Job Title: Research & Evaluation Manager
Reporting To: Head of Governance & Strategy
Location: Hybrid (Ireland) - requirement to attend the office (Dublin 7) for meetings/training as required
Start date: Immediately
Contract duration: 1-year fixed term contract
Hours of Work: Full-time, 39 hours per week
Probationary Period: 6 months
Remuneration: Payscale starts at €52,124 (Internal Pay Grade: Manager 3)
Benefits
Access to a four-day working week programme;
25 days annual leave (exclusive of public holidays);
financial support for further education;
2 days positive mental health leave annually;
access to Bike-to-Work and Tax-Saver Travel Scheme and Wellbeing Supports; Employer Contribution Pension Scheme
Application Closing Date
Midnight on Monday, 1st June 2026
About the Role
spunout is seeking a Research & Evaluation Manager to establish and lead a strategic, high-quality research and evaluation function which effectively demonstrates our impact on young people’s mental health and wellbeing in Ireland. In this full-time role, you will oversee the development and implementation of comprehensive research and evaluation initiatives, producing insights that drive continuous improvement across our services and influence public policy on youth mental health. This role is central to spunout’s mission of elevating young people’s voices and ensuring our services are evidence-driven and youth-centered.
As Research & Evaluation Manager, you will work closely with the Governance & Strategy team to craft actionable, data-informed recommendations. You’ll develop relationships with academic and governmental partners, manage complex data analysis, and produce compelling, accessible reports to guide service improvements and shape national youth mental health policy. This is a unique opportunity to pioneer a research and evaluation function in a leading youth organisation, contributing directly to our vision of inclusive, effective, and evidence-based support for young people.
We’re looking for a candidate with a proven track record of integrating young people’s perspectives into impactful research and evaluation work, ideally within youth mental health or a related field. If you are passionate about translating research into practice, influencing policy, and driving strategic improvement in youth mental health services, we’d love to hear from you.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Research and Evaluation Strategy
Lead on the development and implementation of a comprehensive evaluation system to measure spunout’s impact, which is aligned to the organisation’s existing theory of change and measurement framework.
Lead the development and implementation of a research strategy for spunout, engaging with key internal and external stakeholders, including young people.
Ensure insights and findings from spunout’s research and evaluation activities are used to inform the continuous improvement and strategic development of spunout’s services, and our public policy goals.
Develop and monitor a set of performance measures for national youth mental health outcomes, using a combination of national survey data (internal and external), and implementation monitoring & outcome reporting from Government Departments and State Agencies (e.g. the HSE).
Project Management
Manage the daily operations of the research and evaluation function, ensuring high quality work and alignment with strategic priorities and operational requirements.
Plan and manage multiple simultaneous research and evaluation projects.
Data Management and Analysis
Develop and manage data collection systems and administrate large quantitative and qualitative data sets in accordance with the highest standard of information security requirements (with operational support from IT and data colleagues).
Manage the interpretation and visualisation of complex research and evaluation findings, and oversee the dissemination of outputs and findings of research projects and evaluations to relevant stakeholders.
Develop Key Performance Indicator (KPI) reports and produce them on a quarterly basis.
Lead the development of an online open access youth mental health research, evaluation, and data insights repository, in collaboration with IT and data colleagues.
Stakeholder Engagement
Develop and maintain positive relationships with various academic institutions, governmental, and non-governmental stakeholders and agencies at both national and international levels.
Organisational Capacity Building
Work with the wider team to ensure that findings of evaluation and research are translated into learning action through the production and dissemination of guidelines, resources, workshops, and training courses.
Promote staff awareness and capability in research and evaluation, including coordination of appropriate internal training as and when required.
Additional Notes:
The above job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties involved. The post holder may be required to perform other duties appropriate to the role, as assigned from time to time.
Qualifications
PhD or equivalent postgraduate research degree in a relevant field (e.g. psychology, social sciences, public health, or other behavioural sciences).
Desirable: Formal training or certification in programme evaluation or impact assessment.
Experience
Minimum of three years in a research or evaluation role, preferably in the non-profit or mental health sector.
Demonstrated expertise in mixed-methods research, including quantitative and qualitative approaches, with a focus on impact assessment and programme evaluation.
Proven track record in translating research findings into practical recommendations for policy or programmatic improvements.
Experience leading or significantly contributing to large-scale research or evaluation projects, ideally within youth mental health.
Experience designing and conducting needs assessments or formative research to support programme development.
Experience managing research or evaluation budgets and timelines.
Skills & Abilities
Strong ability to design, manage, and evaluate research projects independently, with a high level of initiative and accuracy.
Ability to synthesise complex data into accessible, actionable insights for a range of stakeholders, including funders and policymakers.
Skilled in designing surveys, focus groups, and other data collection tools tailored to youth populations.
Strong problem-solving skills and a strategic approach to identifying areas for improvement in research methodologies or project approaches.
Desirable: Proficient in statistical analysis software (e.g., SPSS, R) and qualitative analysis software (e.g., NVivo, MAXQDA).
Desirable: Ability to create impactful data visualisations and reports that communicate findings clearly and compellingly to both expert and lay audiences.
Personal Attributes
Demonstrated commitment to promoting evidence-based mental health initiatives and improving outcomes for young people.
Passionate about youth mental health and aligned with the organisation's mission to provide accessible, inclusive support.
Proactive and adaptable, with a solution-oriented mindset and the ability to respond to evolving priorities.
Detail-oriented and organised, with a track record of managing multiple projects and deadlines effectively.
Commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
spunout is an Equal Opportunities Employer, and we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, identities, and life experiences. We are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace where diversity is valued.
Data Protection
All documentation received by spunout will be processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. The information provided will be used solely for the purpose of processing job applications and for ongoing administrative purposes related to job candidates.
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