Fighting Words NI

Executive Director

Who we are: Fighting Words NI is a Northern Ireland-based youth charity and company limited by guarantee dedicated to empowering children and young people aged 6-18 through the transformative power of creative writing. The charity was established in 2015and grew from the wider Fighting Words movement, founded in Dublin in 2009 by author Roddy Doyle and Seán Love, adapting its free, volunteer-supported creative-writing model for children and young people across Northern Ireland.

What we do: Because creative education helps the most marginalised students thrive, Fighting Words NI operates across the whole of Northern Ireland to help children and young people find joy through writing. Our innovative workshops and programmes seek to provide a level playing field for all young people to develop communication and literacy skills, to grow in confidence and courage so that they can tell their own story, both on the page and out in the world. Our workshops don’t just support children to write but strive to build connection, coping and resilience.

What we’re looking for:  We are looking for an exceptional leader to become our Executive Director and guide Fighting Words NI  through the next stage of the charity’s development. You will be able to lead an organisation that changes lives through creativity. You will inherit strong foundations, work with passionate colleagues and volunteers, and help shape a future where every child has the confidence, creativity and opportunity to tell their own story.

For more information and how to apply: Download the Information Pack below for more detail. For a confidential discussion about the role, contact Engage Director Patrick Minne patrick@co3.org.uk 07792 509003. To apply, submit a CV, the completed Supplementary Questions Form below, and the Equal Opportunities and Criminal Convictions Form by Noon on Thursday 3 December 2026.