Summary of Post

This position is for a National Programme Manager for the Health Research Board-Trials Methodology Research Network (HRB-TMRN). The National Programme Manager will coordinate HRB-TMRN’s operations and ensure the effective implementation and development of its projects, training, and stakeholder engagement. The successful candidate will coordinate day-to-day activities, support ongoing projects, and strengthen partnerships both nationally and internationally. Working collaboratively with our research teams and stakeholders, they will ensure the smooth delivery of current initiatives, including trials methodology research projects, training programs, and public engagement activities. Key responsibilities include project coordination, stakeholder communication, and supporting the delivery of funded research projects.

Salary: Research Fellow salary scale €63,958 – €83,494 per annum (IUA Research Fellow point 1 to Senior Research Fellow point 4) (subject to the project’s funding limitations). 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)

Principal Duties:

• Provide strategic leadership in planning and implementing the Network’s initiatives, ensuring alignment with the overall goals and objectives.
• Coordinate the day-to-day operations of the Network, ensuring timely and effective execution of projects.
• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
• Monitor project plans, timelines, and deliverables.
• Support multiple trials methodology research and capacity-building initiatives, ensuring that objectives are met.
• Represent the HRB-TMRN at national and international forums, promoting the network’s mission and activities.
• Maintain existing and build new national and international relationships.
• Support the implementation of existing short and long-term strategic plans, programs, events, and activities.
• Support ongoing research.
• Drive stakeholder engagement and public involvement activities, ensuring meaningful participation and collaboration.
• Support the maintenance of relationships with partners, as well as fostering national and international awareness around trials methodology through targeted outreach and strategic communication.
• Identify opportunities for growth and innovation within the network, leading initiatives to enhance its impact and reach.
• Liaise with the broader trials methodology research community both nationally and internationally to identify areas of strength and weakness.
• Manage Network funding streams including pre- and post-award activities.
• Identify suitable trial methodology funding calls and lead on major grant applications, with follow-through from project set-up to reporting.
• Maintain a management system for handling support requests, through to follow-up.
• Oversee the measurement, data collection, analysis, and reporting of KPIs to the Executive Committee and funder.
• Maintain complex partner communications, ensuring periodic, consistent, and timely communications and planning for members, the Director, Executive Committee, and Advisory Board.
• Maintain the Network website and social media and communication channels.
• Maintain close communication and liaise with the Executive Committee and the funders; attend regular Executive Committee meetings.
• Facilitate and assist in the organisation of courses and other activities in locations throughout the country.
• Maintain structures and processes for the identification of methodological expertise, including teaching faculty.
• Maintain processes for allocating funds to support inter-institutional working (including workshops, research projects, etc., where required).
• Oversee financial planning and budget management, ensuring efficient use of resources and compliance with funding requirements.
• Oversee finances and budget planning, including initiating annual, interim, and final financial reports promptly, as required by funder.
• Maintain critical relationships with funders and other stakeholders (e.g., the Department of Health and Children, The Health Services Executive, industry, regulators, and others, including international partners) on issues and initiatives relevant to the initiative.
• Undertake travel within and between Ireland and the UK and elsewhere internationally as required.
• Any other duties assigned commensurate to this level of post.

Eligibility Requirements

Essential Requirements:

• PhD in a health-related field, ideally public health, health education, trials, or trials methodology.
• At least 6 years of postdoctoral experience.
• Demonstrated strategic leadership experience in directing and managing large-scale research programs or networks, including developing and implementing long-term strategic plans.
• Proven track record in coordinating international, multicentre projects and fostering international collaborations.
• Demonstrated project management and leadership experience in initiating, designing, and implementing complex research projects, including the ability to manage and oversee research projects and take responsibility for their overall success.
• Extensive experience in coordinating, communicating, and liaising with large, high-level multidisciplinary teams, including senior stakeholders and funding agencies.
• Substantial experience in stakeholder engagement and public involvement in healthcare research, with evidence of successfully integrating patient and public perspectives into research design, conduct, and dissemination.
• Evidence of strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to produce information that is appropriately presented and effectively received by academic and non-academic audiences.
• Extensive experience in Network and relationship building, maintaining effective working relationships with all levels of internal and external stakeholders at national and international levels.
• High level of responsiveness in handling concerns and resolving problems or issues.
• Proven skills in synthesising large amounts of information for preparing sound and relevant proposals and reports.
• Flexible, self-motivated, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Experience in supervising junior team members.
• Proven excellence in IT literacy, particularly with word processing and spreadsheets.
• Willingness and ability to travel both within Ireland and internationally.

Desirable Requirements:

• Proven track record of leading substantial trials methodology research and knowledge translation initiatives that have influenced public health policy.
• Extensive experience in leading public involvement initiatives, with demonstrable impact on research outcomes and policy.
• Success in securing funding through competitive grant applications, contributing to the growth and sustainability of research programs.
• Demonstrated leadership in strategic planning and organisational development within research networks or similar settings.

To apply: Search Current University of Galway vacancies. Applications must be submitted online.

For informal enquiries, please contact Prof. Declan Devane, Scientific Director, HRB-TMRN, declan.devane@universityofgalway.ie