Data Scientist/Engineer (Metaresearch lead)

About Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland

Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland is the national research and innovation funding agency which was established on 1 August 2024; it amalgamates the activities of the Irish Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland. Research Ireland will drive world class research and innovation in Ireland, funding research and innovation excellence in all disciplines across the spectrum of Arts, Engineering, Humanities, Mathematics, Science, Social Sciences, Technology and others.

The Research Ireland Strategy is structured around three interconnected impact themes - Talent, Economy and Society. Together they reflect our belief that people are at the heart of the system; that research-driven innovation is essential to competitiveness and productivity; and that research must ultimately serve the public good.

Job Purpose

This role will deliver advanced data analytics: selecting methodologies and models, utilising new analytic technologies, developing code, and delivering findings. The outputs from this role will inform strategic decision making in Ireland’s largest research and innovation funder, whose annual budget is ~€350m.

In part due to the global adoption of genAI, the global research and innovation system is evolving at tremendous pace. Findings delivered by this role will provide the evidence behind Research Ireland’s seizing these new opportunities.

This role will be a keystone of Research Ireland’s new metaresearch unit. Metaresearch studies how research is designed, conducted, evaluated, and funded, aiming to improve how research funding is delivered, and increasing the reliability, transparency, and overall quality of funded research. Research Ireland is creating a metaresearch unit to provide decision support, a national policy intelligence function and a “strategic brain” for Ireland.

Principal Duties and Accountabilities of Role

• Deliver advanced data analytics projects and tools to assess and improve organisational performance:

o Scope projects collaboratively, collecting requirements

o Design the appropriate methods, models, dataset requirements, etc

o Work end-to-end, ultimately delivering production-ready tools and analyses

o Explain and justify the selected analytical and statistical methods and models

o Perform the analysis and communicate the findings

o Own the relevant data and statistical models, and the associated processes and documentation

o Iterate to meet the needs of senior stakeholders

• Provide detail on dataset requirements and data quality needs.
• Leverage (extract, link, update, automate, …) data from internal and external databases / spreadsheets as data sources.
• Collaborate across the organisation to develop, prioritise and refine projects and tools.
• Collaborate with the academic sector nationally and internationally on metaresearch projects.
• Represent Research Ireland at key national and international fora in the metaresearch space and the broader research & innovation system, engaging on latest relevant methodologies and metaresearch activity, and sourcing new best practice.

Essential Criteria for the Role

Essential

• Masters by research or PhD in a related discipline.
• Experience in a related field, such as economics / statistics / mathematics / software engineering.
• Strong data analytics, data mining, or machine learning experience in R / Python / Alteryx or similar
• Familiarity and experience with genAI tools and techniques.
• Proven track record ideally with 5 years post qualification experience in a relevant role.
• Experience delivering complex analytical projects that changed organisational direction.

Desirable

• Familiarity with research and innovation: experience working in a research funder, research performer / Higher Education Institution (research or administration), or similar

Competencies

• Technical skills as outlined above
• Ability to acquire and evaluate information.
• Capability to prioritise and deal with ambiguity.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.

Application Process

Research Ireland invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for this role.

To apply for this post, applicants must submit a cover letter demonstrating how the applicant meets the requirement for this role (maximum of two pages) as set out in the job specification together with an up-to-date CV. Please note that the cover letter is essential. Candidates must apply before 12 noon (Irish Local Time) on 19th November, 2026. No late applications will be accepted.

Salary:

Level E salary scale: €83,113 - €102,076 per annum with contributory superannuation (pension). Government policy continues to be that starting pay on recruitment from open competition for all posts within the public sector should be at the minimum of the relevant salary scale and are not subject to negotiation. Remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government policy.

Benefits:

We offer several key Benefits and perks, such as:

• Competitive salary with defined progression through the grade
• Defined Benefit Pension Scheme (Single Public Service Pension Scheme)
• Excellent progressive Policies including a favourable Blended Working Policy, Sick Leave, and other family-friendly policies
• Modern office facilities with a subsidised canteen
• Life Insurance
• 30 Days Annual Leave (Prorated)
• Learning and development opportunities

Additional Information

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend for an interview, which may include a competency-based interview, a presentation on a topic of relevance to the role and/ or other such assessment methods as deemed appropriate. Research Ireland reserves the right to invite candidates to a second-round interview and to undergo further assessment, including the use of psychometric assessment if so required.

Please note, interviews may take place over video-conference or other remote technology where appropriate.

Research Ireland is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace which values and benefits from the diversity of our workforce.

Salary: €83,113 per year