Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) Executive

Role: Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) Executive
Contract Type: Full time Permanent Role   
Reporting To: International Manager
Place of work: 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.

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;

Key Activities

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Communications: Management of the EEN Ireland consortiums communication work plan 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.