Financial Services jobs in Dublin, County Dublin

Safe Ireland is recruiting for:

Chief Executive Officer

About Safe Ireland

Safe Ireland is Ireland's national social change agency working to eradicate Domestic, Sexual, Gender and Sexuality-Based Violence (DSGBV). We recognise that DSGBV is a widescale social problem that requires a nationwide, county and community-based response at every level to ensure safe pathways out of abuse for women and children.

We have four distinct functions:

• Understanding domestic, sex, gender and sexuality-based coercion and violence (DSGBV) to advance government, commercial and civil society policy, practice and provision responses.
• Providing and supporting frontline refuge, support and outreach services to survivors of DSGBV.
• Supporting Safe Ireland member services.
• Developing DV sectoral best practice for community-based DSGBV responses.

We achieve our work through collaboration with our network of affiliated, independent frontline domestic violence services and with national stakeholders. There are thirty-eight specialist DV services affiliated as members of Safe Ireland, each delivering local services including helplines, information and advocacy, crisis and move-on accommodation, Garda and court accompaniment, welfare advice, and practical, emotional and therapeutic supports for adults, young people and children.

Organisational Context

Safe Ireland operates as a national hub for a sector-wide movement for change. The successful candidate will lead an organisation of the following scale and reach:

Staff Team: Approximately 30 employees

Annual Budget: Approximately €2 million

Funding Base: A combination of statutory, philanthropic and non-statutory grant funding

Membership Network: 38 affiliated specialist DV services nationwide

Job Purpose:

Safe Ireland wishes to appoint a dynamic and values-led Chief Executive Officer to provide strategic and operational leadership of the organisation, and to drive its vision of an Ireland that is safe for all women and children. This is a high-profile national leadership role, offering an experienced leader the opportunity to advocate for progressive social change and to shape the future direction of the domestic, DSGBV sector in Ireland.

Reporting to and working closely with a highly skilled Board of Directors, the CEO will lead the Senior Management Team and staff in delivering Safe Ireland's strategic plan, and will be responsible for the translation of Board policy and decisions into effective action across the organisation. The CEO will provide national leadership in influencing policy, legislation and public discourse to achieve systemic change in the prevention and eradication of DSGBV, engaging key stakeholders in the movement for social change and working strategically to attract investment in the drive to make Ireland safe for women and children.

The CEO carries overall executive responsibility for the leadership, governance, financial sustainability, advocacy, sector development, and operational effectiveness of Safe Ireland, and for building and protecting strong relationships with members, funders, statutory agencies, government and the public.

Guidance and Authority

The CEO reports to the Board of Directors and is expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy within the strategic direction and policies agreed by the Board. The CEO will work closely with, and attend, relevant Board sub-committees. The Board will agree the priorities for the role in consultation with the CEO. Matters that should be referred to the Board include those where:

• Significant resistance is experienced in the development of good practice or the implementation of policy or strategic objectives;
• practice, or proposed practice, places survivors, staff, member services or other stakeholders at risk;
• A decision would have a significant impact on the reputation, finances, or workload of the organisation.

About the Role

Job Title:

Chief Executive Officer

Location: Based in the Safe Ireland Dublin Offices, with regular national travel

Job Type: Full Time, 35 hours per week. Contract of Indefinite Duration

Reports To: Board of Directors, Safe Ireland

Salary Scale: HSE Consolidated Pay Scales (June 2026): CEO Band H1 – Hospitals, commensurate with experience

