Community Engagement Project Worker

Fixed Term (18 months)

South Dublin County Partnership

South Dublin County Partnership is a Local Development Company that develops projects and services to support sustainable and vibrant communities, where people realize their potential and experience a high quality of life. The focus of our activities is on areas where people experience disadvantage. Funding for our work comes from a variety of sources; our main funders are the Department of Community, Environment and Local Government and the Department of Social Protection. South Dublin County Partnership is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from a diversity of backgrounds.

Community Engagement Project

The Community Engagement Project will use a community development and inclusion approach to engage and work with local communities, helping build community resilience against misinformation, disinformation and prejudice by working with the local community before, during and after the arrival of International Protection Applicants (IPAs) and where IPAs Centres are already in use. The Community Engagement Project aims to assist communities in developing constructive responses to International Protection Centres in their local area.

The Role

Engagement Project Worker, forming part of a wider network where support, ideas, and best practices can be shared and developed collaboratively. The primary focus of the Community Engagement Worker is to engage with residents already living in the local community in South County Dublin (including areas such as Tallaght, Clondalkin, Citywest, and Lucan), rather than providing direct services or supports to International Protection (IP) applicants.

Using a community development approach, the Community Engagement Worker will work to build community cohesion in the face of division surrounding migration and international protection. This work will be carried out with empathy and understanding, building on existing grassroots initiatives and supporting the wider community to engage with the facts and realities of the International Protection system. It will also involve highlighting the challenges faced by people seeking asylum—within the context of communities managing their own needs and concerns.

A key aspect of the role is to provide accurate information, counter misinformation, and respond to community concerns, while supporting the development of inclusive, locally driven responses to migrant integration.

Core Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively and within communities to build cohesion and counter misinformation regarding migration and international protection delivering a variety of actions and interventions such as talks, workshops, events, information leaflets, media and social media.
• Facilitate a collaborative approach and develop a coordinated response with the community and other stakeholders in developing a clear annual plan including –
  • mapping out needs and services of the targeted area with associated resources
  • to put required supports and structures in place to address any weaknesses and strengthen the capacity of the local community to engage meaningfully with migrant integration efforts.
• Maintain regular communication channels with the local community with a view to counteracting misinformation on immigration.
• Provide progress reports and briefings on developments to the Department. Community Engagement Workers are also encouraged to share general project activity updates submitted to the Department with the Coordinator in ILDN, with a view to informing ongoing work and research.
• Operate to community development principles in supporting their community.
• Collaborate with other Community Engagement Workers and the Programme Coordinator within the Irish Local Development Network in the researching, developing and expanding of good practice, and engage with the coordinator where appropriate on evolving situations, persistent barriers to implementation that may require Departmental input.
• Engage regularly with all relevant local voluntary and statutory organisations, as well as with relevant community development and inclusion services such as SICAP, Empowering Communities Programme, Local Authority Integration Workers etc.
• Engage when required with the Programme Coordinator and/or the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth’s (DCEDIY) Community Engagement Team to ensure work is complementing national Community Engagement efforts.

Community Engagement Workers will not be expected to;

• attend the scene of protests or incidents of extreme responses to migrant arrivals in the community.
• engage with individuals or groups that hold entrenched extremist views on migrant integration
• deliver briefings/interviews or other forms of engagement to the media regarding any instances of an extreme response to migrant arrivals in their community.
• provide or arrange provision of accommodation. This is the responsibility of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability Integration and Youth.

Qualifications:

• A relevant third-level qualification including community development, youth work, social sciences, or similar OR experience relevant to the role OR a combination of education, work and voluntary/community activism experience.

Experience/Knowledge:

• A strong interest in and knowledge of the issues facing local communities in addition to new communities including asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in Ireland.
• Experience of delivering community development approaches, local needs analysis, planning and addressing social exclusion issues.
• Knowledge of diversity and social inclusion, using relevant approaches to ensure that trainings, workshops and meetings are delivered in a safe and inclusive manner for all participants.
• Experience of working in partnership with a wide range of individuals, communities, organisations and stakeholders.
• Dispute mediation skills - knowledge of consensus building , de-escalation and peacebuilding techniques to develop a mutually agreeable approach to resolving conflict, a benefit.
• Experience of facilitating group work & event management.
• Experience or knowledge of consultation with vulnerable groups/migrant groups from a migrant background.
• Ability to communicating and develop complex information in a succinct, easy to understand form to a wide variety of audiences, while taking into consideration the needs of diverse groups (literacy, visual aids, language etc.)
• Experience of designing and delivery of capacity building supports within the community sector.
• Experience in project management and delivering projects with a defined timeline and work plan.
• Report writing skills and proficiency in MS packages e.g. Word, Excel, Outlook, programme databases, SharePoint portals

Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to engage with individuals and communities with compassion and empathy.
• Understanding of with trauma-informed approaches.
• Ability to constructively evaluate projects and adapt as required.
• To have a flexible and adaptable work approach.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Exercise good listening and communication skills with sensitivity to cultural communication skills.
• Appreciation of the need for confidentiality and integrity.
• Effectively work as a team member and independently, with a high-level of self-motivation and ability to set and meet goals.
• Comfortable working in a busy, dynamic, multi-cultural environment.

A full driving licence and access to a car OR ability to travel efficiently throughout the catchment area e.g. electric bike/motorcycle is essential for this role.

Terms & Conditions

Post: Community Engagement Project Worker (35 hours per week) fixed term contract of 18- months.

Location: Post requires outreach work with travel required throughout the service delivery area of South County Dublin (Tallaght, Clondalkin, Citywest, Lucan etc.).

Reporting to: Migrant Integration Manager

Salary: € 34,831.00 - €51,737.00 (inc. two Long Services Increments) depending on experience

Benefits:

• Excellent Pension of 10% employer’s contribution after successful probation period.
• Access to HSF private low-cost health insurance.
• Access to training and development opportunities to support the successful candidate in their role.
• 35 Hour per week (full time)
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme
• Bike to Work Scheme

Application Process

Applicants should pay particular attention to the essential and desirable criteria in the job description, your suitability and why you are the best candidate for this post in question.

Please send copy of your up-to-date detailed CV (no more than 2 pages) and cover letter accompanied with completed confidential form marked: Community Engagement Project Worker Ref. 196/2025
To 
Administration & Operations Department,
South Dublin County Partnership,
Unit D1,
Nangor Road Business Park,
Nangor Road,
Dublin 12

OR alternatively email your application to jobs@sdcpartnership.ie – subject box to be marked: Community Engagement Project Worker Ref. 196/2025

Closing date for receipt of applications: Monday 23rd June @ 5.00pm
Note no late applications will be accepted.

South Dublin County Partnership is an Equal Opportunities Employer.