SWAI CEO POSITION 

Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) is currently recruiting a new CEO. Reporting to the SWAI Board, the successful applicant will join our small yet passionate and robust team to change the conversation about sex work in Ireland. This role is 3 days per week on an initial 6-month contract commencing January 2025.

We are seeking enthusiastic applicants to apply for the position by addressing the essential and desirable criteria below in a cover letter (no more than 700 Words please) and CV via email addressed to Leea Berry, SWAI Chair, chair@swai.eu. Closing date for applications received is 17:00 GMT Friday 22nd November. Please note, applications without a cover letter addressing the criteria and/or CV will not be considered. Applications that do not meet the shortlisting criteria will not be responded to due to limited resources. AI-generated applications will be rejected, SWAI is only accepting real, authentic human replies.

As SWAI is currently a peer-led organisation, we would particularly welcome applications from people of all genders with sex work experience whether it be current, former, outdoor, indoor or online. SWAI is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing flexible and competitive work conditions including 7 weeks (pro-rata) of annual leave per year.

SWAI advocates for the human rights of all current and former sex workers on the island of Ireland (north and south), be they LGBTQIA+, hetero, cis, trans, people of colour, Traveller, disabled, able-bodied, male, female, non-binary, undocumented, migrant, drug-using, neurodiverse, or of any faith. For more information about the work of SWAI go to Sex Workers Alliance Ireland – fighting for the rights of sex workers.

Salary range description: €50,000-52,000 pro-rata 3 days per week

Location: Remote working based within the island of Ireland

Type: Contracted for 6 months commencing January 2025, with ongoing potential dependent on securing further funding. 3 days per week (21 hours), these hours can be done flexibly. Further hours available are dependent on funding and resource allocation. Will include some out-of-office hours and some travel throughout Ireland.

Category: Non-government organisation.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA (Paid or unpaid experience):

• Leadership and management skills including meeting/network facilitation
• Experience in marginalised community advocacy
• Public speaking and training delivery
• Policy (organisational and public) and submission writing
• Organisational planning, including Strategic and programme planning
• Experience of grant-writing and securing funding
• Experience in community organising and campaign leadership
• A commitment to Community Development principles
• An understanding of and commitment to decriminalisation of sex work in Ireland and upholding the human rights of sex workers

DESIRABLE CRITERIA (Paid or unpaid experience):

• Sex work experience whether it be current, former, outdoor, indoor or online. Please note SWAI engages in a policy of not outing sex workers and adheres to strict confidentiality and safeguarding procedures.
• Experience within a sex worker organisation and/or community organising
• Experience in working within contractual funding requirements, reporting and adherence
• Understanding organisational budgeting and reporting
• Media training or experience of speaking with the media
• Monitoring and evaluation of projects

Job Description SWAI CEO

The role of CEO is to promote the health, safety, participation and dignity of all female, male, cis and trans sex workers in Ireland. The duties are:

• Coordinating, supervising and mentoring staff members in community work/organising and campaigns.
• Developing and implementing annual work plans to achieve the goals of the strategic plan.
• Overseeing a strategy for the ongoing and sustained support for the participation of sex workers in all SWAIs work.
• Working with staff members and the board to identify funding opportunities, develop funding proposals and take responsibility for implementing funded projects.
• Overseeing the development of a campaign to counter the criminalisation of sex workers.
• Developing, peer reviewing, delivering and evaluating Sex Worker Awareness Training, both online and in person.
• Facilitating the SWAI Allies Network.
• Engaging a range of civil society (community groups, NGOs, advocacy organisations, etc.) stakeholders to support the human rights of sex workers and alternatives to the Nordic model.
• Representing SWAI at events, external meetings, on external structures and bodies and in the media.
• Developing relationships with politicians, civil servants and relevant stakeholders as part of campaigning and advocacy work.
• Preparing reports for internal and external purposes and coordinate relevant research and policy positions.
• Reporting in a transparent and thorough manner to the Board of Directors on all matters relating to the finances and management of SWAI.
• Ensuing the organisation operates in compliance with all relevant statutory regulations.
• Performing daily administrative tasks.

These duties are a guide to the general range of responsibilities and are neither definitive nor restrictive. The CEO or may from time to time have to undertake other duties in keeping with the overall function of the post.