Direct Reports: Director of Operations and members of the Senior Management Team

Probationary Period: 6 months

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

1. Strategic, National and Systems Leadership

• Provide national leadership in influencing policy, legislation and public discourse to achieve systemic change in the prevention and eradication of DSGBV.
• Support the Board of Directors in developing Safe Ireland's vision, purpose and values, and inspire the Senior Management Team and staff to deliver on them.
• Develop, resource, monitor and evaluate a strategic and operational plan to enable Safe Ireland to achieve its objectives, with due regard to the organisation's long-term sustainability.
• Lead sector development, working across government, statutory agencies and civil society to strengthen the national response to DSGBV and to advance systems-level change.
• Ensure that Safe Ireland's vision, mission and services remain relevant, evidence-informed and reflective of best practice in the DSGBV sector.
• Provide strong, visible leadership that builds confidence and commitment among staff, member services, and the wider Safe Ireland community.
• Lead, manage and hold to account the Senior Management Team and, through them, the wider staff team, in delivering the strategic objectives.
• Develop a strong, positive organisational culture that models Safe Ireland's values, and through personal conduct, influence the behaviour of staff, volunteers and partners.
• Ensure a trauma-informed, survivor-centred and safeguarding-focused culture is embedded across all aspects of the organisation's work.

2. Membership and Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with Safe Ireland's 38 affiliated member services, understanding their needs and ensuring effective structures are in place to support them.
• Lead constructive engagement with member organisations, balancing advocacy for sector-wide priorities while respecting the autonomy and independence of affiliated services.
• Understand Safe Ireland's different stakeholder groups, including survivors, member services, funders, statutory agencies and the public, and ensure their needs are met and their voices heard.
• Collaborate with other national and community-based organisations and statutory agencies working to address DSGBV.

3. Governance and Board Relations

• Work closely with, and report to, the Board of Directors to realise its vision of a safe Ireland for women and children.
• Ensure the Board, its sub-committees, and staff understand their respective roles, legal duties and delegated responsibilities for decision-making.
• Prepare and present the CEO Report and supporting documentation to the Board in advance of meetings, and attend all Board and relevant sub-committee meetings.
• Support the Board in reviewing its recruitment, development and succession processes to ensure the competencies required to realise Safe Ireland's objectives are in place.
• Ensure Safe Ireland is compliant with charity law, company law, and the governance and reporting requirements of all statutory and regulatory bodies, including the Charities Regulatory Authority.

4. Financial, Risk and Resource Management

• Be responsible for the strategic leadership and financial sustainability of the organisation, ensuring resources are available to deliver its strategic goals.
• Ensure appropriate internal financial and management controls are in place and operating effectively, working closely with the Director of Operations and Financial Controller.
• Identify the major risks facing Safe Ireland and put in place appropriate strategies to manage and mitigate them.
• Ensure adequate measurement and reporting frameworks are in place so that organisational and programme performance can be monitored and reported accurately and on a timely basis, in line with best practice and legal requirements.

5. Advocacy, Fundraising and External Relations

• Drive the vision of the organisation and engage key stakeholders in the development of a national movement for social change in relation to DSGBV.
• Work strategically to attract investment and diversify income, including leading fundraising initiatives and building strong relationships with funders, donors and statutory funding bodies.
• Act as the principal spokesperson and public face of Safe Ireland, representing the organisation with government, the media, and other national and international stakeholders.
• Build effective relationships at senior levels of government, including with Cuan, Government Departments, Ministers, State agencies and other decision-making bodies, to influence public policy affecting the DSGBV sector.
• Maintain a deep and current knowledge of the DSGBV policy landscape, contributing to national policy development, including pre-budget submissions where appropriate.
• Identify how Safe Ireland can differentiate its work and ensure this is communicated clearly, consistently and compellingly across all channels.

6. People Leadership and Culture

• Provide strategic leadership and support to the Director of Operations and Senior Management Team in leading the staff team.
• Develop a high-performing management team, agreeing direction and motivating the team to achieve results.
• Champion equality, diversity and inclusion, and ensure Safe Ireland's values are embedded in how the organisation manages and supports its people.

7. Integrity and Accountability

• Act with honesty, fairness and independence at all times.
• Identify, declare and manage any conflicts of interest or conflicts of loyalty.
• Protect and promote Safe Ireland's reputation, and respond to stakeholder queries regarding the work and governance of the organisation.

The role holder may be required from time to time to perform other duties as deemed reasonable and necessary by the Board, and to attend training, meetings or events at other locations, with reasonable notice given.

