Posted 04 July, 2026
Research Support Officer - Scientific Programme Officer Rinn Energy: Research & Innovation in Energy System Decarbonisation
University Vacancies Ireland
Cork, Cork, Ireland
Temporary
Reference: 543234538
Applications are invited for the position of Scientific Programme Officer for Rinn Energy: Research & Innovation in Energy System Decarbonisation funded by Research Ireland. The vision of the Centre is to provide critical energy transformations that inform and enable the transition to a net zero emissions energy system. Truly national in its scope, Rinn Energy consolidates researchers from across ten institutional partners, including two successful Research Ireland programmes on sustainable energy systems, the MaREI Research Centre (led by UCC) and NexSys Strategic Partnership Programme (led by UCD), into a single programme of internationally leading, excellent research at both basic and applied levels.
Rinn Energy's ambitious research programme comprises a carefully designed combination of investigator-led and mission-focussed research that will be multi-, inter-, and trans-disciplinary in nature to deliver excellent science together with maximum societal impact. The strategic co-production of energy system decarbonisation research with industry partners, public bodies, Government Departments, citizens, and communities will be key to the successful delivery of all Centre Key Performance Indicators.
The Scientific Programme Officer will report to the Centre Manager in UCC, who will act as line manager. Significant emphasis has been placed on creating a cross-institutional Centre Operations Management team across UCC and UCD that is streamlined and coherent to facilitate working together towards the shared mission and vision of the Centre and deliver value for money. The Scientific Programme Officer will maintain oversight of all research programme activities within the Centre, actively liaising and collaborating with other Operations Team members both at UCC and UCD to contribute to the effective operational management of the Centre, encouraging open and constructive discussions around work issues and encouraging and supporting new and more effective ways of working.
The ideal candidate will be proactive, enthusiastic, very organised and capable of managing a heavy and diverse workload. They will be able to work under pressure and be able to effectively manage many competing demands simultaneously.
The successful applicant will be based in UCC's Beaufort Building in the Sustainability Institute (Sustainability Institute at University College Cork).
UCC Sustainability Institute
The Sustainability Institute, formerly the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) at University College Cork was established in 2000 as a flagship University Institute to bring together researchers to address complex global sustainability challenges using a transdisciplinary approach. The Sustainability Institute is a UCC Futures Institute. UCC Futures is an ambitious new programme of research prioritisation coupled with an innovative academic recruitment strategy across ten indicative areas of strategic importance that will build a foundation for economic, societal and cultural resilience and prosperity. The Sustainability Institute constitutes an important part of UCC's strategy to develop interdisciplinary research institutes that have a critical mass of world-class researchers in prioritised research areas to enable a more strategic approach, create an interdisciplinary research environment, develop capacity, and engage coherently with industry and society.
The Sustainability Institute is recognised for its expertise in environmental, marine, energy, sustainable materials, and sustainable food research, and is focused on addressing three global environmental challenges: Climate Action, Circular Economy, and Healthy Environment. The Institute currently has over 400 researchers from 20 disciplines and incorporates a number of research centres including: MaREI Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, Centre for Research on Atmospheric Chemistry (CRAC), the Cleaner Production and Promotion Unit (CPPU) and Centre for Law and the Environment (CLE). The Sustainability Institute has a unique and outstanding physical space for conducting research with substantial research facilities at its two dedicated buildings, the Ellen Hutchins Building on the Lee Road, Cork and the Beaufort Building, Ringaskiddy which houses the Lir National Ocean test Facility (NOTF) along with research facilities across UCC campus.
Project title: RINN Energy
Application Instructions
For an information package including full details of the post, selection criteria and application process see https://ore.ucc.ie/ The University, at its discretion, may undertake to make an additional appointment(s) from this competition following the conclusion of the process.
Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Prof Jimmy Murphy, Centre Director Rinn Energy, Email: [email protected]
For further information on the Department Sustainability Institute at University College Cork
Document
Candidate Brief_557.pdf 2.82 MB
Apply
Rinn Energy's ambitious research programme comprises a carefully designed combination of investigator-led and mission-focussed research that will be multi-, inter-, and trans-disciplinary in nature to deliver excellent science together with maximum societal impact. The strategic co-production of energy system decarbonisation research with industry partners, public bodies, Government Departments, citizens, and communities will be key to the successful delivery of all Centre Key Performance Indicators.
The Scientific Programme Officer will report to the Centre Manager in UCC, who will act as line manager. Significant emphasis has been placed on creating a cross-institutional Centre Operations Management team across UCC and UCD that is streamlined and coherent to facilitate working together towards the shared mission and vision of the Centre and deliver value for money. The Scientific Programme Officer will maintain oversight of all research programme activities within the Centre, actively liaising and collaborating with other Operations Team members both at UCC and UCD to contribute to the effective operational management of the Centre, encouraging open and constructive discussions around work issues and encouraging and supporting new and more effective ways of working.
The ideal candidate will be proactive, enthusiastic, very organised and capable of managing a heavy and diverse workload. They will be able to work under pressure and be able to effectively manage many competing demands simultaneously.
The successful applicant will be based in UCC's Beaufort Building in the Sustainability Institute (Sustainability Institute at University College Cork).
UCC Sustainability Institute
The Sustainability Institute, formerly the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) at University College Cork was established in 2000 as a flagship University Institute to bring together researchers to address complex global sustainability challenges using a transdisciplinary approach. The Sustainability Institute is a UCC Futures Institute. UCC Futures is an ambitious new programme of research prioritisation coupled with an innovative academic recruitment strategy across ten indicative areas of strategic importance that will build a foundation for economic, societal and cultural resilience and prosperity. The Sustainability Institute constitutes an important part of UCC's strategy to develop interdisciplinary research institutes that have a critical mass of world-class researchers in prioritised research areas to enable a more strategic approach, create an interdisciplinary research environment, develop capacity, and engage coherently with industry and society.
The Sustainability Institute is recognised for its expertise in environmental, marine, energy, sustainable materials, and sustainable food research, and is focused on addressing three global environmental challenges: Climate Action, Circular Economy, and Healthy Environment. The Institute currently has over 400 researchers from 20 disciplines and incorporates a number of research centres including: MaREI Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, Centre for Research on Atmospheric Chemistry (CRAC), the Cleaner Production and Promotion Unit (CPPU) and Centre for Law and the Environment (CLE). The Sustainability Institute has a unique and outstanding physical space for conducting research with substantial research facilities at its two dedicated buildings, the Ellen Hutchins Building on the Lee Road, Cork and the Beaufort Building, Ringaskiddy which houses the Lir National Ocean test Facility (NOTF) along with research facilities across UCC campus.
Project title: RINN Energy
Application Instructions
For an information package including full details of the post, selection criteria and application process see https://ore.ucc.ie/ The University, at its discretion, may undertake to make an additional appointment(s) from this competition following the conclusion of the process.
Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Prof Jimmy Murphy, Centre Director Rinn Energy, Email: [email protected]
For further information on the Department Sustainability Institute at University College Cork
Document
Candidate Brief_557.pdf 2.82 MB
Apply
