RESEARCH SUPPORT OFFICER
(FULL-TIME, 3-YEAR CONTRACT)
SEPTEMBER **APPLY ON THE WEBSITE**
ORGANISATION
Early Childhood Ireland is the leading organisation in the early years
sector. It supports 3,**Apply on the website** childcare members, who
in turn support over **Apply on the website**,**Apply on the website**
children and their families through preschool, after-school, and full
day-care provision nationwide. Early Childhood Ireland provides a
range of professional supports and services for its members, and
campaigns for better early learning and care and school age childcare
provision in Ireland.
EARLY CHILDHOOD IRELAND wishes to appoint a:
RESEARCH SUPPORT OFFICER (FULL-TIME, 3-YEAR CONTRACT)
REPORTING TO: Research and Professional Learning (RPL) Manager
EMPLOYER: Early Childhood Ireland
LOCATION: Currently the organisation is trialling a hybrid working
arrangement with weekly attendance in the offices of Early Childhood
Ireland, in line with public health guidance. Early Childhood
Ireland's offices are in Tallaght, Dublin **Apply on the website** and
this may be subject to change.
WORKING HOURS: Full-time, **Apply on the website** hours per week. At
times, flexibility will be required due to occasional travel.
SALARY AND CONDITIONS: ?**Apply on the website**,**Apply on the
website** - ?**Apply on the website**,**Apply on the website**;
point on range dependent on experience.
There is a holiday entitlement of **Apply on the website** days,
rising to **Apply on the website** days after two years? service.
Bike to Work Scheme, TaxSaver Commuter Ticket Scheme, Employee
Assistance Programme, Hospital Saturday Fund, two privilege days,
flexitime, paid maternity, parental and parents? leave after two
full years? service.
CONTRACT DURATION: This is a 3-year contract, subject to funding, with
a six-month probation period.
JOB PURPOSE
The Research Support Officer will provide a highly professional,
expert, and proactive research and strategic partnership funding
support function to ECI?s Research and Professional Learning (RPL)
Director.
This is a newly created post in Early Childhood Ireland to support the
achievement of our _Strategic Plan **Apply on the website**_, which
has a strong research focus. This is an exciting role for an
experienced, knowledgeable research professional who enjoys the
challenge of driving research funding attainment and is excited to
participate in developing the research capacity of the early learning
and care and school age childcare sector in order to enhance quality
in services, to the benefit of children and their families.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
_STRATEGY_
* Support the Director of Research and Professional Learning to
achieve ECI?s strategic research goals and objectives and to
effectively implement the organisation?s strategic partnerships and
research plans.
* Identify and develop strategic insights into appropriate national,
EU and international research funding organisations and programmes
through analysis and detailed understanding of their funding
priorities and plans to ensure that upcoming strategically important
opportunities are anticipated and considered in ECI?s planning.
_RESEARCH FUNDING AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS_
* Manage the preparation of ECI?s research proposals and research
and strategic partnership funding proposals for external bids, in
collaboration with ECI colleagues and partners, ensuring that
proposals align with the strategic position and evaluation criteria of
the funding agency.
* Attend required training, briefings and information sessions
provided by national, EU and international funding agencies and
maintain an up-to-date, accessible repository of information, guides
etc. on same.
* Manage the development of the strategies and presentations
required to participate in competitive research tendering scenarios.
* Act as the main point of contact for ECI with research funders,
including EU funding.
* Develop and maintain positive working relationships with
significant funders and strategic partners.
_RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT_
* Provide technical advice to RPL team colleagues on appropriate
research methodologies and methods and on preparing reports.
* Support RPL team colleagues to develop ECI members? research
capacity.
* Manage the development of research proposals and the commissioning
process with colleagues when ECI/RPL is commissioner.
* Manage ECI-commissioned research projects, where appropriate.
_GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION_
* Assist in managing the processes and documentation associated with
research governance, including ethics, GDPR, research contracts and
agreements.
* Provide ECI?s finance department with the necessary financials
of all RPL research grants.
* Provide an effective administrative framework to support the
ongoing development of research.
* Collate and draft periodic research progress reports, evaluation
reports, dashboard reports and annual reports for internal and
external stakeholders.
* Assist with the administrative aspects of contract management,
project tracking and reporting.
* Manage ISBN and ISSN processes.
_RESEARCH DISSEMINATION AND UTILISATION_
* Advise on the most effective means to support research utilisation
to practice and pedagogy.
* Collaborate with team colleagues to develop and organise research
events.
* Assist in the development of relevant promotional material
including website, brochures, reports etc.
* Present at conferences and meetings, where appropriate.
* Support colleagues in developing dissemination and utilisation
plans for ECI research outputs.
* Represent ECI at relevant events, meetings and networks.
* Evolve ECI?s research to practice e-zine.
* Undertake the role of Managing Editor of ECI?s annual Research
Day Proceedings and evolve the publication.
THE PERSON:
The successful candidate will be an experienced, knowledgeable
research professional who is highly motivated when it comes to driving
research funding applications and delivery and is focused on research
utilisation and impact. The person will have demonstratable knowledge,
skills and experience in developing successful research funding
proposals and in taking a strategic approach to research and
partnerships.
_QUALIFICATIONS_
* Minimum QRF level 9 award in education, the humanities, or the
social or behavioural sciences.
_SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE_
* Practical experience in research project management, project
administration or project coordination.
* Previous experience in the management of external calls for
research funding and supporting research proposals.
* Previous experience in a similar role in a third level
institution, research centre or with a research funder.
* A knowledge or experience of research in the higher education
sector.
* At least two years? experience in a research role.
* Demonstrable achievements in research funding and research
management.
* Knowledge of and experience in conducting quantitative and/or
qualitative research.
* Demonstratable skills in research communication for different
audiences.
* Proven excellent research report-writing skills.
* A good working knowledge of Microsoft packages (Word, Excel,
PowerPoint, Project).
* Knowledge of using data visualisation tools*.
* Early Learning and Care/School-age Childcare sector knowledge and
experience.*
_PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES AND QUALITIES_
* Ability to be reflective, insightful and a critical thinker.
* Capacity to show leadership.
* Ability to work collaboratively with team colleagues, as well as
independently.
* Flexible and responsive to change.
* Able to manage competing and shifting priorities.
* High levels of personal motivation, self-management, and attention
to detail.
* Able to work constructively with colleagues across the
organisation, with our members, and with other organisations.
* Willing to undergo training and development following recruitment,
if required, as well as engaging in their own continuous professional
learning.
* Good judgment.
* Impact-focused.
* Will work in accordance with the values and vision of ECI.
Candidates must clearly indicate in their cover letter and CV how they
meet each of the above criteria.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply, please submit a letter of application (specifying where you
saw the role advertised) and an up-to-date CV of no more than three
pages, for the attention of Rita Dolan ? email: **Apply on the
website** before **APPLY ON THE WEBSITE**.**APPLY ON THE WEBSITE**
NOON ON THURSDAY, **APPLY ON THE WEBSITE** OCTOBER. Interviews will be
held during the week beginning 1 November **Apply on the website**.
Shortlisting of candidates may apply and will be based on the Job
Description and Person Specification.? Candidates may be asked for
further information or to undertake other tasks to assist in the
assessment process.?
_Early Childhood Ireland does not require the assistance of
third-party agencies at this time._
_EARLY CHILDHOOD IRELAND STRIVES TO BE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
EMPLOYER._
We need : English (Good)
Type: Permanent
Payment:
Category: Others
