Post Title & Subject Area: Research Project Manager – Co-create Ireland NSRP
Grade: Grade VI
School/Unit: Research Office
Post Duration: 4 years, commencing January 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter and ending in March 2030.
Contract Type: Specified purpose contract linked to the Co-Create Ireland NSRP project
Reports to: Declan Long, PI of Co-Create Ireland
Salary: Grade VI salary scale - €57,324 - €70,033* per annum
* Candidates should note that as per Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform guidelines, entry will be at the minimum point of the scale and the rate of remuneration will not be subject to negotiation and may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy. Different terms and conditions may apply if you are a currently serving civil or public servant.
Location: This position is ordinarily based at the NCAD Campus, 100 Thomas Street, Dublin 8. Occasional travel around the island of Ireland will be required.
Annual Leave: 27 working days (exclusive of public holidays)
Hours of Attendance: 35 hours per week, Monday–Friday (net of rest breaks)
Co-create Ireland
Co-create Ireland is an all-island research partnership that will investigate and advance the role citizen-centred art and design research can play in responding to the polycrisis—addressing intersecting cultural and environmental challenges, and the increasing role fragmentation of social cohesion plays in exacerbating them. The four-year project results from a successful application to the HEA's North-South Research Programme 2024 scheme and will launch in March 2026, concluding in February 2030.
Co-create Ireland is a partnership involving NCAD, Belfast School of Art (UU), University of Limerick, Atlantic Technological University, and 23 government and community organisations, cultural institutions, and industry partners.
This partnership will explore the impact of interdisciplinary applications of art and design research methods in driving outcomes across fields including health, environmental studies, cultural heritage, and social policy. Central methodologies such as co-creation and ideation, participation, and commoning offer alternative systems to urgently foreground citizen voices. These methods will be applied in bottom-up ways to engage communities in co-creating new approaches to public service, health, climate action, and cultural heritage.
Co-create Ireland will also offer opportunities for doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and representatives from the partnership to develop new models of creative research practice and innovative ways to measure their impact. The research methods developed will emphasise the public exchange of knowledge and understanding, creating strong links between research and citizen-led policy outcomes.
The partnership will develop art and design-led research, pedagogies, and public impacts in four key areas linked to social cohesion:
* Co-Production for Community-led Public Services – Designing community-led public services that foster inclusion and sustainable development.
* Transitions in Healthcare – Design-led approaches to co-developing adaptive, resilient, and inclusive healthcare futures.
* Regenerative Art & Design Practices for Shared Ecologies – Driving climate response, adaptation, and behavioural change through arts-led environmental action for sustainable cities and circular economy ecosystems.
* Art Activist Methods for Hopeful Collaborative Futures – Developing socially engaged, creative practices that link social identity, community integration, and cultural narratives to address shared histories and enact citizen-led futures.
Key Purpose of the Role
The Research Project Manager will provide high-level administration and coordination to drive this pioneering research project. This is a unique opportunity to collaborate with leading art and design researchers, government bodies, community groups, and industry leaders across the island of Ireland to co-create solutions to real-world problems. The role requires someone with a strong understanding of advanced research practices, alongside a deep commitment to social and community engagement.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Working closely with the project leads, the role involves:
* Assisting in grant management, governance and reporting, including continuous oversight and management of project timelines, milestones and risks in collaboration with Work Package Leads.
* Maintaining oversight of all financial transactions across the consortium, overseeing financial administration, budget management, and expenditure reporting in line with relevant regulations and procurement frameworks.
* Coordinating communication between all academic and non-academic partners, including the organisation of project management meetings and network conferences, ensuring effective integration of all partners within the project.
* Develop and implement management tools necessary for the successful operation of the project (procedures, guides, reports, collaborative platforms, etc.).
* Preparing and delivering reports and presentations, including regular grant reporting to the Higher Education Authority and other agencies as required.
* Liaising with the funder (the HEA) when required.
* Communicating project activities, including maintenance of the project website and social media accounts, ensuring project and funder branding is consistently applied
* Supporting recruitment for key project roles, including postdoctoral positions
* Organising events including conferences, symposia, talks, and exhibitions.
* Administering and documenting project management meetings
* Overseeing the documentation and archiving of research activities and outputs, including the management of storage and access to project outputs
* Contributing to the evaluation of research activities
* Engaging in initiatives to attract research funding, supporting future research proposal presentation and submission amongst project consortium partners.
Selection Criteria
Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge, and experience required to successfully fulfil the responsibilities of the post. Applications will be assessed on how well candidates meet these criteria.
Essential Criteria
* A relevant degree-level qualification or higher.
* Three years' experience in a comparable administrative role in research and/or project management, either in a HEI or industry.
* Flexibility and the ability to adapt to the changing needs of diverse stakeholders and partners.
* Experience in supporting distributed teams and building relationships with partners at a consortium level.
* High level of initiative and the ability to manage a project from conception to successful delivery.
* Familiarity with art and design research.
* Strong organisational, financial, and time management skills.
* Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., Excel)
* Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
* Excellent writing skills.
Desirable Criteria
* Experience with event management, outreach or public engagement in an academic research or cultural environment
* Experience of working with national or international research funding bodies
* Understanding of/experience with implementing project management processes across the full lifecycle of a project
* Experience maintaining website content / CMS