Job Title: Deputy Head of Dublin Day Services
Location: Merchants Court, 24 Merchants Quay, Dublin 8
Reporting to: Head of Operations Service Delivery
Working Hours: hours per week
Summary
Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) are Ireland's largest provider of homeless and addiction services. To deliver on our organisation mission and values MQI are seeking a dynamic individual to lead the delivery and ongoing improvement of services in our flagship Dublin Services, Riverbank House and Janes Place.
Riverbank House, located on Merchants Quay, Dublin 8, is the largest homeless and addiction service in Dublin providing a wide range of supports to people who are homeless and/or in addiction in Dublin City. Services include.
• Low-Threshold drop in, providing food, clothing, showers, crisis intervention and outreach
• Addiction services including Ireland's first Medically Supervised Injection Facility, needle exchange and harm reduction services
• Clinical service including GP services, mental health supports, nursing, counselling and dentist
Jane's Place is an all-female trauma informed service that supports women who are dealing with homelessness and addiction. Located in Dublin 2, Jane's Place provides both one to one and group-based supports to women.
Principal Responsibilities
Service Delivery
• Implement effective structures, systems, and internal processes to integrate service delivery to reflect the full cycle of the client's journey.
• Manage all operations and functions to maximise their performance overseeing the delivery of high-quality and trauma informed services in line with all compliant legislation and work practices.
• Lead service change initiatives in the management team and services that contribute to long-term operational excellence and ensure services reach the people in need of support.
• Work with Service Managers and Co-ordinators to ensure that the voice of clients is central to the delivery and development of the services that they receive and support the development of meaningful processes to promote client voice, choice and empowerment.
Service Development and Promotion
• Work in partnership with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective collaboration with related statutory, voluntary and community agencies in the Greater Dublin area
• Identify and assess funding opportunities and lead the drafting and development of strong evidence-based business cases for new service developments.
• Build strong collaborative relationships with funding agencies to support the building of new strategic funding and service delivery partnerships.
Governance
• Actively manage and monitor budgets and contribute to the production and delivery of the operations budget.
• Update and maintain management and information systems to enable enhanced forecasting, impact assessment and decision making for operations.
• Liaise with key funders to negotiate and manage Service Level Agreements and Contracts.
• Ensure production of all relevant risk and assurance data and analysis related to the activities of operations and flagging positive performance as well as areas of risk.
• Work closely with members of MQI Leadership Team to ensure full compliance with all relevant reporting requirements and ensure necessary processes and procedures are in place.
Management
• Provide operational service delivery leadership and management of the Riverbank and Jane's Place services in line with MQIs Performance Management Framework
• Drive performance and accountability of the operations team enabling succession planning and effective career development.
• Ensure local service managers are supported in their service management and people management responsibilities.
• Ensure fair and consistent application of all MQI policies and procedures, leading a culture of compliance and excellence.
• Develop professional competence, skills, and confidence of the team.
Leadership
• Lead and model an equality based, client focused and trauma informed culture across operations and the wider organisation.
• Motivate and empower all team members to perform to the best of their ability through the MQI values.
• Ensure that MQI is an employer of choice, actively implementing processes to engage and retain talent.
• Drive transformational change by taking up the vision and direction and holding the function through periods of ambiguity and uncertainty.
• Work directly with the income generation team to ensure well-resourced fundraising plans, donor reports and contributing to Fundraising's ability to deliver to fundraising targets.
The postholder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post, which may be assigned to them from time to time. This briefing prospectus will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances. It is not intended to be exhaustive but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the appointee will work.
Person Specification
Education
• Educated to a Level 8 of the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) or equivalent, in relevant disciplines (e.g., Social Care, Addiction or Health).
• Qualification in leadership, management, or project management desirable.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and Management Information Systems
Experience
• A minimum of 5 years at management level with significant experience of implementing and delivering successful operational goals in similar or relevant organisations.
• Experience of delivery and development of evidence based and trauma informed addiction and recovery services in a community setting
• A proven track record in delivering complex, transformational change.
• A passion for, and record of, working to create equal inclusive and diverse services.
• Financial acumen, budgeting experience, and a working financial knowledge.
• Excellent strategic and analytical skills with the ability to combine long-term planning and short-term reactive work.
• Personal credibility in developing and managing relationships with partner organisations, key stakeholders, and external contacts.
• Evidence of successful delivery of KPI's through effective leadership and management.
• Full Clean Driving Licence
Equal Opportunity
Merchants Quay Ireland is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
Please click the link to apply by the 25th of February 2026 https://merchants-quay-