Role Overview
Job Title: Head of Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I)
Start Date: January 2026
Salary: €70k-80k DOE | Plus Work Phone and Laptop | Business Expenses | Company pension with employer contribution | Engineers Ireland CPD certification
Location: The beautiful grounds of St Kieran's College in the vibrant city of Kilkenny. Working from home, at agreed times will be considered
Contract Type: This is a two-year fixed-term contract, with a strong possibility of extension subject to satisfactory performance and the strategic development of the RD&I function within the organisation.
Working Hours: Full time – Mon to Friday. 37.5hr/ week standard contract
Person Specification
The South East Energy Agency (SEEA) collaborates with various stakeholders across the domestic, public, private, and community sectors to provide independent brokering, technical support, and advice. We are seeking an experienced and dynamic leader to spearhead our R&D and Innovation initiatives. This role involves working with a talented team of project officers, ranging from senior to graduate levels, and building a future-focused team to lead applied research learnings from project partnerships in the South East region of Ireland.
The ideal candidate will not necessarily be an energy or research expert but will have a strong capacity to lead a team of up to 10 people. This team will work daily on delivering, partnering, and piloting solutions using global, European, national, regional, and local research and innovation funding. The role involves strengthening collaboration across key stakeholders to avoid duplication of effort in the energy transition, partnering with the willing and able, and ultimately accelerating the speed at which the South East region can integrate future technologies. The goal is to reduce energy use, increase the demand for future renewable supplies, and focus on behavior change and transition for citizens, communities, SMEs, and industry.
The successful candidate will work closely with a strong communications department, technical engineering department, finance department, and HR department. Leveraging SEEA's strong presence in the EU and nationally, the candidate will make a significant difference by 2040 and deliver net zero through the practical application of the newest solutions, including technology, financial tools, policy advocacy, and behavior change through positive storytelling. The role emphasizes teamwork and collaboration, best-in-class partnerships with public and private stakeholders, and leveraging the transition speed and volume to exceed EU targets by 2040.
Role Overview:
This is a strategic leadership and portfolio management role focused on delivery, partnership and impact, not a laboratory or academic research position. The Head of RD&I will draw on the strong technical expertise already in SEEA's engineering and project teams, and will focus on aligning people, funding and partnerships to deliver results on the ground.
Strategic Leadership:
* Develop and implement a comprehensive R&D & Innovation strategy aligned with regional energy transition goals and national climate targets.
* Provide strategic leadership to design and implement an RD&I roadmap aligned with SEEA's mission, the Regional Energy Strategy and national climate targets, with clear KPIs to 2030 and beyond.
* Lead, coach and develop a multidisciplinary RD&I team, creating a high-trust, high-performance culture that gets the best from technical, comms, HR and finance colleagues in a matrix environment.
Project Management & Delivery:
* Lead, coordinate, and oversee applied research projects, pilot initiatives, and knowledge transfer activities with regional, national, and international partners.
* Build and manage a strong portfolio of applied innovation projects that demonstrate new solutions for citizens, communities, SMEs, Industry and public bodies, ensuring learning is captured and replicated across the region.
* Act as overall portfolio owner for RD&I grants and contracts, ensuring robust governance, financial control, reporting and compliance in partnership with SEEA's finance and administration teams
Partnership Development:
* Build and maintain collaborative relationships with universities, research institutions, industry stakeholders, government agencies, and international bodies
* Cultivate strategic partnerships with universities and institutes of technology, research centres, local authorities, industry partners and community organisations to leverage expertise and avoid duplication of effort in the energy transition.
* Represent SEEA and the South East region in relevant national and European RD&I networks, platforms and working groups, positioning the Agency as a trusted delivery partner for clean energy innovation.
Funding & Grants:
* Lead proposal development, and manage budgets for R&D projects, ensuring compliance and optimal resource utilization.
* Identify and secure funding from sources including Research Ireland programmes, SEAI RD&I and National Energy Research funding, ERDF-backed regional innovation funds and relevant EU Commission instruments (e.g. Horizon Europe, LIFE, CEF), working with internal and external experts to develop competitive proposals.
Technical Expertise:
Stay abreast of emerging technologies, policy developments, and best practices related to clean energy, smart grids, rural electrification, and low-carbon solutions.
