Senior Programme Manager Closing soon Department Programmes and Engagement Reporting to Head of ...

Applications are invited for the position of Senior Programme Manager (Membership and Committees).

Key info

Status Closing soon Department Programmes and Engagement Reporting to Head of Programmes and Engagement or nominee Contract type Permanent Salary €54,717 - €72,715 Close date 15:00 on 3 June 2026

Overview

The Royal Irish Academy is a predominantly publicly funded institution established for the promotion of learning in the sciences, humanities and social sciences across the island of Ireland. The Academy's strategic plan for 2024-28 is available here: .

The Programmes and Engagement Department manages key Academy programmes, committees and grant schemes as well as membership engagement and the membership election processes. Through the Academic Board and multidisciplinary committees, the department brings together experts to promote cooperation across and within relevant scholarly disciplines as well as to advise, contribute to and guide the Academy's engagement and public outreach on issues of interest.

The Royal Irish Academy values diversity and strives for a culture of equality and inclusion in all its activities, and is committed to ensuring greater gender, disciplinary, institutional and overall diversity in its membership.

Purpose of role

The Senior Programme Manager (Membership and Committees) is responsible for maintaining and developing the membership programme and ensuring an active and engaged membership across the Academy. They are the key point of contact for the Academy's approximately 680 members. The successful candidate will oversee the necessary support for key governance committees of the Academy, namely Council, the Executive Committee and the Academic Board which oversees the work of the multidisciplinary committees.

Key accountabilities

• Oversee the smooth functioning of Council, the Executive Committee and the Academic Board, including preparing documents, agendas and position papers
• Attend meetings, prepare draft minutes, execute and disseminate decisions and ensure timely follow up
• Advise on the Academy Charter and by laws, as required
• Work with the Executive Director and the Director of Corporate Services to ensure compliance with internal policies, governance frameworks, the Charity Regulator and other legal requirements
• Develop an annual programme of membership engagement initiatives, including the planning and delivery of the stated general meetings and formal admittance ceremonies
• Manage the end to end membership assessment processes, including liaising with relevant assessment committees, external assessors, nominators and candidates
• Ensure effective quality assurance and overall integrity of the membership process
• Design and deliver communications to engage members about the work of the Academy
• Identify and develop opportunities for cross organisational collaboration, particularly between Academy members, members of the multidisciplinary committees and members of Young Academy Ireland
• Ensure efficient and streamlined collection of membership subscriptions
• Ensure full and accurate management of membership database records
• Work with the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee on matters of membership diversity
• Lead, develop and motivate team members to achieve departmental and organisational objectives
• Contribute to organisation level initiatives and to collaborative work within the Academy, as required
• Other duties deemed appropriate by the Executive Director and the Head of Programmes and Engagement, within the scope of the role

Qualifications

• Third level degree
• Minimum of five years' relevant experience in a membership organisation or higher education institute
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with evidence of experience in stakeholder engagement
• High level of discretion and professionalism with ability to handle confidential information
• Demonstrable experience in relationship management with diverse stakeholders across the private, public and academic sectors
• Experience managing and supporting committee work, with the ability to meet deadlines and manage busy governance cycles
• Proven ability to coordinate multiple committees, working groups and membership processes simultaneously
• Ability to work autonomously and be adaptable to meet evolving and emerging organisational needs
• Experience in organising large scale events, from planning through to delivery
• Experience in developing and motivating a team
• Strong CRM database experience, including records management and reporting
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Experience with digital voting systems, online application platforms or governance portals
• A postgraduate degree in a relevant area
• Knowledge of programme and project management methods and principles
• Knowledge of Salesforce CRM platform
• Working knowledge of the Irish language

Further Information

Salary: Salary is on the Senior Programme Manager Scale €54,717 - €72,715. Candidates should note that entry will be at the minimum of the scale and the rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with government pay policy. Different pay and conditions may apply if, immediately prior to appointment, the appointee is a serving civil or public servant.

Hours of Work: The normal hours of work are 35 hours per week.

Overtime is not paid in respect of excess attendance which, should it arise, is discharged by time off in lieu at times agreed in advance with the Executive Director.

This role is suitable for blended working.

Leave: The annual leave entitlement is 25 days per annum, pro ratio for shorter periods. Entitlement to leave for public holidays is in accordance with the terms of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. There is a requirement to take up to four days annual leave where the Academy is closed at Easter and Christmas.

Employee Benefits: Examples of some of our current employee benefits include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Family friendly policies
• Blended working policy
• Availability of an optical benefit scheme
• Availability of a cycle to work scheme
• A range of learning and developmental opportunities
• Sick leave scheme
• Paid maternity, adoptive and paternity leave
• Automatically entered into a pension scheme
• Employee assistance programme

Medical: Staff shall, if required, and at the expense of the Academy, submit to a medical examination by a registered medical practitioner nominated by the Academy and shall authorise such medical practitioner to disclose and to discuss with the Academy the results of the examination and the matters which arise from it so that the Academy can ascertain any matters that they consider might impair a staff member from properly discharging his/her duties.

Pension: Details of the appropriate pension scheme will be provided upon determination of appointee's status.

Permanent Pension contribution: This appointment is subject to the Additional Superannuation Contribution (ASC) effective from 1 January 2019.

Application Process

Completed applications must be submitted electronically to and consist of:

• A brief cover letter demonstrating how you meet the qualifications and experience for the position (max. two pages)
• A curriculum vitae summarising your qualifications and relevant experience

Documents must be submitted in Word or PDF, and submissions that combine letter and CV into a single file are preferred.

Applicants will be shortlisted based on information provided in their application. Failure to fulfil the application requisites will deem the application invalid.

Closing date: Wednesday 3 June at 12:00pm. Late applications will not be considered. It is anticipated that interviews will be held week commencing 15 June 2026 and will include competency based interview questions. Applicants should note that panels may be formed from which future positions could be filled. The Royal Irish Academy will not be responsible for any costs that may be incurred by the applicants.

The Royal Irish Academy is an equal opportunities employer