CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
LOCATION: Dublin City Centre
SALARY: Competitive
HOURS: Full Time
STARTING DATE: Immediate
HOLIDAYS: **Apply on the website** days per annum
REPORTING TO: Board of Directors
Fighting Blindness is a unique organisation founded in **Apply on the
website**, its mission being to find treatments and cures for
conditions causing severe sight loss, supporting individuals and
families affected through our Insight Counselling Service and
empowering the visually impaired community through advocacy and
opportunity. Fighting Blindness brings together leading experts who
share its pioneering vision for the future and we are looking for a
thought leader to join our innovative team to lead it through its next
phase of development.
JOB CONTEXT AND PERSON SPECIFICATION
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO will provide overall
leadership to the organisation and will advance an agenda that is
relevant to the organisation?s strategic vision while providing
value to its members. They will manage the day to day operational
activities and the **Apply on the website** staff members, building on
the strong organisational culture to be a leading light in its
community. They will be accountable for the policies, events and
campaigns undertaken by the organisation and will ensure continuity
through contacts with members and other key stakeholders.
The ideal candidate will have strong leadership and a track record of
successfully achieving goals. The Fighting Blindness CEO must be a
confident partner to the members, the board, the health research and
clinical communities.
A minimum of?five years? experience?in a relevant management role
is required with the proven ability to lead by example and motivate
teams and individuals to attain high performance levels; identify
strategically important issues and operationalise strategic plans;
engage staff in development of organisational goals and personal
goals; engage, promote and enhance supportive relationships with
appropriate external groups and agencies. The post holder will be
passionate about leading a unique organisation and will share the
vision and values underpinning all that Fighting Blindness does.
They will have excellent written and oral communication skills,
ideally with experience of dealing with a wide range of stakeholders,
good interpersonal and teamwork skills, the ability to communicate
persuasively, work well under pressure and coordinate wide-ranging
stakeholder perspectives. The candidate will be expected to lead the
strategising, planning, organising and prioritising on behalf of
Fighting Blindness and its members, and have the ability to be
flexible in a changing environment.
Suitable candidates will be able to identify with the needs of the
people living with sight loss as well as recognise the crucial role
research has to health outcomes. They will be interested in the
development of team and individual staff competencies and their own
personal and career development.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Chief Executive Officer, reporting to the Board of Directors
(through the Chair) will work with members and stakeholder
organisations in order to implement the Fighting Blindness strategy.
The duties include:
* Serve as the full time senior executive;
* Lead the execution of the vision, collaborating with a board of
directors, and build a strong staff focus on organisational priorities
with commitment to reaching strategic goals;
* Ensure the achievement of fundraising goals. Be proactive in
working with Head of Fundraising to develop the organisations network
and opportunity for income streams;
* Build relationships with key decision makers in bodies
representing the visually impaired, Government, health, science and
pharmaceutical sectors;
* Develop and manage the implementation of strategic plans,
operational plans, budgets and financial planning;
* Be proactive in spreading the organisations message of
collaboration by being a media spokesperson; speaking at conferences
and producing commentaries to promote and develop the organisations
services;
* Initiate, develop and evaluate new project opportunities in
Ireland and EU, ensuring their viability through sustainable funding
sources;
* Be approachable and flexible, the successful candidate knows how
to break down barriers and promote sharing of information. They will
seek to create a culture of collaboration and sharing information;
* Manage the relationship with existing funders;
THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA ARE CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL:
* Business / Science qualification at degree or higher level
* At least 5-years experience in public or private sector, ideally
in a health or charity related domain
* Entrepreneurial attitude and ability to identify, develop and
sustain new funding streams
* Ability to liaise with government agencies, academia, groups
representing the visually impaired and industry at the highest levels
with credibility
* Proven excellent managerial competence and leadership
* Understanding of and commitment to the three strategic pillars:
Cure, Support and Empower in serving members and the visually impaired
community
* Fluent in English
DESIRABLE CRITERIA:
* Experience in communications and media relations
* Some experience or knowledge of the voluntary sector
* Competency in typical computer applications such as MS Office
Suite
* Experience in governance requirements and compliance with the
charity regulations.
APPLICATION DETAILS
Interested candidates should submit a copy of their curriculum vitae
and cover letter to Anna Moran at **Apply on the website** by close of
business on **Apply on the website** May **Apply on the website**.
_FIGHTING BLINDNESS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER._
We need : English (Good)
Type: Permanent
Payment:
Category: Health
