Research Officer -Office of Public Works Climate Resilience project

Research Officer OPWCRP

Inland Fisheries Ireland has a vacancy for a Research Officer OPWCRP to join the Research and Development division.

The Research Officer will be responsible for day to day delivery of IFI's Office of Public Works Climate Resilience Project (OPWCRP). They will generate high quality scientific data to inform the management, conservation and protection of fish species and their habitats, supporting evidence based responses to climate change.

The broad objective of the programme is to build an evidence based research programme to assess the impact of climate change on the Irish fisheries sector in drained Irish river catchments, and they will collaborate closely with colleagues working on IFI's climate change mitigation research programme.

The successful candidate will have demonstrated excellence in planning and execution of applied scientific studies in field situations. The work will involve both desk and field investigations, and the appointee will produce detailed scientific reports and papers on the progress of the project.

The successful candidate will also have project management experience, including managing teams, and will have demonstrated networking and communication skills.

About Us

Inland Fisheries Ireland is the environmental agency responsible for protecting, managing and conserving Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling resources.

Vision, Mission & Values Vision

To place the inland fisheries resource in the best sustainable position possible for the benefit of future generations.

Mission

To protect, manage and conserve Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling resources and to maximise their sustainability and natural biodiversity.

Values

• We work collaboratively with professionalism
• We are open, transparent and accountable
• We act with respect and integrity
• We are committed to stewardship and sustainability

Key Responsibilities

• Day to day delivery of the project under the supervision of the senior research officer.
• Work with the senior research officer to develop a comprehensive and innovative research programme to determine the impacts of climate change related pressures on Irish fish species in drained Irish catchments.

Management

• Manage, coach, mentor, train and motivate staff.
• Account management and monitoring to ensure the programme is completed within the allocated budget, including monthly reporting.
• Tendering and procurement of equipment.
• Provision of task schedules for all survey work.
• Compile standard operating procedures (SOPs) for any new work activities.

Research

• Undertake innovative research to bridge a significant knowledge gap related to Ireland's fish species and climate change impacts in drained Irish catchments.

Data Collection Responsibilities

• Collect data on fish populations (distribution, biology and ecology) and associated environmental/abiotic conditions from designated water bodies as part of a long term monitoring network, including data from temperature logger networks, data buoys and acoustic telemetry arrays.
• Supervise, prepare, install and maintain new or existing technologies where appropriate to support the programme.
• Develop/refine appropriate sampling methods in line with best practice.

Data Processing

• Maintain raw data and all other records in a clear concise manner and in line with IFI's database structure.
• Data mining and aggregation of diverse datasets to parameterise and validate models and or analyses.
• Quality assure and review all datasets for entry to databases/GIS.

Data Analysis

• Supervise and undertake data analysis of all relevant datasets, including using relevant statistical/modelling techniques.
• Liaise with IFI's GIS team to calculate landscape covariates and develop vulnerability maps.
• Develop models (single and multi catchment) and analyse the ecological response of fish species and their habitats to temperature extremes and altered flow regimes in drained Irish catchments.

Reporting and Communication

• Collate and write reports, management briefs and scientific publications where necessary to agreed deadlines.
• Provision of weekly and monthly updates to the programme manager.
• Attend steering committee meetings and provide project updates when required.
• Communicate positively and effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

Other Duties

• Carry out such duties as may be assigned to the post from time to time by the senior research officer.
• Ensure that all elements of the programme are achieved in a timely and efficient manner.
• Demonstrable capacity to communicate positively and effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

Note: The above attempts to outline in a broad sense the range of duties associated with the Research Officer post. However other duties may arise as the requirements of the project and our stakeholders change over time.

Key Experience & Qualifications Essential

• A relevant Diploma or Degree or equivalent (NFQ Level 7).
• A full, clean Category B driving licence that is valid in Ireland.
• Excellent inter personal skills with particular emphasis on motivation and leadership and a proven track record of achieving objectives.
• Excellent team working skills.
• Self directed and able to work independently.
• Excellent attention to detail with the ability to spot errors and question information received.
• Proven project management experience in a multi disciplined team essential (including budgeting, scheduling, risk management, etc.).
• Demonstrable experience in report and scientific writing.
• Demonstrable experience of field survey and data collection in aquatic habitats.
• Demonstrable experience in sampling and identification of fish species.
• Knowledge of fish ecology and the potential impacts of climate change on Irish fish species and their habitats.
• A strong expertise in IT skills is required (GIS Software in addition to MS Office).
• Demonstrable experience in the use of relevant statistical software (e.g. R).
• Knowledge of climate change and the potential impacts on Ireland's fish species.
• Experience in planning, executing and reporting on original research studies.

Desirable

• A relevant Honours Degree or equivalent (NFQ Level 8).
• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant area.
• Full EB driving licence.
• Demonstrable experience and good knowledge of at least one of the following areas:
  • Spatial modelling; fish habitat modelling; spatial stream network models; fish habitat suitability models; environmental flows; analysing/modelling time series or spatial data; acoustic telemetry; flow velocity profiling; working with hydrologic/hydraulic data; implementing general lake models.
• Published at least two scientific papers as first author in a relevant scientific field.
• Experience in deploying and managing remote environmental monitoring technologies (e.g. temperature loggers, data buoys, water quality sensors).
• Experience in designing, implementing, and analysing acoustic telemetry projects (e.g. acoustic receivers and tagging fish).

The position will require flexibility regarding working hours. The position is based in IFI's head office in Citywest, Dublin. However, there may be considerable travelling and residing in locations across Ireland, whilst conducting field work in all weather conditions. Travelling on a daily or weekly basis will be a requirement. Transport will be provided for field duties and full Civil Service subsistence rates will be paid when on field duties.

The work will require frequent physical exertion while conducting field activities, including walking over rough, uneven terrain, lifting equipment, wading in streams/rivers and working in boats.

Remuneration

The salary scale for the position is at the Research Officer level and comprises 14 points plus 2 long service increments (LSI):

• Point 1 €47,983.07
• Point 2 €50,107.72
• Point 3 €53,217.13
• Point 4 €55,902.66
• Point 5 €58,151.57
• Point 6 €60,348.60
• Point 7 €65,357.77
• Point 8 €67,731.06
• Point 9 €70,231.86
• Point 10 €72,727.61
• Point 11 €75,210.73
• Point 12 €77,726.67
• LSI 1 €79,573.55
• LSI 2 €82,186.70

Salary will not be subject to negotiation and may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy. New entrants to the public sector will start on Point 1 subject to the Haddington Road Agreement and subsequent Government Agreements.

Tenure

This post is offered a Specified Purpose Contract until end of December 2029.

Applications

A cover letter and up to date Curriculum Vitae should be submitted by 5:00 pm on Tuesday 30th of June 2026.

Late applications will not be processed.

Shortlisting will be based on information provided in the cover letter and CV.

Canvassing will disqualify.

Inland Fisheries Ireland is an equal opportunities employer.