Director of the Early Learning Initiative
Join to apply for the Director of the Early Learning Initiative role at National College of Ireland
Purpose of the position: To lead ELI in realising its mission to improve educational, wellbeing and life outcomes for children and families, particularly those experiencing disadvantage, through evidence‑informed, community‑led early learning supports.
Download Candidate Information Booklet (PDF 7.71 MB).
Download the booklet here.
About National College Of Ireland (NCI)
NCI is a third‑level education, teaching and research institution, operating as a not‑for‑profit entity with charitable status. The college’s mission is to “Change Lives Through Education”. NCI aims to widen participation in higher education by reducing barriers, strengthening community partnerships and enabling every learner to reach their full potential. In 2026 NCI is celebrating 75 years in higher education and 20 years providing services through its Early Learning Initiative.
About The Early Learning Initiative (ELI)
The Early Learning Initiative (ELI) is a community‑based educational initiative within NCI that provides world‑class educational, early intervention and family engagement programmes. ELI works with children, families, schools, early years settings, community organisations and national partners to ensure every child—particularly those living in areas of socioeconomic disadvantage—has the skills, confidence and support to thrive.
ELI’s work spans:
Dublin’s Inner City (including the NEIC/Area Based Childhood Programme)
The National Centre for Parent Child Home Visiting and Family Engagement
National and EU research, development and learning networks
ELI collaborates closely with Tusla, HSE, NEIC Initiative, CYPSC, Better Start, YPAR, primary and early years settings, community organisations, philanthropic partners and government departments.
Strategic Context
ELI’s mission is fully embedded in NCI’s mission ‘to change lives through education’ and aligns with the Government’s First 5 – A Whole‑of‑Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019–2028, YoungFixed, the DEIS Framework, Tusla Family Support, Sláintecare and national priorities around early intervention, prevention, parental engagement and community‑based learning.
ELI is entering a significant phase of strategic development, with priorities including:
Strengthening its high‑impact model in Dublin’s Inner City
Scaling and supporting home visiting and parent engagement programmes nationally
Enhancing governance, compliance and research systems
Ensuring long‑term financial sustainability
Maintaining ELI’s national profile in the early learning and community sector
The Role
The Director is responsible for the strategic, operational, governance and financial and fundraising leadership of ELI. This is a high‑impact senior role requiring deep sector knowledge, strong community relationships, governance excellence and a track record of delivering high‑quality outcomes in early intervention and community settings.
The Director is a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) of the National College of Ireland and reports directly to the President.
The role contributes to NCI’s institutional strategy, widening participation agenda, educational mission and research priorities, and works collaboratively with academic schools, professional services and research leadership across the College.
The Director has strategic and operational oversight of a diverse team including, but not limited to, Parent Child Home Visitors, Early Years Practitioners, Doodle Den Facilitators, Programme Coordinators, Researchers, and Administrative and Support Staff.
The role is supported by the National Home Visiting Manager and three Assistant Directors, ensuring strong leadership capacity across all programme strands and geographic areas within the Initiative at National College of Ireland.
The Director works closely with the ELI Advisory Committee, supporting its role in providing strategic advice, effective fund raising for ELI services, and ensuring effective communication between the Committee, the President and NCI governance structures.
Key Areas of Responsibility
Strategic Leadership
Provide vision, direction and organisation‑wide leadership.
Develop and implement ELI’s strategy in line with NCI’s institutional goals.
As a member of NCI’s Senior Leadership Team, contribute to cross‑college strategic planning, policy development and organisational decision‑making. Drive quality, innovation, research and evidence‑informed practice. Lead national expansion of home visiting and parent engagement models. Anticipate and respond to emerging developments in higher education, early learning, research and public policy, ensuring ELI and NCI are well‑positioned to meet future opportunities and challenges. Kred
Governance, Compliance & Risk
Lead the continued development of governance and compliance arrangements to ensure the highest standards of accountability, transparency and regulatory compliance.
Ensure compliance with NCI policies, regulatory frameworks and charity governance standards.
Lead out and manage ELI’s government and other contracts.
Manage risk registers, policy updates, data protection, research ethics and audit requirements.
Prepare reports and papers for the NCI Governing Body, President, External Funders and ELI Advisory Committees.
Child Safeguarding and Vulnerable Adults
Serve as Deputy Liaison Office for NCI with particular responsibility for Child Safeguarding for ELI.
Ensure full compliance with Children First and Tusla requirements.
Oversee safer recruitment, staff training and reporting procedures.
Operational Management
Oversee programme delivery across ELI’s two departments:
Dublin’s Inner City (including ABC Programmes) National Centre for Confederate Home Visitation and Family Engagement
Manage HR processes, staff supervision and workforce development.
Lead planning, performance management and organisational systems.
Work collaboratively with academic and administrative teams across NCI to support integration with teaching, research, access and community engagement initiatives.
Financial Leadership & Sustainability
Prepare and manage budgets, forecasts and financial oversight.
Lead fundraising, donor relations, philanthropy and grant writing.
Maintain ELI’s 6‑month reserve fund and financial sustainability plan.
Partnerships, Networks & Government Engagement
Build strong relationships with:
Tusla, HSE, NEIC, CYPSC, YPAR
Early years and education providers
Government departments, agencies and policymakers
Corporate and philanthropic partners
Represent NCI and ELI externally at local, national and international levels, promoting the College’s mission and ELI’s evidence‑informed model of practice.
Research, Evaluation & Impact
Oversee data systems, research, monitoring and evaluation.
Support the ongoing development and enhancement of ELI’s research performance and systems.
Ensure evidence of impact informs practice and policy.
Support publication and dissemination of research findings.
