Summary of Post The PARTNER Project is a two-year applied interdisciplinary research project funded by the Health Research Board under the Applied Partnership Award scheme, in collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland – PSI the Pharmacy Regulator.
The project aims to strengthen how public and patient involvement (PPI) is embedded in healthcare regulation, an area of growing importance internationally but where evidence and practical guidance remain limited.
PARTNER focuses on the development of evidence-based, consensus-informed guidance to support meaningful PPI in the regulation of pharmacy and other health professions.
While public involvement is increasingly recognised as important for trust, transparency, and legitimacy in regulation, regulators currently lack robust frameworks to guide implementation in practice.
This project addresses that gap through applied health services research, partnership working, and strong public and patient involvement throughout.
The project will adopt a collaborative approach, bringing together researchers, regulators, healthcare professionals, and public contributors.
It will combine a scoping review of international practice, qualitative research with key stakeholders, and a structured consensus (Delphi) process to develop best-practice guidance that is both evidence-based and operationally usable.
Public and patient contributors will be actively involved across all stages of the research, including design, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination.
The PARTNER Project aims to deliver practical benefits for regulators and the public alike.
Outputs will include consensus-validated guidance for embedding PPI in regulatory processes, a co-designed implementation plan for the PSI, and a scalable roadmap that can be adapted by other regulatory bodies nationally and internationally.
By strengthening how public perspectives are incorporated into regulation, the project seeks to enhance trust, accountability, and the quality of regulatory decision-making.
The Project Manager will provide coordination and delivery support to the PARTNER Project, working closely with the Principal Investigator and project postdoctoral researcher to support the effective organisation, administration, and progression of project activities.
The role will focus primarily on project planning, timelines, reporting, and stakeholder coordination, helping to maintain momentum and ensure compliance with funder and institutional requirements.
The Project Manager may also contribute to defined research activities in support of the project team.
This may include supporting aspects of evidence synthesis, stakeholder engagement activities, or preparation of project outputs.
The role does not carry primary responsibility for research activity, but is intended to provide flexible support to ensure the timely and high-quality delivery of the project.
This role may be of interest to candidates with experience in academic, regulatory, professional, or healthcare practice settings who are interested in supporting applied health research.
Applicants with backgrounds in pharmacy practice, healthcare regulation, professional organisations, or research administration are encouraged to apply.
The role is particularly suited to individuals with strong organisational and coordination skills, and experience of working across multidisciplinary teams and stakeholder groups, who wish to contribute to research with clear relevance to practice, policy, and patient care.
Specifically, the duties of the post are: Support the coordination and day-to-day organisation of the PARTNER Project in line with the approved work plan and timelines, under the direction of the Principal Investigator.
Maintain oversight of project timelines, milestones, and deliverables, and support the research team in tracking progress and identifying and managing potential risks or delays.
Manage project administration, including coordination of meetings, preparation of agendas and minutes, maintenance of project documentation, and management of version control for key project materials.
Assist with funder and institutional reporting requirements, including tracking deliverables, supporting preparation of progress reports, and maintaining records in line with governance requirements.
Coordinate engagement with project stakeholders, including scheduling meetings, supporting communications, and facilitating inputs from professional, regulatory, and public and patient contributors.
Support the logistical delivery of research activities, such as evidence synthesis processes, qualitative data collection, or consensus (Delphi) processes, as appropriate and under the guidance of the Principal Investigator.
Assist with the organisation and delivery of project meetings, workshops, and dissemination activities, including multi-stakeholder events.
Support compliance with ethical approvals, data management planning, training requirements, and institutional policies relevant to the project.
Maintain accurate records of project activity and contribute to the smooth running of shared project systems (e.g. trackers, shared folders).
Where appropriate, contribute to defined research-related tasks in support of the wider research team, under the guidance of the Principal Investigator.
Undertake relevant training and professional development as required for the role.
Carry out other duties consistent with the scope of the post, as agreed with the Principal Investigator.
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