Research Assistant - Research Communications & Participatory Impact Officer Legumes for Development Research Project, College of Science and Engineering, University of Galway 109-24

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a full-time fixed term position as a Research Assistant (Research Communications & Participatory Impact Officer) within the AgriBiosciences, Food Security and Climate Resilience research group of Prof. Charles Spillane at the the University of Galway, Ireland.

This position is funded by the EU and is available from 6^th May 2024 to contract end date of 10th November 2025.

The successful candidate will work on the the LEG4DEV Project (www.leg4dev.org) and be supervised by Professor Spillane, supported by others on his team.

Job Description:

The EU funded LEG4DEV “Legumes for Development” project (www.leg4dev.org) is a €7.2 million research project led that conducts research to enable scaling of legumes for development & sustainability outcomes in Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania and Ethiopia. The project is led by University of Galway in partnership with IITA, CIMMYT, ILRI, Wageningen University, University of Hohenheim and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences  (SLU).

Within the AgriBiosciences, Food Security and Climate Resilience research group of Professor Charles Spillane the Research Assistant (Research Communications & Participatory Impact Officer) will work closely with Prof. Spillane and his team to engage in research communications and participatory impact activities with scaling partners and stakeholders to ensure that the research conducted enables scaling of legumes for development outcomes.

Duties:

• Engage in research and supports on communications activities, strategies, channels and modes to reach defined audiences and stakeholders of relevance to the goals of the LEG4DEV project.
• Engage in research and supports on participatory impact approaches with scaling partners and stakeholders to maximise outcomes and impacts from the LEG4DEV project.
• Develop novel, innovative and impactful research communications activities that efficiently reach intended audiences and stakeholders in partner countries.
• Research and identify strategies and approaches to accelerate and expand the immediate outcomes of the LEG4DEV project outputs with scaling partners in each of the four partner countries.
• Contribute to research on research funding needs and opportunities across national and global systems for sustainable development of agrifood systems.
• To identify and apply appropriate communication and dissemination methodologies for LEG4DEV project.
• Provide input into defining research proposal concepts, working closely with Prof. Spillane and other PIs on idea generation, editing, and meeting submission deadlines.
• Contribute to development of appropriate research methodologies to ensure communication of research and innovation outputs, impact and outcomes from the project.
• Meet research proposal submission deadlines by establishing priorities and target dates for information gathering, writing, review, and approval, and coordinating requirements with contributors.
• Provide input into the planining, coordination and implementation of pipeline of research project applications from Prof. Spillane’s team and collaborating partners (nationally and globally).
• Maintain strong relationships with a portfolio of research funders and key partnerships globally, and keep up to date with trends and developments in the research and innovation funding arena.

• Review and improve research concept notes/proposals with Prof. Spillane and other Principal Investigators through, inter alia, the development and articulation of log frames, measurable outputs, outcomes and their deliverables and indicators.
• Engage with performance management plans for the project, including engagement in monitoring of the implementation process to track milestones and report on progress of the selected performance indicators for outputs.
• Participate actively in project review and planning meetings and in reporting on performances and effectiveness of the project activities.
• Contribute to publication of research results and success stories.
• Participate in training and capacity building of research and other staff in Prof. Spillane and collaborating research groups on successful grant writing and capture. Improve proposal-writing processes by evaluating and re-designing processes for their production and submission.
• Working with PIs and Project Managers to ensure that research project reporting meets reporting deadlines.
• Create and curate LEG4DEV’s in-house database on research project proposals, ensuring data and information is current and accurate, and providing regular analytical reports.
• Travel nationally and internationally to establish and maintain networks with research partners, funders and stakeholders.
• To have knowledge and understanding of the policy, practices and procedures relevant to research and innovation grants and projects, including broader University/ sector/ external sponsor or funder (e.g. Commercial Awareness, Research Ethics, Knowledge Transfer, Patents, Intellectual Property Rights, Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities & Diversity).
• Any other duties assigned commensurate to this level of post.

Qualifications/Skills required:

Essential Requirements:

• Primary degree (Level 8) of relevance to international sustainable development, ideally with a focus on agrifood systems, food security and sustainability.
• High level of proficiency in writing and in generation of audio, video and other communication outputs.
• Strong website development and editing skills, with proficiency of impact oriented social media and other (e.g. radio) approaches to reach audiences in partner developing countries.
• Training/education and evidence of high-level ability of cutting edge research communications and impact pathways.
• Relevant research experience in successfully drafting communication outputs, concept notes and proposals for programs and projects related to agriculture/international development.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills in English. Abilities in other official languages of the United Nations would be an advantage.
• Strong familiarity with international donors and investors, and knowledge of funding interests and priorities of relevance to international sustainable development.

Desirable Requirements:

• Successful track record of engagement in leverage of funding for research and innovation projects on agriculture/international development.
• Ability to work with PIs and partner organisations to develop robust impact and output pathways, with associated indicators for measurement of outputs,
• Familiarity with use of logframes and monitoring, evaluation and learning processes for formulation of results-oriented projects.
• Computer proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) and familiarity with project management and project budgeting software.
• Excellent time-management skills, ability to deliver when facing multiple projects with tight deadlines.
• Strong analytical skills.

Salary: Research Assistant salary scale €30,025 - €39,908 per annum per annum, (subject to the project’s funding limitations), and pro rata for shorter and/or part-time contracts.  

The default position for all new public sector appointments is the 1st point of the salary scale. This may be reviewed, and consideration afforded to appointment at a higher point on the payscale (subject to the project’s funding limitations), where evidence of prior years’ equivalent experience is accepted in determining placement on the scale above point 1, subject to the maximum of the scale.

Research Salary Scales - University of Galway).

Start date: Position is available from 6^th May 2024.

Continuing Professional Development/Training:

Researchers at University of Galway are encouraged to avail of a range of training and development opportunities designed to support their personal career development plans. University of Galway provides continuing professional development supports for all researchers seeking to build their own career pathways either within or beyond academia.  Researchers are encouraged to engage with our Researcher Development Centre (RDC) upon commencing employment - see HERE for further information.

Further information on research and working at University of Galway is available on Research at University of Galway

For information on moving to Ireland please see www.euraxess.ie

Further information about Ryan Institute is available at https://www.universityofgalway.ie/ryaninstitute/

Informal enquiries concerning the post may be made to Professor Charles Spillane charles.spillane@universityofgalway.ie

To Apply:

Applications to include a covering letter, CV, and the contact details of three referees should be sent, via e-mail (in word or PDF only) to Professor Charles Spillane charles.spillane@universityofgalway.ie

Please put reference number University of Galway 109-24in subject line of e-mail application.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00 pm (Irish Time) 1st May 2024

We reserve the right to re-advertise or extend the closing date for this post.

University of Galway is an equal opportunities employer.

All positions are recruited in line with Open, Transparent, Merit (OTM) and Competency based recruitment