Cork Chamber, Fitzgerald House, Summerhill North, Cork T23 TD90. There is also the opportunity to work remotely. This will be agreed with your manager and dependant on business needs.

Enterprise Europe Network Ireland: 
The EEN project is part-funded by the European Commission. The EEN Ireland services helps Irish businesses innovate and grow internationally and are delivered by a partnership between Enterprise Ireland, Cork Chamber of Commerce, Dublin Chamber of Commerce and a number of Local Enterprise Offices. We help business grow through tailored support, new business and technology partnerships, commercial opportunities, licensing deals, and partner searches for EU funded R&D.  Our services are tailored to SMEs but are also available to all other businesses, universities and research centres. 

Enterprise Europe Network Worldwide:
The EEN is active in over 40 countries worldwide, bringing together experts from more than 450 partner organisations. The EEN is the largest support network for SMEs and combines international business expertise with local knowledge to help take businesses to new markets.

The EEN is active in over 40 countries worldwide, bringing together experts from more than 450 partner organisations. The EEN is the largest support network for SMEs and combines international business expertise with local knowledge to help take businesses to new markets.
Role Purpose:
The Enterprise Europe Network Executive will be responsible for managing and delivering the services and KPIs associated with the new work programme by improving the competitiveness and sustainability of SMEs in Europe and promoting entrepreneurship. 
It aims to do this by supporting SMEs in the following ways: 

• Assisting them to become more economically, environmentally and socially sustainable;
• Supporting their digitalisation and greater resilience to shocks;
• Supporting their innovation processes;
• Facilitating their access to the Single Market and third country markets;
• Helping them to cooperate and where appropriate integrate with local, regional, national and European clusters and industrial ecosystems and global value chains.
• Helping them to benefit from opportunities and overcome barriers to doing business within the Single Market, and to internationalise and export outside the Single Market;
• Helping SMEs make the most out of EU Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in force with third countries;

B2B Advisory Service:Delivering a professional advisory and client-centric service to SMEs that wish to innovate or to access new markets, including:

• Answering enquiries on EU, international and innovation themes.
• Developing strong relationships with SMEs who can be brought on a client journey, understanding their needs, and assisting them to avail of the suite of supports offered by the Network.
• Supporting SMEs in the triple transition to sustainable business practices, digitalisation, and becoming more resilient
• Organising and managing business events on EU, international and innovation themes. 
• Organising inbound and outbound business delegations as required.

 
Project Management:Timely reporting and execution of deliverables in relation to EEN work programme including:

• Management of EEN finances and reporting of same in line with European Commission requirements.
• Use of European Commission databases and online systems. 
• Collaboration with EEN Ireland Network partners, the European Commission and European network colleagues to enhance and develop the EEN services.
• Collaboration with other key stakeholders and organisations to develop EEN and International Relations services.

 
Communications:Management of the EEN Ireland consortiums communication workplan including:

• Working with colleagues to ensure optimum coverage of EEN activities in local and national media.
• Ensuring EEN has a strong social media and online presence.
• Regular contributions to Chamber and EEN communications.
• Presentations on EEN/Chamber activities to SMEs and local stakeholders, as appropriate.

The candidate will also be expected to:

• Work with Chamber team in relation to overall development of Chamber services, and/or provide assistance with events and administration as required.
• Act as export documentation signatory when required (full training provided)
• Undertake work-related travel as required.

• The ideal candidate will hold a third level qualification (EU, International Trade or Business-related) and/ or a minimum 3 years’ previous experience in a similar environment/function. The candidate should have experience in providing advice and support to SMEs on business development, innovation or internationalisation issues. 

• Good command of English (at least B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference)
• Excellent communication and presentation skills – both oral & written
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships & inspire confidence
• Good analytical skills: ability to analyse the needs of the client, identify relevant information and provide appropriate support services on the basis of this analysis
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills
• Ability to prioritise and multi-task while working on several projects at the same time
• Commitment to see projects through to completion within agreed deadlines
• Excellent IT and research skills
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Flexibility & a strong team player

A good understanding of the following areas will be advantageous:

• Sectoral expertise or background in a relevant sector given the makeup of companies in the South-West region (e.g. life sciences, agri-food, ICT, energy/environment, etc.) 
• EU Affairs and International Trade
• The local business and SME ecosystem, including other agencies and organisations that support SMEs
• Current trends in EU & National SME policy
• Sustainability issues as they affect SME development
• Use of social media communication tools such as X (Twitter) & LinkedIn
• Comprehensive working knowledge of Microsoft Office

If you would like to join our team, please click here  and fill in application form. Closing date for applications is Monday 6^th May 2024

• Be part of a team actively shaping the future of Cork
• A competitive salary, commensurable with experience, and a company performance based annual bonus
• Company pension scheme 
• Company wellbeing programme (Chambercare)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Flexible Working
• A central city location
• Free parking
• 25 days annual leave