The role

The Chief Executive of Sanctuary Runners will provide the leadership needed to deliver on our mission and bring Sanctuary Runners to the next stage of our development. They will continuously find ways to highlight Sanctuary Runners’ work, ethos and impact and help to energetically grow the movement. The Chief Executive will lead and inspire Sanctuary Runners around the country and the world and will ensure the organisation is nimble and well run. They will be a champion for community integration and for our principles of friendship, solidarity and respect.

The organisation

Sanctuary Runners is an innovative, award-winning, solidarity-through-sport organisation which uses running, jogging, walking and other sporting activities to bring everyone in the community together - including migrants and especially those seeking international protection and refugee status.

Founded in Cork in 2018, Sanctuary Runners has grown to c.40 groups nationwide, supporting a community-led approach to integration around Ireland. A small staff team develops and supports the network of Sanctuary Runners groups. The impact of this award-winning organisation is far-reaching and our model allows communities to get to know each other and improves physical and mental health. As a community-based group that focuses on positive action, we operate under the principles of solidarity, friendship and respect.

Vision

Our vision is for a more inclusive, integrated and equal society where the benefits of multiculturalism are clearly understood and valued and community integration is properly understood, valued and championed.

Mission

Our mission is to become bridge builders, in Ireland and internationally, by using running, jogging, walking groups and other sporting events to bring people together, including, and especially, asylum seekers, refugees and migrants. By building and creating these opportunities in an equal and respectful way it will enable people to develop friendships, networks and learn from each other.

The Person

About you:

You have a passion for social justice. For a country and world where people are treated with equal respect regardless of their nationality, legal status, gender, religion or sexual orientation. Where everyone is valued equally.

You are passionate about the vision and potential of Sanctuary Runners. You’re an excellent communicator and listener, and can influence and lead a team, as well as earning the trust of external stakeholders.

You are strategic and can craft the strategy that brings the organisation to the next stage of its development, but you are also hands-on and able to operationalise the strategy. You are as comfortable running or walking with any of our groups as you are presenting at conferences and building relationships with funders and other stakeholders.

You understand the need for community integration initiatives that really work and display the professionalism required to deliver on a strategic plan. You are flexible and able to adjust plans as the circumstances change.

You are creative in identifying solutions to challenges and in securing the future of Sanctuary Runners. You always put our volunteers and participants first and ensure they are represented in the decision-making process.

You build a positive workplace for the small team of staff that you directly lead, aligned around achieving the Sanctuary Runners mission.

Your Experience:

You can demonstrate that you have been innovative, creative and resourceful in finding solutions. Through your strategic leadership you have been an inspiration and positive influence both inside and outside your organisation. You have worked at senior level in a regulated charity, non-profit or relevant private enterprise. You have demonstrated the ability to shape strategic direction and deliver strategic goals. You have the financial acumen and people management experience to guide an early-stage organisation to grow and scale responsibly and effectively. Ideally, you have a track record of delivering funding to support operations.

Responsibilities of the role

Reporting directly to the Chairperson and the Board, the CEO is responsible for delivering the mission of the Sanctuary Runners and oversees the development and implementation of all strategies and projects, ensuring positive social outcomes for Sanctuary Runners. The role is responsible for ensuring best practice in overall company governance and management, including people management, administration and finance.

Working closely with the Board, the Chief Executive’s areas of responsibility include:

Strategic Leadership

• Establish, communicate and operationalise a vision for the future of Sanctuary Runners.
• Lead the development, implementation and review of the Sanctuary Runners strategic plan and implementation plans, ensuring an impact management approach across the organisation.
• Communicate the organisation’s strategic direction with internal and external stakeholders.
• Regularly review the external environment and make recommendations to the board about developing challenges and opportunities.

Operational and Financial Leadership

• With the support of the management team, overseeing all Sanctuary Runners activities and day-to-day operations in a way that is consistent with organisational values, strategic goals and performance indicators to ensure a smoothly functioning and efficient organisation that is fit for purpose.
• Lead and direct the financial planning, forecasting, control, reporting and management of the organisation’s finances and resources.
• Ensure that financial resources are managed effectively and that Sanctuary Runners CLG remains in good financial health, identifying risks and taking appropriate action.
• Oversee the development and implementation of effective HR policies and procedures in line with best practice and employment legislation.

Funding and Partnerships

• Develop, maintain, and deepen relationships with the organisation’s key stakeholders, including communities, sporting governing authorities, government departments, and donors.
• Identify and secure new partnership opportunities that align with the organisation’s strategy.
• Develop sustainable sources of core funding; build positive relationships with funding bodies.

Representation and Promotion

• Effectively promote the ethos, values, and strategy of the Sanctuary Runners to all its stakeholders.
• Represent the Sanctuary Runners nationally and internationally.
• Build the external reputation of Sanctuary Runners and visibility for our activities with the goal of promoting community integration.

Staff and Organisational Development

• Build a strong organisation with a vibrant culture, aligned with the mission, vision and strategy of Sanctuary Runners.
• Recognising that Sanctuary Runners is a dispersed organisation of volunteer groups, provide ongoing leadership, mentoring and development opportunities to staff and volunteer leaders, and foster the ethos and values of the Sanctuary Runners among staff, board and volunteers.
• Develop effective and flexible staff teams.

Governance and Compliance

• Ensure financial compliance and robust procurement and risk management processes.
• Ensure that all policies, practices and procedures comply with regulatory and legislative requirements.
• Work with the board to enable it to fulfil its governance functions and enable optimum performance by the board, and any sub-committees and working groups.

Remuneration

Salary will be commensurate with experience and benchmarked against similar roles and organisations.

How to Apply

Please direct any enquiries to recruitment@sanctuaryrunners.ie

To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to recruitment@sanctuaryrunners.ie. All queries and applications will be treated confidentially.

More information about Sanctuary Runners can be found at www.sanctuaryrunners.ie

Closing date for applications is 6th May, 2024.

We are an equal opportunities employer. We believe that diversity is a strength in the workplace. We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, belief, religion or sexual orientation.