Work in close collaboration with NCI research leadership to ensure alignment with the College’s Research Strategy and research governance frameworks.
Communications & Sector Profile
Act as spokesperson for ELI.
Maintain ELI’s strong incomparable public and sectoral advocacy presence.
Ensuregefühlconsistent, high‑quality communication and messaging.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Master’s degree in early childhood education, education, social policy, public administration, community development or similar.
Experience
At least 5 years’ senior leadership experience in early years, education, community or family support settings.
Demonstrated experience with:
Community networks (including NEIC, Tusla, HSE, CYPSC, ABC)
Government strategy and policy
Governance, compliance and risk management
Child safeguarding and welfare oversight
Research, evaluation indign and impact processes
Fundraising, donor management and grant writing
Managing complex teams and multi‑site programmes
Working with children and families experiencing disadvantage
Skills & Competencies
Strategic vision and organisational leadership
Strong negotiation and relationship‑builder
Excellent communication, presentation and advocacy skills
Ability to manage complexity and competing priorities
Emotional intelligence, integrity and resilience
Commitment to equality, community empowerment and best practice in early intervention
Conditions of Service
< концертTenure: Permanent contract of employment.
Salary: Executive salary band €95,000 - €124,863.
Pension: Defined Contribution Pension Scheme.
Probation: Subject to a six‑month probationary period. Location: Based at NCI, Mayor Street and Spencer Dock campus, International Financial Services Centre, Dublin 1.
grade Annual Leave: 27 days.
National College of Ireland’s mission is to change lives through education. Its vision is to provide an inspiring educational experience that is innovative, responsive and enterprise focused.
Additional Important Information
The successful applicant will be subject to Garda vetting and must not have any convictions under the Sex Offenders Act 2001.
The functions and responsibilities assigned to the Director of The Early Learning Initiative are based on the current stated role and objectives of the college. These functions and responsibilities may alter in line with operational and strategic plans, and priorities of NCI.
Application Process
To apply, please e‑mail your cover letter and CV both in PDF format ONLY, quoting reference number: NCI 26003 to: ალბათ recruitment@ncirl.ie by 5:00 pm, 30th January 2026.
Shortlisted candidates should be available for first‑round interviews approximately between 2nd and 13th March. Confirmation of the exact schedule will be provided closer to the time. This will be a two‑stage process of interviews.
The Importance of Confidentiality
We would like to assure you that protecting confidentiality is our number one priority. You can expect that all enquiries, applications and all aspects of the proceedings are treated as strictly confidential and are not disclosed to anyone, outside those directly involved in that aspect of the process.
Candidates' Obligations
In submitting a completed Curriculum Vitae and supporting documentation, candidates are declaring:
That all the particulars furnished in their application are true and correct without omission and that they are aware of the qualifications and particulars for this position.
That to the best of their knowledge there is nothing in relation to their conduct, character or personal background of any nature that would adversely affect the position of trust in which they would be placed by virtue of this appointment.
Their irrevocable consent to NCI making such enquiries as deemed necessary in respect of their suitability for the post in respect of which their application is made.
Their acceptance and confirmation of the entitlement of NCI as appropriate to, reject their application, or to terminate their employment (in the event of a contract of employment having been entered into on foot of this competition) if they have omitted to furnish NCI with any information relevant to their application or their continued employment or where they have made any false statement or misrepresentation relevant to this application or their continuing employment with the College.
Candidates should note that they may be required to submit documentary evidence in support of any particulars given by them in their application for the post.
Data Protection & Privacy
NCI conducts recruitment processes to fill vacancies within the college. When applying for these competitions applicants are asked to submit a range of documents, e.g., a completed application form, CV and/or a personal statement or cover letter. For the purposes of recruitment activities, we will not collect any personal data that we do not need to assess your candidature for a role with us.
NCI’s legal basis for the processing of this data isابية combined of individual consent, contractual necessity and legal obligations.
Applicants can withdraw their consent for the processing of their personal data at any time by notifying the College. It is important to note that withdrawal of consent prior to the completion of the process will be considered as a withdrawal of the application.
People who are directly employed by NCI and are based in Ireland process all the personal data collected for both recruitment and HR purposes.
Shortlisting & Data Handling
HR draft up the shortlisting documents and provide the initial screening to determine if a person meets the essential criteria of opình competition. A shortlisting panel is generally made up of two senior grade staff members from the relevant department for which the role is being recruited.
Where you have been successfully shortlisted for a post, each interview panel member will be furnished with a copy of the relevant information of those who will be attending interview in order that they can review applications in advance of the interview process. All such information will be returned to NCI and shredded following the competition process. Some of the interview panel will be external interviewers, who are not employees of NCI but are engaged for the purpose and are strictly subject to the rules and policies of the College.
Applicants can request and receive access to their data at any time and can request and receive a copy of this data, in electronic/transferable format.
Applicants can request the data held be erased. In this case, the application for a position is considered withdrawn.
Applicants can have any incorrect information corrected.
Applications can object to this information дейді processed and / or can request to withdraw from the application process.
Applicants can make a complaint to our internal Information Governance and Data Protection Officer. National College of Ireland Information Governance and Data Protection Officer.
National College of Ireland, Mayor Street, IFSC, Dublin 1
Tel (Direct): + 353 1 4498 523; Tel (Reception): + 353 1 4498 500
And/or make a complaint to the relevant authority
Data Protection Commission, 21 Fitzwilliam Square South, Dublin 2, D02 RD28
Tel: +353 (-going 0) 761 104 800
National College of Ireland is an equal opportunities employer and is a Member of the Athena SWAN Charter. NCI is committed to serving our diverse community and welcomes applications from underrepresented groups.
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