Job Description
Impact Manager
Position: Impact Manager
Location: Dublin [hybrid working, with 1-2 days per week in the office]
Hours of work: Full time
Salary: €53,000 EUR plus health insurance and employer contributory pension
The post holder will work closely with:
- the Director of Programmes to ensure alignment with programme strategy, design, and delivery
- with the Communications & Engagement Manager to ensure alignment between impact evidence, organisational messaging, and external communications outputs
- with the MEAL Officer and Country Director in Malawi
About Irish Rule of Law International (IRLI):
IRLI is a civil society organisation supported by both branches of the legal professions across the island of Ireland. We work to strengthen justice systems that uphold human rights across multiple jurisdictions. Our current programmes strengthen access to justice in Malawi, advance survivor-centred justice in Tanzania, and support anti-corruption and accountability in Zambia. We also deliver a small number of projects, both in our programme countries and elsewhere, in cooperation with pro bono, civil society, and human rights partners.
IRLI was established in 2007 by the Law Society of Ireland and the Bar Council of Ireland. The Law Society of Northern Ireland and the Bar of Northern Ireland joined as partners in 2015. We are further supported by the Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Ireland, and the European Union.
We operate from offices in Dublin, Ireland, and Lilongwe, Malawi, with one staff member also currently based in Lusaka, Zambia. We adopt a multidisciplinary approach. Our work is locally driven, grounded in priorities identified by stakeholders, and delivered in partnership with communities through strong alliances with local organisations. Since our beginnings, we have collaborated with academics, judges, legal practitioners, policymakers, and civil society to deepen collective understanding of the relationship between the rule of law, democracy, sustainable development, and human rights.
Position Summary:
IRLI has progressively grown through the years, expanding on both its programme portfolio and working networks. The organisation is now at an exciting stage having recently published its 2026 – 2030 strategic plan, secured multi-annual funding, and established a broad programme base, ranging from access to justice, institutional capacity building, and legal education. As a result, IRLI is seeking to expand its work both thematically and geographically. In this context, the organisation has created a new role of Impact Manager to lead the design and implementation of a coherent organisational impact framework. The role will embed structured measurement systems across the organisation, ensuring that all impact measurement is aligned with IRLI’s strategic objectives and funding requirements.
The role will work closely with programme teams across all jurisdictions to ensure that impact measurement reflects programme realities, supports adaptive programme design, and strengthens the quality and consistency of programme delivery.
The role will be closely aligned with programme leadership to ensure that impact systems and learning processes are grounded in programme delivery and support strategic programme development.
This is an exciting time to join IRLI, with the organisation entering a new strategic phase and exploring multi-annual funding opportunities. The post holder will play a key role in supporting the development of a multi-annual proposal for IRLI’s work in Malawi, ensuring that programme design is underpinned by robust evidence, clear theories of change, and measurable impact.
The role is designed to complement and strengthen existing programme, operations, and communications functions, ensuring clarity of roles while enhancing IRLI’s overall effectiveness and impact.
The Impact Manager will work full time and will be based in IRLI’s office in Dublin, with occasional travel to programme field locations. They will report to and work directly under the supervision ofa member of the senior management team.
Main Responsibilities:
Organisational Impact Framework
- Design and implement an organisation-wide Impact & Learning Framework.
- Develop aligned systems with each programme.
- Provide analysis and insights to strengthen our work and inform our strategic decisions.
- Establish KPIs linked to IRLI’s strategic plan.
- Embed a culture of learning and evidence-based impact, generating trusted, credible and actionable impact information.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)
- Develop standardised data collection tools and processes across the programmes, including conducting quantitative and qualitative data analysis of monitoring data, working closely with the Malawi team.
- Support staff in applying the measurement systems within their roles, including staff training on these systems.
- Ensure quality, consistency and reliability of impact data.
- Design, co-ordinate, and support internal and external research, as required.
- Ensure systematic monitoring and evaluation of our work, set rigorous and consistent standards and guidance to support learning and deepen impact.
- Work closely with programme teams to ensure that monitoring and evaluation approaches are practical, context-appropriate, and embedded within programme delivery.
- Collaborate with the Director of Programmes and programme teams to ensure that monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning approaches support programme effectiveness and continuous improvement.
Programme Support & Learning
- Support programme teams in integrating results-based approaches into programme design and implementation.
- Facilitate cross-programme learning between IRLI’s work in different jurisdictions.
