Systems & Impact Lead (SIL) in Omagh

Rural Action is a registered charity (NIC108163) established to meet an identified need to support grassroots communities through meaningful, community-driven projects and programmes. We specialise in designing, developing, and delivering initiatives that respond directly to the challenges and opportunities faced by rural people. Our mission is to inspire action and make a lasting, positive impact on everyday rural life. We believe in the strength of community, the value of shared spaces, and the potential of sustainable living.

We act as a Managing Agent for the International Fund for Ireland (IFI), managing the delivery in Northern Ireland of the IFI Personal Youth Development Programme (PYDP) and the Communities in Partnership (Cross Border) Programme. We are working in partnership with Cooperation Ireland and East Border Region to animate and provide support to grassroots communities to access funding opportunities under the SEUPB/Pobal managed PEACEPLUS Small Grants Programme. We are an Open College Network (OCN) accredited centre and deliver the OCN Level 1 in Developing and Managing Community Facilities. We undertake various assignments and commissions for central and local government, other statutory bodies and the community, voluntary sector, including pilot projects, evaluations, programme design, project assessments and appraisals. We deliver our own Rural Action Awards where we give back to communities each year. So far, we have invested nearly £30,000 in community action projects, injecting the equivalent of £1,000 per month back into rural communities. We have recently secured two major PEACEPLUS initiatives: RiSE (Rural Innovation and Social Enterprise), which focuses on empowering rural communities through enterprise and innovation, and MCS (Maximising Community Space), aimed at enhancing shared, inclusive spaces.

The Systems & Impact Lead is a new role focused on the delivery of our PEACEPLUS projects. They will strengthen our organisation's ability to understand, evidence and communicate the difference we make in rural communities. They will lead the development of our internal systems, support staff to use data confidently, and work closely with our PEACEPLUS Monitoring & Evaluation Officers to ensure we collect the right information, analyse it effectively, and build a strong evidence base for our work and for our funders.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead a review of current systems and processes to identify gaps, duplication and opportunities for improvement.
• Work with staff to understand their workflows and needs, using a user-centred approach.
• Design, source or adapt appropriate systems for data collection, storage and reporting.
• Ensure systems are accessible, efficient and aligned with organisational priorities.
• Support the integration of digital tools that enhance programme delivery and organisational learning.
• Work with our PEACEPLUS Monitoring & Evaluation Officers to ensure we collect the right data, meaningful, proportionate and aligned with our outcomes and compliant with programme rules and GDPR.
• Develop and maintain a clear data management framework for the organisation.
• Support staff to analyse data and turn it into insights that strengthen programmes.
• Produce internal dashboards, summaries and reports that help us understand our impact.
• Ensure compliance with data protection and ethical data practices.
• Help the organisation build a strong evidence base for its work and funders.
• Support teams to embed monitoring, evaluation and learning into their everyday work.
• Work with senior staff to identify trends, learning and opportunities emerging from our data.
• Contribute to funding applications and reports by providing clear, accurate evidence of impact.
• Provide training, guidance and hands-on support to staff using new or existing systems.
• Build confidence and capacity across the organisation in data literacy and evidence-informed practice.
• Act as a bridge between technical solutions and programme delivery teams.
• Work collaboratively across the organisation to ensure systems support our mission and values.
• Build strong relationships with staff, partners and funders to understand their information needs.
• Contribute to organisational planning and continuous improvement.

At Rural Action, we believe that how we work is just as important as what we achieve. These principles guide our culture and define what we expect from every member of our team:

• Champion our mission: Always promote Rural Action positively and help strengthen the partnerships that support our work.
• Act with integrity: Conduct yourself in a trustworthy, reasonable, and responsible manner in all aspects of your role.
• Foster respect and inclusion: Promote a harmonious working environment where everyone is treated with fairness, dignity, and equality and where intimidation or harassment is never tolerated.

The successful applicant will play a key role in helping Rural Action deliver its strategic plan, and as such, a flexible and proactive approach to work is essential. This post is based in Cookstown, with Rural Action currently operating a hybrid working model. Upon successful completion of the probation period, the postholder will have the opportunity to work flexibly within this model. However, due to the collaborative nature of this role, regular face-to-face engagement with colleagues and partners will be required. Access to personal transport is essential, as the role involves travel across Northern Ireland, the border region of Ireland, and occasionally further afield to attend meetings and events.