectives.Effectively communicate relevant, accurate and timely information to your manager, team leadership and the wider team as per the team’s annual communications plans.Use IT as a cost-effective method of communication, continuously updating and improving your skills. Our programmes are currently operating by virtual delivery, and upskilling is required on an ongoing basis.

Secondary Responsibilities:

To contribute to establishing best practice in the work of the Education Programmes in BITCI.To liaise with BITCI staff and to be familiar with BITC programmes and events.To research and support new programme developments in the context of advancements in business and education sectors.To effectively promote and publicise the work of BTCI through social media/ Ezine articles/ website.To actively contribute to a healthy, safe, secure and productive working environment.To actively promote equality of opportunity, anti-discriminatory practice, diversity, individual rights and choice in all aspects of your work.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Education/ Qualification/ Knowledge

Be self-organised, have the ability to take initiative and be prepared to work independently to an agreed brief, including being creative around providing solutions to meet the students’ needs.Minimum of 3 years working in a business or education environment and have a knowledge of the Irish education system.Knowledge/experience of working or providing training to people with disabilities/additional needs.Broad understanding of business operations (Sales and Marketing, Finance, HR, IT) and knowledge of the Irish business landscape.

Highly proficient in MS Office applications.

Experience

Delivering clear and concise trainings, taking into account the additional needs of the student audience in special schools.Managing relationships, including conflicting expectations and managing expectations.Making clear presentations to a range of audiences.Experience of project management or tracking and reporting on social impact.

Skills/ Personal Attributes

PlanningOrganisationalInterpersonalCommunicationLeadershipTime ManagementInfluencing skillsFacilitation skillsPresentation skills

Desired Qualifications and Knowledge

CRM Database (MS Dynamics or similar)Train the Trainer qualification/ experience of delivering trainingExperience of programme evaluation and impact assessment

The above is not an exhaustive list of duties. Other ad-hoc duties may be assigned from time to time, in line with the overall organisational objectives of BITCI.

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