Research Support Officer – Admin

Role Description

The postholder will play a leading role in realising the University’s ambitious strategic focus on fostering research that has wider impact on economy, society and business. Based in the College of Business & Law and reporting to the College Research Manager, the successful applicant will work closely with the research leadership in Cork University Business School and Future of Work and Economy research centre. The Future of Work and Economy is an interdisciplinary strategic research centre under the UCC Futures Framework. It is focused on the interconnected dynamics of work, enterprise, wellbeing, innovation, organisational practice, and regional economic development. The Future of Work and the Economy research centre brings together expertise across economics, human resources, organisational behaviour, entrepreneurship, strategy, innovation, public policy, and workplace wellness to address major challenges associated with the future of work, sustainable economic transformation, regional competitiveness, workforce wellbeing, and inclusive growth.

The role will support the ambitious plans for enhancing research activity in this burgeoning research centre and wider school. This will include the development of engaged and impact-focused practices across the full research impact lifecycle, from planning and delivery through to evidencing, evaluation, and reporting. Working closely with academic and professional services colleagues, the postholder will contribute to the development of a coordinated approach to research impact and play a critical role in fostering a culture that values and supports the generation of social, cultural, economic, environmental, and policy impacts arising from research at local, regional, national, and international levels. They will have the opportunity to work alongside a broad range of academics to capture, evaluate and communicate research impact, allowing us to better understand and navigate the complexities of how research can impact end users in Business & Management and specifically research related to the Future of Work and Economy. The successful candidate will also enable and facilitate engagement with research and innovation stakeholders to a range of audiences including businesses, policymakers, partners and academic stakeholders. The role will also include providing wider research support to the Future of Work & Economy including supporting PIs and its soon-to-be-established behavioural lab.

The main duties will be:

• Provide professional, expert advice, training, guidance and support to academic and professional services colleagues on research impact-related activities, including planning, delivery, evaluation, and evidencing.

• Contribute to the development of research impact plans, reports, case studies, and other outputs that showcase achievements and support institutional priorities.

• Create and adapt content that translates research and innovation activity into accessible and engaging communications for non-academic audiences.

• Support the monitoring and reporting of impact activity in Cork University Business School and Future of Work and Economy research centre.

• Help develop and improve processes, guidance and tracking mechanisms relating to impact including use of SciVal.

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the University to support coordinated and effective approaches to impact development.

• Support the embedding of FAIR data principles and open research practices and ensuring new research projects have compliant data management.

• Develop and maintain a good working relationship with service departments in UCC.

• Co-ordinate day-to-day work to support the research activities in the Future of Work and the Economy research centre, including the new behavioural lab.

• Liaise with and support the Principal Investigator(s) and colleagues in the Future of Work and the Economy research centre in conjunction with the College of Business and Law Research Manager and other research leadership in the school.

• Develop knowledge and understanding of the research and related work of the Cork University Business School and Future of Work and Economy.

• Promote a positive and inclusive team culture by engaging colleagues in constructive discussions, sharing knowledge and expertise, supporting development, and acting on feedback to improve performance and ways of working.

• Lead the development of guidance and best practice in research impact and build capability through knowledge sharing.

• Perform other duties related to the work described herein.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• A postgraduate qualification in a field or discipline relevant to the area.

• Demonstrable achievements in delivering results.

• Ability to interact with stakeholders from a range of disciplines.

• Excellent report writing and presentation skills.

• Capability in crafting accessible communications for non-academic audiences.

• High level of initiative.

• Capability of working effectively within a team to achieve results.

• Excellent organisational and communication skills.

• Excellent attention to detail.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Experience of working in an academic and/or research context.

• Experience of supporting research that has wider impact on economy and society.

• PhD in relevant field.

Please note that Garda vetting and international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.

Candidates are requested to make a personal assessment of these criteria against their own qualifications, skills and abilities to assess whether they should apply for the post.

Please note: Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the criteria as detailed above will not be short listed. The University, at its discretion, may undertake to make an additional appointment(s) from this competition following the conclusion of the process.

Conditions Of Employment

Salary: Admin V Salary Scale: €52,338 - €64,190, p.a. (Scale B)

The rate of remuneration for all appointments may be adjusted from time to time in line with government policy.

Normal hours of duty are 39 hours per week with 60 minutes for lunch daily.

Annual Leave will be 25 days per annum. This leave is exclusive of public holidays and Good Friday. The leave year commences on 1 July annually and four days annual leave must be held for the Christmas closure period.

Sick Leave: Sick leave will be granted in line with university policy in this regard which may change from time to time. You should familiarise yourself with the University Sick Leave Policy and University Sick Leave Management Policy.

The tenure of the post is specific purpose whole time (for the duration of the award), based on the following provisions:

(a) A probationary period of six months shall apply from commencement of employment in the post during which the contract of employment may be terminated by either party in accordance with the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts, 1973 to 2001. The probationary period may be extended at the discretion of the University.

(b) Except in circumstances of gross misconduct justifying immediate dismissal, the appointee will receive one month's notice of termination of employment, or, if greater, such notice as is provided for in a minimum notice in terms of Employment Act, 1973.

(c) The appointee is required to give three months’ notice of termination of employment.

(d) Under the Public Service Superannuation Act 2004, for all new entrants to the Public Sector on or after April 2004, the normal retirement age is 65. It is no longer possible therefore to retire before age 65.

Pension: The Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 established the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. In general, anyone taking up pensionable public service employment on or after 1 January 2013 is a member of the Single Scheme. The Act provides that most members of the Single Scheme have a minimum pension age consistent with the age of eligibility for the State Pension (Contributory) and a compulsory retirement age of 70. A member of this group is generally referred to as a “Single Scheme member”. However, applicants who have previously worked in a pensionable post (non-Single Scheme terms) in the Irish Civil/Public service, may be offered membership of the UCC Pension scheme. The normal retirement date in this scheme is age 65. A compulsory retirement date of 70 may apply depending on date of first employment in the Irish Civil/Public service. The relevant pension scheme will be confirmed to the successful applicant on completion of the Pensions Declaration form prior to taking up employment.