HRB Grade VII Job Family (consisting of R&I IV, Research Officer, Services IV grades)

NOTE: This is a 1-year, fixed term contract

Background

The Health Research Board (HRB) is a statutory agency under the aegis of the Department of Health. As the lead agency in Ireland responsible for supporting and funding health research, generating health information and promoting the use of evidence in policy and practice, we are motivated and inspired by our vision – better health through excellent research, data and evidence.

The Health Research Board’s (HRB) mission is to support research that improves people’s health, promotes evidence-informed care and creates solutions to societal challenges. An overview of the HRB’s objectives and activities may be found in The HRB Strategy 2021-2025, Health research – making an impact, (https://www.hrb.ie/strategy-2025/).

The HRB Evidence Centre conducts evidence syntheses commissioned by the Department of Health to inform health policy (the advertised post refers to the evidence syntheses team). We also contribute to HRB’s key role in drugs and alcohol by running the HRB National Drugs Library, commissioning research and monitoring the national drugs and alcohol strategies, and by acting as the designated Irish Focal Point for the European Union Drugs Agency.

( https://www.hrb.ie/data-collections-evidence/hrb-evidence-centre/ )

The HRB is now seeking to recruit one full-time Research Officer on a 1-year fixed term contract.

 

Key responsibilities of the post of Research Officer

The HRB is seeking to recruit a 1 year, fixed term Research Officer who will be responsible for commissioning or completing assigned evidence centre products to inform health policy.

Duties will include (but are not limited to):

Completing evidence products using a systematic approach

  • Scoping the literature
  • Turning policy questions into research questions
  • Collaborating with an information specialist to implement a rigorous and documented search
  • Mapping the information and literature available in collaboration with an information specialist
  • Assessing the suitability of literature to answer research questions
  • Assessing the quality of literature
  • Extracting findings systematically
  • Analysing, synthesizing, and applying GRADE to published data
  • Identifying what is known about a topic, and subsequently, gaps in knowledge
  • Preparing presentations and writing briefing papers and reviews in specific areas.

Commissioning evidence reviews

  • Assisting with the preparation of a business case for the executive team
  • Assisting with the completion of a needs assessment for evidence reviews with policy makers or planners and agreeing the review questions
  • Preparing evidence review with the Head of Unit specification for the executive team and procurement review team
  • Working with the Head of Unit and procurement manager to advertise the review, answer applicants’ questions and evaluate tenders
  • Working with the Head of Unit, procurement manager, and legal officer to prepare contracts and finalise the awardees work plan and timeline
  • Representing the HRB and working with the academic team and policy maker to agree changes to questions, approach to literature search, and final report
  • Managing the academic team to agree search methods, agree extraction sheet, agree quality assessment, and read draft reports
  • Overseeing and negotiating with the academic team to ensure policy makers or practitioners comments are attended to
  • Securing peer reviewers and ensuring their comments are attended to
  • Managing the academic team to ensure the schedule of deliverables in the contract is complied with and payments for completed work are sanctioned.

Providing research training and mentoring to stakeholders

  • The stakeholder training and mentoring will include information or assistance on completing a literature search, reading a research paper (including the tables and figures), critically appraising a paper, analysing basic statistical data, and analysing basic text-based data

Assisting the HOU with the development of guidance documentation to ensure research work is completed using best practice and agreed standards through preparing and updating guidelines and protocols including,

  • Measure the quality of research proposals and outputs
  • Commission research
  • Disseminate research (knowledge brokering)
  • Protocols for managing large databases, mapping research, and conducting reviews using systematic methods.

Disseminating research to policy makers, service planners and practitioners using innovative methods which will include:

  • Membership of DOH and HSE working groups (policy makers, service planners, service providers, service users and researchers)
  • Writing briefs
  • Presenting oral reviews, and
  • Other novel methods.

Other duties may be assigned from time to time depending on need. This is a team-based role, and teamwork and coordination with others are crucial.

 

 

Essential knowledge and experience

The Research Officer will work with information specialists and Department of Health Policy makers and should therefore have a deep interest in health and social care policy and planning.

Formal requirements include:

  • A minimum of a NFQ Level 9 qualification (Masters’ degree) with a heavy emphasis on research
  • Four to five years’ relevant research experience, which includes the completion and publication of evidence or quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods systematic reviews.

Desirable criteria

  • A PhD and peer review publication record would be an advantage
  • Knowledge and experience of meta-analysis, meta-ethnography, other qualitative review and/or mixed methods is desirable
  • Knowledge and experience using referencing and review management packages is advantageous.

Additional desirable experience will include the following:

  • Ability to work as a team member and able to lead a team
  • Ability to assess a situation and respond effectively to it
  • Ability to develop research questions, search, manage, quality appraise, and synthesise research
  • Ability to deliver high-quality results within deadlines
  • Ability to negotiate and communicate effectively both orally and in writing
  • Ability to perform at a high-level in a challenging environment.

 

Competencies

Competencies incorporated into this role profile reflect the competency framework issued in conjunction with the Civil Service Competency Framework which has been adopted by the HRB.  A comprehensive list of expected competencies ca be found at Higher Executive Officer Competency Framework

 

Reporting relationship

The Research Officer will report to the Head of the HRB Evidence Centre or designate as appropriate.

 

Salary scale

Salary Range for Research Officer (Grade VII)                                                                       € 60,613 – € 78,795

Note:  this post is a  1-year fixed term contract employed on a full-time basis

Appointment will be made in accordance with the Department of Health guidelines. New entrants to the public service will be appointed at the first point of the scale.

 

How to apply

Please submit a cover letter and curriculum vitae by email to recruitment@hrb.ie.  You must include the name of the post that you are applying for in the email subject line.

Closing date for applications is 12.00 Noon on Thursday 16 April 2026

NOTE: Interviews for this position are expected to take place in our offices on Thursday 30 April 2026.

If you require further information, please contact Karen O’Donnell, HR Officer at recruitment@hrb.ie or refer to the recruitment page on the HRB website at http://www.hrb.ie/about/recruitment/ for full details on this campaign.

The Health Research Board is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We do not discriminate based on gender, age, race, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, membership of the Travelling community or family status. If you have a disability and require accommodations to be made during the recruitment process, please contact HR in advance and we would be happy to assist.