Director of Strategic Partnerships, Advocacy Fundraising
Established in 1960, Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA), is one of Ireland’s leading representative organisations and service providers for people with physical disabilities. IWA’s mission is to work with, and on behalf of, people with physical disabilities to drive positive change through the influencing of public policy, the provision of quality services and enabling accessibility to all aspects of society. For the sixth consecutive year, IWA has been ranked in the top 10 of Ireland’s Best 150 employers reaching second position in 2025.
THE POSITION
The Director of Strategic Partnerships, Advocacy Fundraising will play a pivotal leadership role in advancing IWA’s mission by strengthening IWA’s national profile and reputation, enhancing engagement with government, corporate and community partners and identifying and delivering on fundraising income to support the work of IWA.
As a member of the Senior Management Team and reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Director will provide strategic leadership across IWA’s functions spanning advocacy, corporate partnerships, communications, fundraising, retail and campus management.
This role will ensure high-quality advocacy, public messaging, and media engagement to influence policy ensuring high-impact public messaging and national-level influence, will build on and establish new partnerships to further the mission of IWA, while overseeing the growth of fundraised and partnership income.
REQUIREMENTS
Suitably qualified and interested candidates will be operating at or near director level, with a proven track record in building and sustaining strategic partnerships that drive influence, extend reach, and deliver meaningful impact.
With a proven track record of growing income, diversifying fundraising channels and enhancing reputation, candidates will be commercially minded, bringing a sharp understanding of opportunity, value, and sustainability in a mission-driven context.
The ideal candidate will be a credible advocate for IWA’s mission and have appropriate executive leadership experience with a track record of managing and developing high-performing teams.
REMUNERATION
A competitive remuneration package will be on offer to the successful candidate.
HOW TO APPLY
If you believe that you meet the requirements necessary to take on this important role, please submit a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae via the available ‘Apply Option’ in strictest confidence, for the attention of Eilish Devine, Practice Leader of our retained executive search partners, Principal Connections – executive search on or before 12 noon on 22nd August 2025.
For a confidential discussion please contact Eilish Devine on +353 (0)1 703 88 09.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Principal Connections is acting as an employment agency and has been retained to manage this key appointment.
We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and encourage applications under all nine grounds of the Employment Equality Act.
Candidates for this post will be sourced through both an advertised selection and executive search process.
Please note that any offer of employment will be made subject to satisfactory reference checks as well as any other background checks and assessments considered appropriate to the process.
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ABOUT PRINCIPAL CONNECTIONS
Principal Connections is Ireland’s leading executive search and leadership consulting firm and is part of Agilium Worldwide LLC (est. 1984), independently ranked one of the world’s top global executive search groups. (55+ offices, 30+ countries, 250+ consultants).