Position of Project Officer for the DICE Project

Position of Project Officer for the DICE Project Duties attached to the post of Project Officer of the DICE Core Project 2009-10

The DICE Programme is comprised of two parts, a central project hub known as the DICE Core Project and the DICE lectures within five participating colleges of Education. The position being offered is for the DICE Core Project which is situated in the Church of Ireland College of Education. DICE Core has two staff members, a full-time Project Coordinator and part-time Project Officer (2.5 days per week)

The primary roles of the Project Officer during 2009-10 will involve:

 implementing of the activities of the DICE Core Project so that it achieves maximum success in fulfilling the project objectives set out as objectives for the DICE Project for 2007-09 (the strategic objectives are outlined in the background information on the DICE Project. These objectives will remain the same during 2009-2010)

 implementing (in conjunction with the Coordinator) the project activities outlined in the Action Plan for 2009/2010 (See document “DICE Project Activity Plan 2009-10”)

 supporting the DICE Network and activities within the five participating Irish colleges of education

The successful candidate will be expected to:

 Promote DE and ICE within colleges of education  Support the DICE Network  Plan and participate in meetings and conferences pertinent to DE and ICE . Serve as an active member on relevant committees  Build and develop liaisons and networks in the field of DE and ICE  Plan or lead occasional staff seminars in the area of DE and/or ICE  Undertake project activities as delegated by the Project Coordinator and duties which emerge from the strategic planning processes

1 The successful candidate should have:

 Relevant third-level qualifications  Experience and knowledge of Development Education and/or Intercultural Education  An understanding of primary education and/or initial teacher education  Experience of organising educational events (workshops, seminars, conferences)  Evidence of excellent communication skills to include facilitation and presentation skills.  Some experience in research/and or writing in areas relevant to teacher education and/or Development Education and Intercultural Education. An understanding of how research is conducted in education sector would be useful.

The successful candidate should have skills in the following areas:

. Communications (Familiarity with various communications tools such as email, website updating, basic desktop publishing, skype etc.) . Planning (Organising and following up events, meetings, seminars, coordinating collaborative projects between colleges etc) . Administration (Managing the resources at DICE, planning and managing agreed project work targets, evaluating success of same) . Interpersonal (Liaising with a variety of stakeholders in various contexts, lecturers within colleges, building and sustaining relationships with various groups and individuals) . Critical awareness (Ability to read and analyse DE and ICE resources, teaching materials and/or research critically) . Facilitation/ presentation and teaching skills (Delivering/facilitating seminars, workshops and/or presentations to various groups) . Ability to show initiative (ability to complete task or to work alone at times)

ATTITUDES:

. Conscientious and an ability to show an attention to detail . Interested in global justice and also education . Ability to manage workload (realistically within a part-time 2.5 day timeframe)

2 Further Details about the Post of DICE Project Officer

1. The Project Officer (along with the Co-ordinator) will engage in undertaking activities in the DICE Core project areas as outlined below: (a) College Support (b) Conferences and Events (c) Resources (d) Professional development in Development Education and Intercultural Education (e) Liaising and collaboration with stakeholders in the development education and intercultural education sector (f) Research

The majority of the Project Officer’s duties will relate to college support in areas such as planning seminars, conferences/training events and resources.

2. The Project Officer in conjunction with the Co-ordinator will engage in the DICE Core Project initiatives to ensure that the Project’s strategic objectives as set out in the 2007-09 project proposal are achieved and activities as set out in the Activity Schedule 2009-10 are undertaken (See document “DICE Core Project Activity Plan 2009-10”)

3. The Project Officer will assist the Coordinator to implement the yearly action plan which indicates the aims and expected outcomes of the implementation of the project’s strategic objectives as set out in the DICE Proposal for 2007-09 and the DICE Core Project Activity Plan for 2009-10

4 The Project Officer will assist the Coordinator to develop performance criteria for the evaluation of DICE Core activities.

3 5. The Project Officer will undertake work delegated by the Co-ordinator and will liaise with and report regularly to the Co-ordinator on all aspects of their work.

6. The Project Officer will meet periodically with the Management Committee to review project work and to plan activities.

College Support: Working with lecturers within Colleges of Education and running the DICE Network

The Project Officer will assist the Project Coordinator to plan, co-ordinate and maintain an active DICE Network and to participate in this network. The DICE Project Officer will be involved in:

 collaboration with and support of the designated DE/ICE lecturers in the five colleges of education and the DICE Network to share good practice in DE and ICE.  collaboration with the colleges and other key stakeholders to develop models of best practice in DE and ICE within colleges and ultimately within primary education  the promotion of good practice in DE and ICE through facilitating workshop, such as the workshops on the DICE Manual of Good Practice and other such resources for third level educators  supporting colleges of education in DE and ICE through publication and dissemination of research reports, journal articles and other on-line and printed educational publications.  supporting college staff through organisation and provision of events like an annual conferences and workshops  furthering development of the DICE website as a resource for students and college staff  supporting the DICE lecturers within colleges of education (where required) in planning extra-curricular events in colleges such as global

4 days, fair trade days, development education resource fairs and inter- college activities such as workshops/seminars, debates and film clubs.  supporting Africa orientation programmes and other initiatives to do with North-South college initiatives in developing countries. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 1: TO FACILITATE AND FURTHER DEVELOP THE EMBEDDING AND INTEGRATION OF DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION AND INTERCULTURAL EDUCATION IN ALL COLLEGES OF EDUCATION BY BUILDING UP A NETWORK AND PROVIDING SUPPORT STRUCTURES FOR COLLEGES

1.1 Supporting the Network  Organise the Network meeting (book a venue, draft agenda, send notice for meeting and agenda around to Network, taking minutes and sending minutes around.)  Support the Coordinator to coordinate a review of communications systems in the Network.

