The Educational Research Centre are currently recruiting a CEO.

Sigmar Recruitment Consultants, on behalf of the Educational Research Centre. will hold a competition for the purpose of recommending a person for appointment to the position of CEO of the Educational Research Centre. The role requires leadership in educational research, quality assurance, management, budgetary control and general administration. This is a five year contract (renewable once).

Role Summary

The Chief Executive Officer will be appointed by and accountable to the Board of the Centre. The CEO shall not be a member of the Board of the Centre but may attend its meetings

The role requires leadership in educational research, quality assurance, management, budgetary control and general administration. In conjunction with the Board, the person appointed will be responsible for establishing priorities in a programme of work, and compliance with public service governance requirements including those relating to strategic planning and reporting and the prudent management of the Centre’s budget.

In conjunction with the Board, the CEO is responsible for:

1. The quality of the research and publications of the Centre and for the performance of their duties by all members of staff; and
2. The allocation and use of all funds made available to the Centre.

The CEO will also maintain the Centre’s independence while ensuring that it has a close working relationship with the Department of Education and Skills.  An important aspect of the Centre’s independence is its capacity to initiate, complete and publish research beyond those projects that are carried out on behalf the Department and other agencies. The CEO will play an active part in this process personally and through enabling and supporting other staff.

The CEO will maintain good working relationships with other agencies that the Centre interacts with in the course of its work.  

In accordance with the statutory instrument under which the Centre was established, the CEO shall present to the Board, for its approval, prior to their submission to the Minister for Education and Skills

• The programme of work of the Centre on an annual basis
• An annual report of the Centre’s activities
• Annual accounts.

Essential Requirements:

Candidates must, on the closing date for this competition, satisfy the following requirements:

1. A doctorate in education or a related discipline;
2. A track record in the field of educational research or relevant research in the social sciences, particularly research related to educational policy;
3. A vision of educational research in alignment with the Strategic Plan of the Centre;
4. Experience in establishing priorities in educational or relevant research;
5. An appreciation for the significance of the context of educational research;
6. An awareness of trends in international educational research;
7. An ability to motivate, inspire and lead teams of researchers and ensure the quality of research work and publications;
8. An ability to identify and facilitate the development of staff capacity; 
9. Proven leadership and management skills,
10. A high level of accountability;
11. An ability to review and improve structures and efficiencies;
12. An ability to address complex organisational demands, including staffing and policy development;
13. Familiarity with governance and corporate matters including management of property, risk, and finance;
14. An ability to manage the Centre’s external relations, both nationally and internationally;
15. An ability to maintain and promote the profile of the Centre in educational research;
16. A comprehensive knowledge of the Irish education system;
17. A displayed knowledge of how research can be disseminated effectively and how it can and should be used to inform policy;
18. A considerable experience in at least two of the following three areas and a good knowledge of the third:

• the design, execution, supervision and reporting of large-scale surveys;
• the design, execution, supervision and reporting of programme evaluations;
• the theory and practice of educational measurement.

Essential personal qualities required for this role include commitment, patience, empathy, the ability to manage challenging demands and priorities, and an open-minded approach to problem solving.

For full information please download the Candidate Information Booklet.  (Leabhrán Eolais)

About the ERC

Since its establishment in 1966, the Educational Research Centre (ERC) has been an internationally recognised centre of excellence in research, assessment and evaluation in education. In September 2015, it was designated as a Statutory Body in accordance with the Education Act (1998). The Centre carries out research at all levels of the education system, from preschool to adult. Research is undertaken at the request of the Department of Education and Skills, at the request of other agencies and on the initiative of the ERC itself and its staff.

The Centre is located on the DCU St Patrick's Campus in Drumcondra.