- Identify and synthesise lessons learned to inform programme adaptation and strategic decision-making.
- Contribute to the development of new programme concepts and proposals.
Communications & External Impact Presentation
- Work with the Communications & Engagement Manager to translate impact data into clear, accurate, and audience-appropriate communications.
- Produce impact reports, summaries, and dashboards for staff, board, funders, and partners.
- Produce data in an appropriate format for the organisation’s Annual Report.
- Provide evidence-based content and analysis to support communications outputs, while ensuring alignment with programme priorities and messaging.
Fundraising
- Working with the Senior Management team:
- Support the development of high-quality funding and project proposals, ensuring they are grounded in evidence and aligned with IRLI’s strategy.
- Strengthen and maintain IRLI’s evidence base to support funding applications and broader business development efforts.
- Work closely with programme teams to ensure that funding proposals are grounded in programme experience, operational realities, and evidence of impact.
Other
- Work closely with staff across the organisation, including colleagues in programme countries, to support the use of evidence and impact data in programme delivery, reporting, and external communications.
- Support the Director of Operations in measuring and evaluating staff initiatives when required, such as staff surveys, training programmes, and development efforts, to drive continuous improvement and engagement.
- Support the Executive Director in communicating the impact of our work in communications, including articles, papers, and in-person presentations.
- Other responsibilities that may be identified as the role develops.
Person Specification:
Essential Experience
Minimum 2 years’ experience in:
- monitoring & evaluation, impact measurement, or results-based management.
- working within nonprofit organisations.
- developing measurement systems and applying results-based methodologies.
Essential Skills
- Strong analytical and systems-thinking capability.
- Excellent written communication skills.
- Ability to translate complex programme activity into measurable outcomes.
- Strong organisational and project management skills.
- Ability to support and strengthen capacity among colleagues.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across programme, operations, and communications teams.
Desirable Experience
- Experience in international development and/or the justice sector.
- Experience working across multi-country or multi-jurisdictional programmes.
- Experience supporting grant applications and donor reporting.
- Experience managing institutional donor grants.
- Experience working in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualification in Monitoring & Evaluation or Results-Based Management (or equivalent experience)
- Degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field, such as international development, public policy, human rights law.
Desirable
- Communications-related qualification
IRLI Values
It is expected that everyone working with IRLI commits to working according to the organisation’s values:
- Participation: We are rooted in partnership and collaboration, built on shared learning and mutual respect. We listen to and are guided by partner needs and priorities.
- Humility: We approach our work with openness and respect, aware that our role is to support, and learn from those closest to the issues.
- Compassion: We are committed to strengthening justice systems where all people are treated with dignity, where they can place their trust and feel protected.
- Integrity: We act with honesty, transparency and fairness, holding ourselves and our partners to the highest ethical standards.
- Justice: Justice and equality guide everything we do, ensuring fairness for people is not just an aim but a standard.
Terms and conditions:
- Full time work hours 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday with 30 minutes for lunch per day
- Annual leave is 25 days per annum.
- A company pension scheme [IRLI shall match any contributions made by the Employee to the IRLI company scheme, to a maximum of 5%]
- Health Insurance, up to €2,000 per annum
- Professional development opportunities
- In addition to the statutory public holidays, IRLI gives 4 company days per year, one on Good Friday and three during the Christmas and New Year period
How to apply
Recruitment and Applications
We welcome applications from across the island of Ireland.
The deadline for submission of applications is Friday 31st July 2026 at 5pm.
First interviews will take place on Wednesday 9th September 2026 in person. [If the candidate is based outside Ireland, an online interview can be facilitated].
Second interviews will take place on Wednesday 16th September 2026.
Candidates will be contacted, if they are shortlisted for interview and to arrange a time, by Friday 14th August 2026.
Please submit:
- A curriculum vitae.
The CV must be no more than three pages in length and use font size no smaller than 11.
It should include the names and contact details of two referees (who will not be contacted without seeking permission).
- A cover letter.
The letter must be no more than two pages in length and use font size no smaller than 11.
Please describe why you are interested in the position and summarise your relevant experience and suitability for the post.
- Only applications received through careers@irishruleoflaw.ie will be considered.
- All applications must be submitted with the email subject line “Impact Manager”.
- All applicants must have current and valid authorisation to work in the Republic of Ireland at the time of application.
- Any applications which do not meet the stipulated requirements may be rejected.
Any queries should be directed to IRLI to Sean McHale at smchale@irishruleoflaw.ie