1.2 Building opportunities for continuous professional development (CPD) for DICE lecturers and other professionals within the partnership colleges of the DICE Programme  Liaise with the lecturers to organise their inputs into the network meetings (communicating with them about the input, organising whatever they need to deliver it)  Liaise with lecturers in colleges to arrange CPD opportunities in DE and ICE for college staff, DICE lecturers, and staff other than DICE lecturers  Where external expertise is required the Project Officer should assist the Coordinator to identify relevant speakers, to book them and organise their input into the network meeting.

1.3 DICE Core will communicate effectively with the Network and stakeholders  Support the Coordinator to organise the review of communications systems  Conduct a thorough review, in conjunction with the DICE Strategy Development Process, of the newsletter and website and replace, update where necessary with a more suitable format  In conjunction with the Coordinator and the DICE Network organise a Network team-building event/ weekend for Core and Network (plan it, research options, book venues, workshops etc, liaise with all involved)

Conferences and Events The Project Officer in conjunction with the Coordinator will:

5  Organise the annual DICE conference for college staff, students in the colleges, interested practising teachers and the wider development education community.  Organise workshops/seminars on global and justice themes by DICE (core) team and/or guest facilitators.

Resources The Project Officer will promote and develop resources and teaching materials for DE and ICE for use in colleges of education and primary education generally. The DICE Project Officer will:  Liaise with designated college lecturers to identify teaching resources for college lecturers and students in the areas of DE and ICE  Develop further a network for sharing knowledge and practice regarding such resources  Develop further and maintain the DICE website so that it becomes a significant resource for college staff, students and teachers in the areas of DE and ICE

Liaising and collaboration with stakeholders in the development and intercultural education sector The Coordinator will lead the DICE Core Project in liaising with groups and organisations which promote education about social and economic equality at a local and global level such as NGDO’s. It is expected that the Project Officer will contribute to this work. Research The Project Officer will be expected in conjunction with the Coordinator to develop further the research dimension of the project. In conjunction with the DICE lecturers within colleges and/or a research committee the Project Officer will assist the Coordinator to:

 Identify, carry out, commission and evaluate relevant research projects.

6  Disseminate research undertaken by DICE as well as other relevant research

 Contribute where appropriate to conferences by presenting research findings on Development Education and Intercultural Education within primary teacher education and primary education in general.

Planning and Administration

 DICE Core meetings. The Coordinator and Project Officer will arrange team meetings to update each other of project plans and work

 Network meetings. The Project Officer will be centrally involved in organising these, planning a venue etc

 Management Committee Meetings. The Project Officer may be required to attend Management Committee meetings on occasion.

 Advisory Committee Meetings. The Project Officer may be required to attend some meetings of the DICE Advisory Committee

 Strategy Development Process meetings. Project Officer may be involved in providing administrative support to the Steering group involved in this process.

Management of the Project: Direct management of the DICE Core Project is the remit of the DICE Project Management Committee within the Church of Ireland College of Education. The MC meets regularly and oversees the implementation of the project. It is accountable to the project funder, Irish Aid. The Coordinator is a member of the Management Committee and will report regularly to it at all meetings. The Project Officer will meet with the Management Committee periodically. Advisory Committee The DICE Advisory Committee has acted as an advisory committee to the DICE Core Project and through it to the DICE Network. Its role during 2007- 09 was to consider ways in which Development Education and Intercultural Education could be successfully integrated into initial primary teacher education and primary education more generally.

7 Membership of the DICE Advisory Committee has been drawn from:  various bodies and agencies such as NGDO’s, DES, Irish Aid, INTO, DICE Project Management Committee and the DICE Coordinator  colleges of education The committee meets 2-3 times annually and has advised on issues relating to DE and ICE within initial teacher education, teacher education generally and primary education. This Advisory Committee may be subject to some change arising from discussions during the strategic review process occurring during 2009-10.

Salary This post of Project Officer is by fixed term contract until 31st August 2010. The position is a part- time one of 2.5 days per week. The annual salary for this part-time position will be within the range of €20,000 to €26,000 (to be agreed with the successful candidate) and the salary for the period set out by contract will be calculated on this basis. Payment will be made on a pro rata basis and paid monthly in arrears from the date of appointment until 31 st August 2010. It is expected that the appointment will begin in October 2009. This position is funded by Irish Aid.

Application procedure:

Please complete the application form supplied and return it accompanied by a cover letter of application and a CV together with the names and contact details of three referees to the Church of Ireland College. Please state clearly on your letter and application which post you wish to apply for. Applications marked DICE Project should be sent to:

The Principal

The Church of Ireland College of Education

96 Upper Rathmines Road,

Dublin 6.

Closing date: 5 p.m. Wednesday 2nd September.

(Interviews are expected to be held in early September)