Fund Manager - Head Of Social Enterprise

Rethink Ireland

Fund Manager - Head of Social Enterprise

Contract: 2 Years, full-time, starting as soon as possible

Based: Dublin, Cork - with some travel within Ireland

Salary: €58,000-€64,000

Benefits: 24 days annual leave, hybrid working, 8% employer pension contribution,

paid time off in lieu and paid sick leave, maternity leave and parental

leave following successful completion of probation.

ROLE PURPOSE

The purpose of this role is to manage several strategic Funds with a portfolio of Awardees to meet programme and financial targets, by driving maximum achievement of social impact, in line with investment objectives and conditions. The Investment Area Head will have responsibility for one of our investment areas - Equality, Education, Health, Green Transitions or Social Enterprise.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Reporting to the Impact Director, this role will be responsible for the Social Enterprise investment area and will drive and deliver Rethink Ireland’s impact while working in a high-growth, fast-paced environment. This person will be a critical relationship manager with Rethink Ireland applicants, Awardees, and the wider Rethink Ireland community, including donors.

Investment Area Head Responsibilities include:

• Supporting the development of new fund/ projects proposals & scopes, defining clear impact goals aligned with the Social Enterprise strategy
• Driving our strategy in the Social Enterprise investment area setting clear impact goals
• Systematic review of our investments in the Social Enterprise investment area, portfolio and funds, in order to achieve the established objectives or/ and bring the learnings to improve implementation
• Collaborating with other investment Areas Heads and Impact Director to manage team capacity, team training & wellbeing and budgets
• Supporting the implementation of our funds and investments in the investment area, providing guidance to Fund Managers, Associate Fund Managers and team members.
• Coordination of multiple government and EU projects to enhance synergies, efficiencies, and learning opportunities
• Coordinate specific responsibilities within the Portfolio Management Team, aligned with the role and organizational needs

Fund Manager Responsibilities include:

• Securing high-quality applicants by leading Fund promotion and the recruitment of applications.
• Running the call for applications and managing the selection process for strategic funds.
• Supporting and co-designing the capacity building and Accelerator programmes, which will be delivered in part by you / Rethink Ireland and in part by commissioned partners.
• Leading and managing the investment relationship with relevant Rethink Ireland Fund Awardees, including performance management.
• Leading the team to work with the Awardees (successful applicants) to develop growth plans, define their social impact goals, structure the growth capital in the form of grants and non-financial supports to ensure that they target growth, build the capacity of the projects to deliver the promised impact, and manage the input of the non-financial supports.
• Leading the implementation of our systems and processes that drive our impact management and learning
• Commissioning and coordinating the relationship between suppliers, consultants, Awardee and Rethink Ireland.
• Building successful partnerships with other organisations as required.
• Setting (in conjunction with your line manager) and meeting programme targets.
• Managing budgets and providing financial reports and social impact reports to various stakeholders.
• Line managing and/or mentoring other team members if needed.
• Supporting the marketing, fundraising and communications work of Rethink Ireland.
• He/she will at all times represent Rethink Ireland in accordance with Rethink Ireland’s vision, mission and values, and will undertake training and development as required .
• Other duties that may arise from time to time appropriate to the role.
• Like all staff, you will act as an ambassador for Rethink Ireland at all times.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

You will be someone with the following qualities and skills:

REQUIRED SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & ATTRIBUTES

Experience

• Between 5 to 10 years relevant experience in relevant Industry or similar role

• Demonstrated leadership skills - in a paid or voluntary role.
• Experience or nuanced understanding of the distinctions and unifying factors of for-profit and not for profit organisations.
• Comprehensive understanding of the social enterprise sector and key stakeholders
• Experience or nuanced understanding of the social enterprise sector and working with marginalised communities from an empowerment perspective.
• Experience of innovation contexts.
• Experience in social impact measurement, collection and analysis of impact data.

Analytical and Business Skills

• Demonstrated ability to analyse material and summarise, distill and synthesise quickly - both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to analyse / write a strategic or business plan.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Experience (or interest in) research, impact measurement and an understanding of academic evaluation processes.
• Track record of project management in the business and / or social sector.
• Ability to demonstrate / develop an investment perspective.

Financial Skills

• Familiarity with analysing financial statements, developing business and cash flow planning and cost controlling.
• Experience of preparing and managing project budgets.

People and leadership skills

• Track record of partnership building.
• Ability to build trust, even against the odds.
• Management - Ability to line manage people, provide support and guidance.
• Leadership - Capacity to lead a group of diverse innovators and leaders to work towards ambitious targets and a shared common vision / goal.
• Skilled in the arts of negotiation and persuasion.

General

• Commitment to excellence.
• A commitment to Rethink Ireland’s vision and values
• Comfort with an entrepreneurial culture and a fast-moving environment.
• A natural curiosity and a desire to learn.
• Drive and ambition.
• Ability to demonstrate the highest levels of integrity and ethical fibre.
• Desire and ability to be an ambassador for Rethink Ireland.

• Flexible, warm & friendly personality who can work well in a team environment

DESIRABLE SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & ATTRIBUTES

• Background or significant skills in finance, accounting, investment or financial analysis
• Experience and knowledge of social impact definition and business planning processes.
• Postgraduate Degree in innovation, community development or social science.
• Experience of capacity building work with companies / organisations.
• Experience of managing a portfolio of organisations in an investment or philanthropic context.

ABOUT RETHINK IRELAND

Rethink Ireland (previously Social Innovation Fund Ireland) supports the most innovative non-profit organisations working in communities across the country. We believe that a team effort is more effective than working alone. So joining forces with the Government, companies, families, individuals and foundations, who understand as we do that lasting change demands new thinking, is how we do business.

Together we create funds to help innovations rise to the challenges of our most pressing social and environmental issues. Our cash grants and business supports enable social innovations to develop and maximise their impact. This is our venture philanthropy model. The groups we support and the donors who support us don’t just think differently. They act decisively on their ideas to build a more equal, just and sustainable Ireland.

What is social innovation?

At Rethink Ireland, we define social innovation as the successful delivery of new approaches to meet social needs more effectively and sustainably than those currently available.

Our mission

Our mission is to support the best social innovations so that they can grow and maximise their impact across Ireland.

Our vision

Our vision is an Ireland which is more just, equal and sustainable because of social innovation.

Our Values

• We work with our hearts and our heads – we value compassion, passion and fun.
• We take smart risks and we allow permission to fail because we know that innovation and risk are two sides of the same coin.
• We believe that social change is a team sport. We build trusted relationships, and we choose to collaborate to achieve our goals.
• We are curious and hunger to learn.
• We value bold ideas and bold leadership, and we develop remarkable people.
• We are an equal opportunity employer and we strongly believe that diversity and inclusion equate to success. The work we do is underpinned by respect, equality, inclusion & diversity.

In line with Ireland’s Equality Legislation we actively oppose discrimination on the following 9 grounds:

We also actively oppose discrimination on the grounds of socio-economic disadvantage.

HOW TO APPLY?

Please apply through this LINK by 12.00pm on Monday 20th January 2025.

Interviews will take place on 30th & 31st January 2025.

If you would like to discuss the role, please contact us at careers@rethinkireland.ie