Knowledge Transfer & Capacity Building:
* Facilitate dissemination of research outcomes through workshops, publications, and training programs to promote regional adoption of innovative solutions.
* Champion knowledge transfer by overseeing dissemination, training and capacity-building so that insights from projects inform SEEA services, local and national policy, and future funding bids.
Monitoring & Reporting:
Establish KPIs, monitor project progress, and prepare reports for stakeholders, funders, and policy-makers.
Quality and Compliance
* Adhere to the company's Quality Management System requirements, including performing work according to process documents, procedures, and maintaining necessary records
* Understand and apply quality and environmental policy statements in all aspects of work
* Ensure that the needs and requirements of the company's customers are understood and delivered
* Enhance the company's internal processes and management system by reporting corrective actions, updates, and improvement ideas
* Continuous improvement on advancements in retrofit materials, methods, and regulations.
Additional Responsibilities
* Perform additional duties as assigned by the CEO depending on the organisation's workload
* Contribute to achieving the company's objectives
The Ideal Candidate
Experience and qualifications
* Significant experience (typically 10+ years) leading complex programmes or portfolios with multi-partner, multi-stakeholder teams, ideally in sustainability, public service, innovation, international development or a related mission-driven field.
* Proven track record of managing and motivating diverse teams of at least 8–10 people, including responsibility for performance management, coaching and professional development
* Demonstrated success in securing and delivering externally funded projects (e.g. national RD&I funds, EU or structural funds, philanthropic or challenge funds), with responsibility for budgets, KPIs and reporting.
* Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience collaborating across public sector bodies, industry, academia and community or civil society partners.
* Degree at Level 8 or higher in a relevant discipline (e.g. public policy, business, engineering, environmental or social sciences); a Masters is desirable but not essential where equivalent leadership experience is evident.
* Proven ability to lead and leverage resources through strong project management and resource efficiency through internal team members and external expertise engaged through project funding.
* Demonstrable success in managing multi-partner projects.
* Strong capacity to build relationships, partnerships for the future. In addition to the current extensive list of stakeholders.
* Availability to travel regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Skills & Competencies:
* Inclusive, empowering leadership style that gets the best out of subject-matter experts in technical, communications, HR, finance and project delivery roles.
* Excellent strategic thinking and planning skills, able to prioritise across a portfolio and make clear choices about where SEEA adds most value.
* Strong programme and project management capability, including risk management, monitoring and evaluation, and the use of digital tools/CRM systems to track performance.
* Outstanding communication skills, able to translate complex technical and funding concepts into compelling narratives for funders, partners, boards and the wider public.
* Deep commitment to climate action, regional development and just transition, with an ability to balance ambition with pragmatism and delivery.
* Fluency in English.
Personal Attributes:
* Innovative thinker with a proactive approach.
* Passionate about sustainable development and regional energy transition.
* Collaborative team player with excellent interpersonal skills.
* Results-oriented with a focus on delivering impactful outcomes.
Desirable
* Advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in Engineering, Renewable Energy, Environmental Science, or a related field
* Additional European languages are advantageous.
Why join SEEA?
This is a rare opportunity to shape a regional RD&I portfolio that directly improves comfort, cost and climate outcomes for households, communities and businesses in the South East. You will join a growing, mission-led organisation with a strong track record in national and EU-funded projects, a supportive leadership team and a culture that values collaboration, learning and innovation.
If you are an experienced programme or portfolio leader who can inspire expert teams, navigate complex funding landscapes and turn ideas into practical solutions on the ground, SEEA would be delighted to hear from you.
How to Apply?
Please complete the Application Form available on and return to Joanne Brennan at with a subject line 'Head of Research Development and Innovation" telling us more about yourself, your experience/ambitions. Please also indicate your earliest available starting date
NOTE. If you do not wish that we contact current or past employers, please state so and explain the reasons in your letter of motivation. All applications will be treated confidentially and by respecting the privacy of the candidate. Applications that do not meet the deadline will be excluded.
South East Energy Agency is an equal opportunities employer. *Note: your CV may be attached but will not substitute for a completed South East Energy Agency Application Form.
Closing Date for applications is 4pm 09th January 2026.
Job Type: Fixed term
Contract length: 24 months
Pay: €70,000.00-€80,000.00 per year
Ability to commute/relocate:
* Kilkenny, County Kilkenny: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work authorisation:
* Ireland (required)
Work Location: In person