ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate:

• A Postgraduate qualification (Level 9 on NFQ or equivalent) in a relevant energy-related area or have significant research experience.
• A minimum of five years directly relevant experience working in a related area.
• Management experience in a research environment in the public sector, academia or industry and/or managing public-funded research.
• Experience of management a team and staff development.
• Significant understanding of the importance of stakeholder engagement and collaboration, along with strong experience managing and responding to stakeholder needs.
• Strong project management and organisation skills and knowledge of business process management, including change management.
• Excellent communication (written and oral) and interpersonal skills, including ability to communicate technical information to non-technical audiences, including engaging a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.
• An understanding of energy-related research and policy priorities both nationally and internationally.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

• Knowledge/ Experience of working in the public sector.
• Solid experience of incorporating innovation to business practices.
• Strong experience of principles and practices of proposal support (pre-award) and grant support (post-award).
• Excellent understanding of energy-related research and policy priorities both nationally and internationally.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically.
• Proven attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent team-player skills and flexibility.

We have an exciting opportunity in the Innovation & International Research Team in the Research, Innovation & Electricity Department.
SEAI’s roles and responsibilities in respect of research and innovation are mandated in the Sustainable Energy Act 2002 and include coordinating, promoting, and assisting research, development and demonstration of technologies related to sustainable energy.
The Department includes teams in the areas of Funded Research, Offshore Energy, Electricity & Wind, and Innovation & International Research. The Department is composed primarily of analytical and technical experts from engineering, science or similar technical backgrounds who are focused on enabling and/or developing solutions to the challenge of decarbonising Ireland’s energy system.
The Innovation and International Research team contribute to the Department’s objectives by fostering SEAI innovation by working with teams to identify opportunities and guide solution mechanisms, and coordinating SEAI’s international research supports and presence, by working closely with colleagues across the Department, cross SEAI organisation, government departments and international structures and organisations.
This is an exciting and pivotal role which will give the successful candidate an opportunity to shape and drive the research ambition of the Research, Innovation & Electricity Department and play a vital role in the achievement of SEAI’s strategic innovation objectives.
The successful candidate will join an enthusiastic and innovative team who are committed to the high-quality delivery of SEAI’s Innovation and International Research work programme. The successful candidate will report to the Head of Research, Innovation & Electricity, and will line manage a team (currently three).