Children’s Books Ireland is committed to inclusion of all readers in our work, with a strategic commitment to including children, young people and families who read in Irish.
We are seeking an Irish Language Officer to work two days per week, promoting the Irish language internally and overseeing the provision of the organisation’s services through the medium of Irish. The successful candidate will have an interest in and knowledge of children’s literature. They will inform the ongoing development and implementation of the organisation’s Irish Language Strategy and make strategic connections within the sector. They will work with the whole team to raise the profile of the Irish language, within the resources and remit of the organisation.

About the role
Reporting to the CEO, the Irish Language Officer will:

Oversee the implementation of Children’s Books Ireland’s Irish Language Strategy to deliver on its objectives, and develop the strategy into the future.
Assume the role of Irish Language Editor for Children’s Books Ireland’s publications, including Inis magazine, themed reading lists and reading guides, working closely with the Publications Officer. This element of the role encompasses book selection for review, managing a database of reviewers and contributing to a joint editorial in Inis three times per year.
Make strategic connections with publishers, funding bodies, government and semi-State bodies, Irish language bodies and other organisations that promote children’s books and reading in Irish.
Identify opportunities for funding and partnership with sector stakeholders.
Manage applications, reporting and relationships with funders to further the aims of the organisation.
Translate or coordinate translation of copy for print documents, press releases, social media and the Children’s Books Ireland website.
Administer Children’s Books Ireland Book Clinic events when they are specifically aimed at Irish-speaking families – this may require occasional weekend work.
Requirements
The successful candidate will:

Be able to confidently carry out the responsibilities outlined above while working independently and as part of a small, creative, fast-paced team.
Be a fluent, enthusiastic Irish speaker, comfortable with reading, writing and speaking Irish to a high level and translating accurately into Irish.
Have a strong knowledge of and interest in current children’s literature in Irish.
Have excellent digital literacy, with the ability use Slack, Dropbox and other office productivity tools to a high degree of proficiency.
Have excellent interpersonal skills and be comfortable working with partners on a wide variety of programmes as well as being part of a small, creative and dynamic team
Reporting To: CEO

Location: The successful candidate will have the option of working from the office on one or both days. Our office is based on the first floor at 17 North Great George’s Street, Dublin 1. Office location may change, but will remain in central Dublin.

Start date: As soon as possible.

Contract duration: Permanent, with a six month probation period.

Hours of work: 2 days per week (16 hours). Working hours are flexible between 8 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required, for which time off in lieu can be taken in accordance with company policy.

Remuneration/benefits: €12,000 per annum (€30,000 pro rata). 5% matching pension contribution after 6 months. 10 days’ annual leave. Ability to work flexibly. Mobile phone allowance of €14 per month and work from home allowance of €3.20 per day.

To apply: email cover letter and CV (preferably in one combined document) to [email protected], with IRISH LANGUAGE OFFICER in the subject line, before 4pm on 26th May 2023. Children’s Books Ireland is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all qualified applicants. The position will be subject to reference checks and may require Garda vetting.

About Children's Books Ireland
Children’s Books Ireland’s vision is simple: every child a reader. Our mission is:

to inspire a love of reading in children and young people in Ireland,
to share our expertise and enthusiasm with the adults who guide and influence them, and
to champion every child’s right to excellent books and live literature events and support the artists who make that goal possible across the island of Ireland.
Children’s Books Ireland is a registered charity. We deliver numerous projects that bring the joy of reading to children all over the island of Ireland including Laureate na nÓg (the children’s literature laureate), the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards, Children’s Books Ireland Book Clinics, a magazine and annual reading guide, an annual conference and various book-gifting schemes which ensure that children and young people in areas of need have access to books. Children’s Books Ireland is the go-to organisation for children’s book coverage across various media. For more information, see www.childrensbooksireland.ie and read our Strategic Plan here.