Role: Research Officer - Insights & Communications

The Rediscovery Centre 

The Rediscovery Centre is an award-winning social enterprise dedicated to leading environmental behavioural change and green living through reuse, education, research and training. Recognising the need to grow awareness of the circular economy and support circular living in Irish society, the Rediscovery Centre is developing and implementing a new national scale consumer facing communications initiative that supports and promotes circular activities across Ireland to facilitate Ireland’s transition to a Circular Economy. 

For more information on our work, please see www.rediscoverycentre.ie. 

circular.ie 

This new project (currently titled Circular.ie) will establish a knowledge centre for circular economic communications and deliver a national circular economy brand and website, launch behaviour change campaigns, conduct market research and support the promotion of circular activity in communities across Ireland. The work is aimed at ensuring Ireland’s citizens are ready for the circular transition. 

About The Role

Working with the Rediscovery Centre offers you the opportunity to work in an environment dedicated to finding the solutions that address climate issues through adopting circular economy principles and practice.

To support this exciting initiative, we are looking for an experienced researcher to support the project’s campaign communications and research initiatives. The Insights Research Officer will be responsible for managing research programmes for key communication insights that will inform the design of widespread campaigns and the national online platform.

Research & insight expertise, attention to detail, excellent interpersonal skills, a can-do attitude and team working skills are essential. Flexibility with regard to time commitment is required with the expectation of occasional evening and weekend work.

The Role

Place of Work:             Rediscovery Centre, Boiler House, Ballymun, Dublin 9, D09 HK58

Hours of Work:            5 days per week (with evening and weekend work as required) 

Fixed term contract:    3 year fixed term contract, dependant on funding

The role will include but not be limited to:

• Communication and Public Engagement Research and Insights to inform best practice / excellence across all areas of the circular.ie project, including:
  • Leading the circular.ie research programme to address CE communications and public engagement needs, including identifying and addressing research gaps and emerging best practice 
  • Project planning and execution, working closely with the research and circular.ie project teams
  • Primary and secondary data collation and analysis and supporting the design of data collection through the circular.ie project
  • Stakeholder management external and internal including aligning the circular.ie research programme with the wider organisational and research strategies
  • Internal & external communications including preparation of technical reports, guidelines and other outputs
  • Delivery of oral and written communications 
• Where relevant, supporting related research project proposals, funding applications and submissions for awards at EU and national level 
• Dissemination of research findings in line with circular.ie marketing and communicating strategy
• Applying research findings to support effective and engaging CE communications through circular.ie including 
  • Delivering key communication insights for content creation 
  • Establishing best practice CE communications 
  • Working with the Communications Manager to develop toolkits and guidelines for CE communicators 
  • Content development and messaging
  • Social media content support (Instagram, Linkedin and Facebook) 
  • Developing the KPI monitoring framework, and supporting ongoing evaluation and continual improvement actions 
  • Liaising with third party partner organisations on research initiatives and events. 
• Supporting the Circular.ie project team on outreach, community and partner events as they arise. 
• Undertaking other duties as may be reasonably required and which are consistent with the general level of responsibility of this job

Role Requirements 

Essential:

• A relevant third-level qualification at master’s level or higher
• At least 4 years of experience in research relating to environmental communications and/or behavioural insights
• Proven analytical skills, including primary and secondary data collection and analysis
• Experience in designing research programmes
• Demonstrated project management experience in a comparable role
• Experience in marketing and disseminating research findings

Desirable:

• Related postdoctoral research 
• Previous experience of working on EU projects
• Proven expertise in Circular Economy related topics such as,
  • Behavioural change & communications
  • Thematic areas such as food waste, textiles, furniture, bicycles, electronics, bioeconomy 
  • Social economy, jobs and skills
  • Any other related special areas of interest.

Skills, Personal Attributes & Interests 

• Keen interest and knowledge of circular economy, behaviour change and, environmental issues 
• Advanced problem-solving and analytical skills including an ability to accurately analyse and interpret data to inform project decisions. 
• Self-motivated, highly organised individual with ability to be flexible, manage multiple projects and meet multiple deadlines.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to support stakeholder engagement 
• Proficient in the use of IT and programmes including Microsoft Office (Work, Excel, PowerPoint), MS Project (desirable), Google (Docs, Sheets & Slides), etc.