CONTEXT FOR APPOINTMENT
This is an exciting time to join YMCA Dublin as we deliver on our ambitious strategic plan to expand our reach and deepen our impact by opening new community hubs, and expanding our service provision to meet the needs of our communities. Our YMCA Hubs provide vital support including affordable childcare, youth and family programmes, and community development initiatives that respond to local needs and promote well-being.
YMCA Dublin has recently been awarded funding under the Department of Justice's Community Safety Fund to deliver a new community safety initiative that will strengthen collaboration, build resilience, and create safer, more connected neighbourhoods.
We are now seeking a Community Development Coordinator to lead the roll out of this initiative. This new role represents an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in communities, co-designing community lead projects and leading on a detached youth work programme.
The role is ideally suited to an enthusiastic, compassionate, and proactive individual who is motivated by community empowerment and excited by the challenge of establishing community lead initiatives.
Employment Details:
Title: Community Development Coordinator
Reporting To: Head of Youth & Community Services
Direct Reports: Two detached part-time youth workers
Place of Work: YMCA Dublin Aungier Street, Dublin 2; Parkside, Dublin 13 and De Verdon Place, Dublin 17
Working Hours: 37.5 hours Tuesday to Saturday, afternoons and evenings.
Nature of Post: 2 year contract - until end of 2027
Rate of Pay: €40,000
Role Summary
The Community Development Coordinator will lead the delivery of YMCA Dublin's community engagement and development initiatives. This role will oversee the full implementation of the Community Insights Project, a project involving community mapping, and stakeholder engagement to needs analysis, reporting, and collaborative service design, ensuring the process reflects our values of participation, equity, and sustainability. The post-holder will manage two Detached Youth Workers, supporting their delivery of external youth-led activities that connect with local needs.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
* Lead the delivery of community engagement initiatives: Implement the Community Insights Project ensuring activities such as focus groups, surveys, and community forums are delivered to high quality, on time, and aligned with our strategic priorities.
* Oversee detached youth work delivery: Line manage and support Detached Youth Workers to plan and deliver youth engagement sessions.
* Support the development and delivery of our Youth Advisory Committee, empowering young people to participate, lead, and influence service direction.
* Relationship building: Build relationships with residents of all ages in the community, and respond proactively to emerging local needs.
* Coordinate community partnerships and service delivery outputs: Work collaboratively with local stakeholders, residents' groups, schools, and community organisations to co-design and deliver responsive programmes that strengthen inclusion, participation, and community well-being.
* Lead initiatives that support families experiencing poverty in our communities, such as partnering with programmes like Food Cloud.
Quality Assurance
Meet KPIs, as outlined in the Community Safety Fund grant agreement:
* Engage at least 100 unique young people through detached youthwork
* Facilitate referrals for a minimum of 40 young people into YMCA Dublin programmes.
* Coordinate and deliver 6 targeted focus groups with a minimum of 60 total participants, capturing priorities using creative and dialogic methods.
* Achieve at least 200 completed community survey responses, distributed through schools, shops, and online platforms.
* Train and support 8 young Community Connectors to conduct 16 peer interviews and produce creative outputs.
* Deliver a minimum of 3 co-designed community safety pilot projects, co-designed, implemented and delivered with residents and youth, with 60 participants.
* Planning & Development: Coordinate the planning and development of trauma-informed, strengths-based community programming.
* Respond to new practices and policy changes, effectively communicating and aligning staff with updates.
* Training and Development: Undertake relevant practical training, e.g. safeguarding and first aid.
* Compliance: Ensure that all activities comply with organisational policies and legal frameworks e.g. health and safety legislation, child and adult at risk safeguarding.
People Management
Supervision: Provide individual supervision of detached youth workers & volunteers, and carry out inductions and appraisals.
Teamwork: Facilitate regular team meetings and actively work towards building the team.
Performance management: In consultation with line manager, deal with work-related performance issues, or conflict within the local team.
Leadership: Promote a culture of continuous improvement and reflective practice.
Administration
Record-keeping: Maintain accurate records and provide regular reports on outcomes and KPIs.
Financial Management: Manage allocated Community Programming Budget, in line with
purchase procedures.
Support & Engagement
Integrated Working: Support referral pathways into other YMCA services e.g. youth work, after schools and other aligned community services.
Supporting families: Work closely with Family Support to ensure appropriate supports are in place for children, young people and their families as needed.
Partnership Working: Represent YMCA Dublin effectively to local partners, schools and community organisations.
Miscellaneous
Participate in staff meetings and supervision. Any Other Duties: Be flexible and willing to take on additional tasks related to the delivery of YMCA services, as required.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Recognised qualification in a relevant field, such as youth work or community development.
Minimum 2 years' experience of youth or community work in a paid capacity.
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
Excellent organisational & administrative skills
Strong interpersonal & communication skills
Knowledge of community or youth work approaches
Research, analysis and report writing skills.
Proficient in the use of ICT
QUALITIES & CIRCUMSTANCES
Fluent in written & spoken English
Self-motivated & able to work on own initiative
Enthusiastic & compassionate
Ability to work flexible and extended hours, including evenings and weekend.
Willingness to undertake further training
Desirable
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Minimum Level 8 qualification in Community
Development or equivalent.
Experience in project management.
Previous supervisory experience in a youth or community setting.
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
Demonstrable ability to implement policies & procedures
QUALITIES & CIRCUMSTANCES
Full clean driving licence.
PRIORITIES
After 6 months in the role, you will be expected to...
* Have a comprehensive understanding of the organisation, mission, ethos and service
* delivery.
* Established strong relationships with YMCA participants, staff, local schools, community
* groups, residents, and other relevant organisations to lay a foundation for partnerships
* and community trust.
* Completed detailed needs assessments within local communities to identify strengths
* and challenges, having engaged with at least 200 community members.
* Share a community insights report with stakeholders, hosting a forum to co-design
* community programming.
* Developed a detached youth work programme.
Apply by sending your CV and cover letter to:
Closing Date: 4th January, 5pm.
Job Types: Full-time, Specified-purpose
Contract length: 24 months
Pay: €40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
* Bike to work scheme
* Childcare
* Gym membership
* On-site gym
Work Location: In person