Department: Digital Repository of Ireland
Contract Type: Specific Purpose
Reports to: Daniel Bangert, National Open Research Coordinator, Digital Repository of Ireland

Overview

Applications are invited for the position of Project Manager (maternity cover), National Open Research Forum (NORF) at the Digital Repository of Ireland (DRI), located at the Royal Irish Academy. NORF has released a multi-annual National Action Plan for Open Research and a fund has been made available from the HEA and Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to progress actions in the plan via a series of calls for proposals. DRI is the coordinating organisation for NORF and is managing this fund. See: https://norf.ie/(link is external)

The DRI, a certified trustworthy digital repository for the arts, humanities and social sciences, is a national infrastructure for preserving and providing access to Ireland’s social and cultural digital data. DRI also operates as a community hub for policy, advocacy, training and best practice in digital preservation, digital archiving, FAIR data management and Open Science. DRI is headquartered at the Royal Irish Academy. See: https://dri.ie/(link is external)

The Royal Irish Academy is a predominantly publicly funded institution established for the promotion of learning in the sciences and humanities across the island of Ireland. The Academy’s latest strategic plan for 2019–23 is available here: 

Key purpose of role

This is a specific purpose contract to cover maternity leave working as a Project Manager to support the implementation of Ireland’s National Action Plan for Open Research(link is external). This plan sets out objectives and actions for the next chapter in Ireland’s transition towards Open Research. The successful candidate will contribute to the implementation of this plan by ensuring efficient administration of funded activities, facilitating cross-project coordination and alignment, liaising with internal and external stakeholders, and assisting with NORF communications and outreach. The NORF Project Manager will be based at the Digital Repository of Ireland at the Royal Irish Academy and will work closely with the National Open Research Coordinator and the National Open Research Forum.

Key accountabilities

The NORF Project Manager responsibilities are to:

• Work closely with the National Open Research Coordinator and Ireland’s National Open Research Forum (NORF) to support the implementation of Ireland’s National Action Plan for Open Research
• Support the Digital Repository of Ireland in delivering its NORF responsibilities, including ongoing administration (financial, monitoring, evaluation) of projects funded by the NORF Open Research Fund
• Liaise with NORF projects (18 projects estimated) to support individual project progress, measure progress against National Action Plan objectives and priorities, and facilitate exchange between funded projects.
• Develop and deliver a plan for consistent project updates to key stakeholders, ensuring effective internal communications within NORF and NORF-funded projects.
• Support the full events management cycle, from identifying required events through to planning, logistics and delivery.
• Identify opportunities to widen the scope of researcher engagement and stakeholder awareness of NORF activities and raise awareness of Open Research across the Irish higher education and research landscape.
• Manage and populate key external communications platforms including the NORF website, newsletter and social media.
• Seek out and identify opportunities for funding to support implementation of the National Action Plan and assist with funding proposal writing.

Person specification

Essential qualifications

• A third-level qualification in a relevant discipline
• A minimum of three years’ experience in a project management or operations management function, including financial administration (e.g. managing budgets, tender processes, etc.)
• Demonstrable understanding of Open Research/Open Science policies and practices in a research context
• Evidence of the ability to work with numerous diverse stakeholders towards common goals and to use initiative to address roadblocks.
• Evidence of excellent personal communication skills, with demonstrable ability to engage and communicate effectively with a wide array of stakeholders.
• Evidence of excellent written communication skills, particularly in report writing

Desirable qualifications

• A Masters or postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline
• Knowledge of the higher education system and research environment in Ireland
• Knowledge of the work of NORF and its stakeholder groups
• Experience in managing communications platforms and channels, including websites and social media 
• Experience in writing proposals for national and European funding programmes

Further information

Salary: Salary is on the Senior Programme Manager Scale €49,684 – €66,007. Candidates should note that entry will be at the minimum of the scale and the rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with government pay policy. Candidates should note that different pay and conditions may apply if, immediately prior to appointment, the appointee is a serving civil or public servant.

Hours of Work: The normal hours of work are 35 hours per week.

Overtime is not paid in respect of excess attendance which, should it arise, is discharged by time off in lieu at times agreed in advance with the Executive Director.

This role is suitable for blended working.

Leave: The annual leave entitlement is 25 days per annum, pro-rata for shorter periods. Entitlement to leave for public holidays is in accordance with the terms of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. There is a requirement to take up to four days annual leave where the Academy is closed at Easter and Christmas.

Medical: Staff shall, if required, and at the expense of the Academy, submit to a medical examination by a registered medical practitioner nominated by the Academy and shall authorise such medical practitioner to disclose and to discuss with the Academy the results of the examination and the matters which arise from it so that the Academy can ascertain any matters that they consider might impair a staff member from properly discharging his/her duties.

Pension: Details of the appropriate pension scheme will be provided upon determination of appointee’s status.

Permanent Pension contribution: This appointment is subject to the Additional Superannuation Contribution (ASC) effective from 1 January 2019.

Application Process

     Completed applications must be submitted electronically to recruitment@ria.ie(link sends e-mail) and consist of:

• A brief cover letter demonstrating how you meet the qualifications and experience for the position (max. 2 pages).
• A curriculum vitae summarising your qualifications and relevant experience.

Documents must be submitted in Word or PDF, and submissions that combine letter and CV into a single file are preferred.

Applicants will be shortlisted based on information provided in their application. 

Please note: failure to fulfil the application requisites will deem the application invalid.

Closing date: 30 August 2023. Late applications will not be considered.

It is anticipated that interviews will be held week commencing week 11 September 2023.

Please note this interview will include competency-based interview questions.