Research Programme Officer

The purpose of the role:

The purpose of this role is to provide research development support to staff and researchers based in Trinity’s Social Science schools within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (FAHSS) and those affiliated to the Trinity Research in Social Sciences (TRISS) entity. The post holder will provide dedicated research supports for researchers and staff applying for competitive funding opportunities, particularly those within Horizon Europe but also including national funders.

While this post holder will work primarily with researchers in social science schools and TRISS, funding opportunities may require that they frequently work together and as part of a wider team of research development professionals based across Trinity to optimise supports. These include a team of thirteen funding specialists in the Trinity College Dublin Research Development Office (RDO), a number of locally based Research Project Officers (RPOs) and Research Ireland Centre funding managers. In particular, the post holder will be expected to collaborate with the other RPO based in the Faculty at the Trinity Long Room Hub (Institute of Arts and Humanities Research), especially in the provision of direct supports to staff based in the School of Education and Law and to jointly organise events and training.

In delivering supports it is expected that the applicant will centralise the researcher experience, prioritise excellence in the delivery of services, be informed by evidence based best practice and value a culture of collaboration and mutual respect.

Main Responsibilities:

This is a list of the tasks, duties and responsibilities for the role.

• Assist in ensuring participation by the Faculty’s schools in research grant funding initiatives and, in particular, European Union research programme grants, in line with Trinity’s Strategic Plan (2025 to 2030).

• Identify and promote internally European Union, Irish Government and other funding calls (including, but not limited to, international sponsors such as the Wellcome Trust) complementary to the arts and humanities units’ strategic research objectives.

• Identify opportunities for researchers to coordinate projects and help establish the best partners for consortia.

• Maximise the linkage of researchers to networks (for example COST) to help establish partnerships for proposals.

• Provide local advice on budgets and proposal structure and liaise with colleagues in the Research Development Office to ensure both consistency of advice and that College procedures are followed.

• Oversee and contribute to the writing of the non scientific elements of applications being submitted from the unit, maintain unit based information on facilities that could be made available and maintain a knowledge base of national and European Union policies relevant to proposal areas from their unit.

• Ensure input into the development of work programmes for sponsors (where relevant) to ensure that opportunities for participation by their unit are maximised.

• Organise unit specific information sessions (with participation from the Research Development Office where relevant) and represent their unit and the College at external networking events.

• Manage relations with Ireland’s national contact points for all European Union activity, in particular the national contact point for European Research Council (social science and humanities) and Cluster 2, and appropriate Irish agencies in relation to projects that the unit wishes to see established.

• Liaise with relevant College service providers, understand the College’s policies and requirements for involvement in research funding schemes and ensure such procedures as detailed by the College are adhered to.

• Provide support to researchers from a unit from research application up to and including contract signature.

• Aid in the development and writing of research grant related publicity material for the unit including press releases, website materials, newsletters, outreach materials and annual reports.

• Be a member of Faculty, School or Trinity Research Institute research committees as appropriate.

• Provide feedback information to the Research Development Office about sponsor related issues identified by their unit so that, where necessary, the College can form a common position and lobby the sponsor for change.

• Assist in some post award activities relating to grants awarded for projects to be housed in the Faculty. These may include liaising with the Project Mobilisation Officer, Trinity College Dublin contracts office, Trinity College Dublin financial services division and assisting with the grant negotiation process with the relevant funder on behalf of the institute.

• Carry out any other research development related duties as outlined by the unit’s leadership.

Person Requirements:

The role holder will require the following knowledge, skills and attributes for successful performance in the role.

Qualifications:

• A university degree (or considerable experience in an academic environment) and, preferably, a postgraduate degree, ideally in a discipline in the social sciences.

Knowledge:

• A demonstrated knowledge of how to add value to the research grant writing preparation process – essential.

• A good understanding of the research funding environment in Ireland, Europe and further afield – essential.

• Experience with and understanding of the social science process would be an advantage.

Experience:

• At least three years’ relevant experience in work related to European Union research programmes and or other research programmes, especially those related to the social science disciplines, ideally with a demonstrated track record of success in grant preparation in these fields – essential.

• Proven experience in research administration, ideally as an administrator in a research group or team or as a researcher carrying out their own administration – essential. Specific experience of research administration in relation to Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe would be advantageous.

• Proven experience in developing and managing budgets – essential.

Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are essential and an ability to communicate with a high level of initiative, tact, accuracy and confidentiality. Writing skills are of the highest priority for this post as the successful candidate will be expected to contribute to research proposal development across a variety of disciplines.

• The ability to interface effectively with staff both within the unit and across the College.

• Extensive information technology skills, for example Microsoft Office suite (in particular Word and Excel). Ability to continuously upgrade information technology competence is a requisite. Experience of web technology (for example SharePoint), Zoom webinars and social media (LinkedIn, Bluesky).

• Financial and budget skills – ability to demonstrate a proven ability in developing and maintaining detailed budgets and providing summary reports of expenditure.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.

• Excellent analytical skills – ability to identify a problem or risk and propose solutions to multi faceted problems.

Personal attributes:

• Discretion and professional approach to all activities.

• Pays close attention to quality standards.

• Ability to manage competing priorities and maintain a high level of professionalism when working under pressure.

• Resourceful, conscientious and self motivated individual with a can do attitude and the ability to see tasks through to completion.

• Committed to achieving results, putting in additional effort as required.

• Flexible approach to working hours as the demands of the post may require work outside normal office working hours from time to time.