Job description

Director - Women in Business NI (Exclusive to VANRATH)

VANRATH are delighted to be working exclusively with Women in Business NI Ltd (WiB) to recruit a strategic Director to provide leadership and operational management to sustain and grow the Women in Business network.

Women in Business Northern Ireland (WiB) is the leading network for women in business and enterprise across Northern Ireland. With a vibrant community of (circa 160 Corporate members and 1500 individual members) from every sector and stage of career, our mission is to encourage, empower and support women to achieve their full potential in both their professional and personal lives.

Reporting to the The WiB Group CEO The Director of WiB NI will provide strategic leadership and operational management to sustain and grow the Women in Business network. They will drive revenue generation, manage key partnerships, ensure strong governance, and oversee the delivery of an ambitious events and enterprise programme portfolio. This is a high-impact role for a dynamic, strategic leader who is passionate about women's economic empowerment and organisational excellence.

Rewards:

Excellent remuneration and comprehensive benefits package
Opportunity to work with a dynamic and passionate team.
A strategic leadership role in a growing business
Flexible/Hybrid Working

The Role:

Strategic Leadership & Growth

Lead the development and execution of the Women in Business strategy, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and values.
Identify, drive and deliver new opportunities for business development, sponsorship and funding.
Grow and sustain the network through innovative partnerships, stakeholder engagement and membership development.

Stakeholder & Partner Engagement

Build and maintain strategic relationships with corporate partners, funders, government agencies and community stakeholders.
Act as an ambassador for WIB, representing the organisation at senior levels across business, public, and third sectors.
Build collaboration with key networks, chambers and equality-focused initiatives.

Events & Programme Delivery

Oversee delivery of a dynamic annual programme including 3 major conferences, 2 awards ceremonies, a Chair's Lunch, and approximately 60 networking events for members.
Ensure the successful delivery of both funded and unfunded enterprise programmes.
Drive innovation and excellence in all event and programme activity to maximise impact and participation.

Financial & Operational Management

Develop, monitor and manage the business units' annual budget to ensure financial sustainability.
Build revenue generation through memberships, sponsorships, partnerships and programme income.
Ensure robust governance, compliance and best practice in operational delivery.

People & Culture

Manage, motivate and develop a high performing team of 8-10 staff members.
Build a high-performance, inclusive and collaborative culture aligned with WiB's mission and values.
Implement best practice in HR, performance management and professional development.
Collaborate closely with the other Group Directors to drive initiatives that benefit the wider organisation.
Proactively engage with external partners and stakeholders, acting as a brand ambassador to enhance the WiB Group's profile and influence.

The Person:

Essential Criteria:

Minimum 5 years senior leadership experience in a comparable organisation, membership body, or business network.
Strong track record in income generation, stakeholder management, and partnership development
Experience managing budgets and ensuring financial sustainability.
Demonstrated success in event or programme management at scale.
Excellent people leadership, communication and influencing skills.
Commitment to gender equality, diversity and inclusive economic growth.

Desirable Criteria:

Experience in social enterprise or charitable leadership.
Familiarity with Northern Ireland's business and policy landscape.
Understanding of enterprise support or women's leadership development programmes.

For further information on this vacancy, or any other Executive job in Belfast or Northern Ireland, apply via the link below or contact Joanne Gordon for a confidential chat today.