Researcher Support Officer – Admin

Role Description

Provision of high-level administrative support in a complex research environment consisting of many interdisciplinary programme grants and multiple Principal Investigators is often associated with research expertise in the relevant research area.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

ADMINISTRATION

• To support the Director or Head of the Research area to achieve the agreed strategic and administrative goals of the research area.

• To provide an effective administrative framework to support the ongoing development of the research project/area.

• To advise the Director/Head of the Research area of appropriate administrative structures and procedures to give effect to agreed and approved policies. To be responsible for the development and implementation of positive and appropriate administrative work practices.

• To implement agreed policy and procedures including administration, personnel, and resources for the overall development of the research project/area.

• To manage the secretarial/administrative functions as required.

• To allocate, delegate and supervise work of the administrative staff, as is appropriate, ensuring its effective operation.

RESEARCH

• To provide specific technical inputs to the research agenda such as literature review, data analysis and preparing reports. Writing and contributing to research reports, policy briefs and other documents.

• To support activities of the research project as required, such as assisting in workshops, producing written outputs, in conjunction with the Director/Head of the Research area.

POLICY ADVICE AND DISSEMINATION

• To present research results internally and externally at conferences, meetings, including preparing presentations.

• To disseminate research results through web pages, media conferences etc.

• To represent the research project/area at events, meetings and networking.

FINANCE

• To administer financial and budgetary functions, including purchasing and cost controls in consumables, equipment and part-time pay, in conjunction with the Director/Head of the Research area.

• To support researchers in the preparation of project proposals.

• To review and monitor the financial position of all research grants and the overall research area.

• To propose strategic or operational priorities and to advise on achieving the effective and value-for-money allocation of budgets and resources.

• To ensure proper use of resources, compliance and integrity of systems in accordance with University policies, procedures and standards and in agreement with the Director/Head of the Research area.

PROMOTION / DEVELOPMENT

• To assist the Director/Head of the Research area with logistical planning of human, physical and financial requirements for the research project.

• To identify opportunities for external relationships and collaboration.

• To contribute to the development of strong external links to business and industry.

• To contribute to the promotion and marketing of the research area.

• To produce, when required, appropriate promotional and marketing literature.

PERSONNEL

• To assist with the preparation of recruitment advertisements and job particulars for posts within the research area.

• To assist with managing the administrative workloads to support the research project/area.

• To liaise with HR as required regarding research staff personal details and/or terms and conditions of employment for research staff contracts.

• Work with the APC’s Operations Team to develop and deliver the APC’s EPE programmes.

• Organise outreach activities tailored to key stakeholder groups, including patients and the general public, teachers and school children.

• Organise and coordinate APC activities at local and national science festivals and exhibitions e.g. Cork Science Week, Science Festival.

• Organise and oversee the APC’s ‘Food is Funky’ monthly outreach workshops.

• Motivate the full cadre of APC researchers to engage in EPE activities and identify EPE opportunities for all researchers.

• Coordinate and organise the annual APC’s Transition Year programme, Budding Biologists.

• Organise school visits to the centre and develop new relationships with primary and secondary schools, particularly DEIS schools.

• Work with the APC operations team to coordinate and develop public information sessions on APC research and related topics.

• Liaise with the APC operations team to develop relevant outreach content for the APC website and social media channels.

• Training and developing the confidence of APC researchers to deliver EPE activities.

• Participate on and organise the APC’s EPE Committee meetings and ensure that any follow-up actions are implemented in full.

• Collaborate with EPE colleagues in other centres and institutions locally and nationally to deliver jointly run EPE activities.

• Contribute to the drafting of EPE material for APC annual reports, APC website, and other media.

• Assist with other relevant duties as required from time to time.

Selection Criteria

The successful candidate will be expected to have:

Essential Criteria

• A graduate qualification in a field or discipline relevant to the area of investigation i.e. BSc, MSc or PhD.

• Proven experience of providing high level administrative support to a research project or in a research area.

• Demonstrable achievements in delivering results on a research project or in a research area.

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

• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Excellent attention to detail.

• Excellent report writing and presentation skills.

• Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken.

• Strong IT, report writing and organisational skills.

• High level of initiative.

• A good understanding of microbiome science and its implications for human and planetary health.

• Experience in organising and coordinating education and public engagement activities and events in a research centre.

• Experience of working in a research-intensive performance-driven environment.

• Excellent event organisation and communication skills.

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

• Excellent team player with the ability to motivate others.

• A highly enthusiastic, dynamic individual with a passion for EPE.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience supporting Engaged Research i.e. Citizen Science, Public & Patient Involvement in research (PPI) and/or community-based research.

• Proven track record of achievement and delivering results.

• Creativity, ability to work on own initiative, results-focused.

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

Conditions Of Employment

Salary: €55,400 (part-time role with flexibility, salary pro-rata)

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 (pro rata) with 60 minutes for lunch daily.

Annual Leave will be 27 days per annum (pro rata). 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 twelve 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 one month’s 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.

Applicants that have previously availed of an Irish Public Service Scheme of Incentivised early retirement or enhanced redundancy payment should ensure that they are not precluded from re-engagement in the Irish Public Service under the terms of such Schemes. Queries should be directed to an applicant’s former Civil/Public Service Employer in the first instance. Applicants who are in receipt of an ill-health pension from an Irish Civil/Public Service body are required to declare that they are in receipt of such a pension.

Pension Abatement: If an appointee has previously been employed in the Civil or Public Service and that appointee is entitled to or in receipt of a pension from the Civil or Public Service or where a Civil/Public Service pension comes into payment during the appointee’s re-employment that pension will be subject to abatement in accordance with Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012. Please note: In applying for this position, you are acknowledging that you understand that the abatement provisions, where relevant, will apply. It is not envisaged that the employing Department/Office/Body will support an application or an abatement waiver in respect of appointments to this position.

Additional dependants’ benefits can be provided by membership of the Supplementary Life Assurance Scheme. You will be automatically included as a member of the scheme on commencement of your employment, but you may elect to opt out of the scheme at any stage. The current membership rate is 0.26% of your salary.

Membership of the Group Personal Accident Scheme shall apply to all employees, subject to individual acceptance by the Insurance Company. The salary quoted is subject to a deduction from salary at the rate of 0.06%.

The UCC Income Continuance Plan (ICP) provides a source of income in the event of long or short-term temporary disability. As part of your contract of employment you will be automatically included in the ICP with effect from the same date provided you have not previously opted out of the plan, or you have been declined for cover under previous contracts of employment with UCC. The cost of membership of the plan will be deducted from your salary. The current membership rate is 1.05% of your salary.

The Pay Related Social Insurance Class A1 rate of Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) applies to the post.

Voluntary Health Insurance: A VHI / Laya / Aviva Health / HSA / GloHealth group scheme is in operation and contribution may be deducted from salary, with effect from the Scheme’s renewal date (May of each year).

Additional benefits: We offer progressive employment and training policies including opportunities for further studies. Staff can avail of membership of a variety of clubs and societies and a wide range of facilities on campus, including a leisure centre.

As an equal opportunity employer, we offer a comprehensive suite of flexible working and family friendly initiatives. A list of such initiatives is available on our webpage.