Personal Attributes

• A values-led leader with a genuine passion for Safe Ireland's mission, vision and values, and a demonstrable commitment to embedding these at the heart of the organisation's culture.
• An excellent relationship builder who thrives on working collaboratively with the Board, colleagues, member services and external stakeholders.
• Comfortable driving change and bringing people on the journey; open to ideas and skilled at working through proposals with a wide range of stakeholders.
• A strategic and empathic leader who is resilient, responds well to change, and combines pace and ambition with self-care and reflection.
• A growth mindset, with a belief in fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Excellent levels of discretion and judgement, and experience of dealing with highly sensitive and confidential information.
• A confident, credible spokesperson, comfortable operating in a media and public-facing environment.

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Senior management experience with a proven track record in governance, strategic, operational, change, financial and human resource management.
• Experience of working directly with, and reporting to, a Board of Management or Board of Directors.
• A strong understanding of the DSGBV landscape and of current national and international policy and best practice guidance, or a demonstrated ability to acquire this quickly.
• Demonstrated experience influencing public policy and building effective relationships at senior levels of government, statutory agencies or equivalent decision-making bodies.
• A successful track record of building and nurturing relationships with stakeholders, members and diverse collaborators across the broader community and voluntary sector.
• Experience leading fundraising initiatives and of funding and income diversification, including engagement with statutory funders such as the HSE, Tusla, Cuan or equivalent bodies.
• A track record of acting as a spokesperson within a media environment, and of representing an organisation publicly and persuasively.
• Strong understanding of how to communicate effectively, directly and indirectly, with members and external stakeholders across multiple platforms.
• Strong interpersonal and professional skills, including communication, networking, resilience, operational effectiveness, flexibility and the ability to drive strategy.
• Experience leading within environments involving vulnerable individuals, safeguarding responsibilities or trauma-informed practice is desirable.
• Sound understanding of information technology and social media, and their strategic use by a national organisation.

Key Performance Expectations

Within the first three years in post, the CEO will be expected to:

• Deliver the current strategic plan.
• Development and delivery of the organisation’s Strategic Plan 2027-2030
• Strengthen the organisation's long-term financial sustainability.
• Deepen engagement with, and support to, member services.
• Increase Safe Ireland's influence in national public policy.
• Develop organisational capability and culture.
• Enhance Safe Ireland's visibility and credibility nationally.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinking
• Collaborative leadership
• Political acumen
• Influencing and negotiation
• Decision-making under pressure
• Financial stewardship
• Change leadership
• Relationship building
• Media and public engagement

Qualifications, Experience & Knowledge

• Education to degree level or equivalent experience of management at a similar level, as a minimum; a higher-level management qualification is desirable.
• At least five years' experience in a senior leadership role, ideally within the not-for-profit, NGO or public sector, or a comparable complex, regulated environment.
• Experience of the not-for-profit sector is essential.
• Subject matter expertise, or strong working knowledge, in one or more of the following areas is desirable: DSGBV, Community Development, Women's Studies, Children & Young People, Social Policy, or Law as it relates to DSGBV.
• Knowledge of, and experience in, charity governance, Charity Regulatory Authority requirements, and compliance frameworks relevant to the community and voluntary sector.

What We Offer You

• HSE Consolidated Pay scales (June 2026) CEO BAND H1 HOSPITALS, commensurate with experience
• Pension: employer contribution through the Safe Ireland Pension Scheme, once probation is passed.
• Annual Leave: 25 working days annual leave per annum, exclusive of public holidays.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24-hour support and counselling services available to staff.

How to Apply

Please send a detailed CV and cover letter, outlining your suitability for the role with reference to the person specification above, in confidence to: recruitment@canavanbyrne.ie

Closing Date: 30/09/2026

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. This role is subject to the receipt of satisfactory written validated references and Garda Vetting.

Safe Ireland is an equal opportunities employer.

Job Type: Full-time

Work Location: In person