Research Support Officer -Administration (Office Manager) INFANT Research Centre

Organisation/Company University College Cork Department HR Research Research Field Medical sciences Other Researcher Profile Established Researcher (R3) Positions Research Support Positions Application Deadline 3 Jul 2026 - 12:00 (Europe/Dublin) Country Ireland Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 3 Jun 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The INFANT Research Centre, established in 2013 and hosted by University College Cork (UCC), is dedicated to advancing maternal and child health research. INFANT's overarching vision is to advance translational research in maternal and child health and to position Ireland at the forefront of this field. The Centre delivers scientific excellence and impact across academic, translational and commercial activities, bringing together a diverse team of clinicians and scientists supported by selected industry partners, international collaborators, and business and regulatory advisors. INFANT is funded through a range of national and international funding agencies, EU programmes, industry partnerships and philanthropy, and has a well-established Clinical Trials Platform underpinned by an ISO 9001:2015 accredited Quality Management System.

INFANT plays a central role in UCC Futures - Children, one of ten thematic areas within UCC Futures, UCC's ambitious programme of research prioritisation in areas of strategic importance. UCC Futures - Children builds on INFANT's established strengths in child health, development and translational research, while fostering wider interdisciplinary collaboration across disciplines, schools and colleges. The theme is dedicated to advancing research with and for children, supporting the fulfilment of their rights, and improving outcomes across health, education, justice and social policy.

The INFANT Research Centre is now accepting applications for a full-time Research Support Officer - Administration (Office Manager). This role will be based within INFANT and will support the Centre's research, operational and strategic activities, including UCC Futures - Children. The post requires significant, high-level administrative and office management experience in a healthcare, research or higher education setting, together with excellent communication, IT and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• To support the Director or Head of the Research area to achieve the agreed strategic and administrative goals of the research area.
• To provide an effective administrative framework to support the ongoing development of the research project/area.
• To advise the Director/Head of the Research area of appropriate administrative structures and procedures to give effect to agreed and approved policies.
• To be responsible for the development and implementation of positive and appropriate administrative work practices at the INFANT Research Centre.
• To implement agreed policy and procedures including administration, personnel, and resources for the overall development of the research project/area.
• To manage the secretarial/administrative functions as required.
• To allocate, delegate and supervise work of the administrative staff, as is appropriate, ensuring its effective operation.

RESEARCH

• To support activities of the research projects as required, such as assisting in workshops, producing written outputs, in conjunction with the Director/Head of the Research area.

POLICY ADVICE AND DISSEMINATION

• To disseminate research results through web pages, media conferences etc.

FINANCE

• To administer financial and budgetary functions, including purchasing and cost controls in consumables, equipment, and part-time pay, in conjunction with the Director/Head of the Research area.
• To propose strategic or operational priorities and to advise on achieving the effective and value-for-money allocation of budgets and resources.
• To ensure proper use of resources, compliance and integrity of systems in accordance with university policies, procedures and standards and in agreement with the Director/Head of the Research area.

PROMOTION/DEVELOPMENT

• To assist the Director/Head of the Research area with logistical planning of human, physical and financial requirements for the research project.
• To identify opportunities for external relationships and collaboration.
• To contribute to the development of the strong external links to business and industry.
• To contribute to the promotion and marketing of the research area.
• To produce, when required, appropriate promotional and marketing literature.

PERSONNEL

• To assist with the preparation of recruitment advertisements and job particulars for posts within the research area.
• To assist with managing the administrative workloads to support the research project/area.
• To liaise with HR as required on research staff personal details and/or terms and conditions of employments for research staff contracts, including Garda Vetting and staff training records.
• To support the Health and Safety functions within the INFANT Centre.

The list of duties detailed above is not intended to be exclusive or restrictive and may be adjusted dependent on the area of research.

Requirements

• A graduate qualification in a field or discipline relevant to the area of investigation i.e. BSc, MSc, or PhD or other relevant qualification.
• At least 5 years' experience of providing high level administrative support in a healthcare, research or higher education setting.
• Ability to interact with stakeholders from a range of disciplines.
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent report writing, presentation and organisational skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken.
• Strong IT skills and experience using Microsoft Office, Microsoft SharePoint (or similar), finance and procurement systems.
• High level of initiative.
• Please note that Garda vetting and international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.