Head of Research

Cuan, DSGBV Agency; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 108,000 - 134,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Career development

Permanent contract

Excellent benefits

Job summary

Cuan in Ireland seeks a Principal Officer – Head of Research & Data to join the Senior Management Team, guiding national research and data initiatives under the DSGBV Agency Act.

You will build multi-year programs, commission and manage research, harmonise data landscape, ensure governance, and translate insights into strategy, campaigns and service development, while leading a high-performing team.

Qualifications

• Minimum Level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications in a related discipline.
• At least 5 years’ senior management experience in research, analytics, or policy environment.
• Deep experience in strategic planning, project delivery, research management (including commissioning, governance, ethics, evaluation, and knowledge translation) and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic leadership of all research and data initiatives as Head of Research & Data.
• Create and deliver strategic vision for research under the DSGBV Agency Act; build multi-year programmes.
• Commission and manage innovative, impactful research; harmonise the national DSGBV data landscape.
• Translate insights for strategy, training, campaigns and service development; represent Cuan nationally and internationally.
• Directly influence Ireland's response to DSGBV by embedding evidence and lived experience into the Agency’s work.

Skills

Senior management experience

Strategic planning

Research management

Education

Level 9 NFQ in related discipline

PhD or equivalent DSGBV domain experience

Job description

Principal Officer – Head of Research & Data

About Your New Employer

• Cuan: Ireland's national statutory agency for Domestic, Sexual & Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV), driven by the ambition to create a society free from DSGBV.
• As an Employer of Choice in the Civil Service, Cuan offers flexible, family-friendly policies, continuous professional development, and a strong commitment to equal opportunity and inclusion.
• Established under the DSGBV Agency Act 2023, Cuan supports victims and survivors, coordinates national DSGBV action, delivers quality services, and leads research and policy development in partnership with government, civil society and international agencies.

About Your New Job

• As Head of Research & Data, you will be a member of Cuan's Senior Management Team, responsible for strategic leadership of all research and data initiatives.
• You will create and deliver strategic vision for research under the DSGBV Agency Act, build multi-year programmes, and address key knowledge gaps to drive policy, services, and prevention efforts.
• You will commission and manage innovative, impactful research, develop and harmonise the national DSGBV data landscape, ensure quality governance, and translate insights for strategy, training, campaigns and service development.
• You will build and lead a high-performing research and data team, develop effective partnerships with academic, government, and civil society stakeholders, and represent Cuan nationally and internationally.
• You will directly influence the development and evaluation of Ireland's response to DSGBV, embedding evidence, impact, and lived experience into all of the Agency’s work.

What Skills You Need

• Minimum Level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications in a related discipline.
• At least 5 years’ senior management experience in research, analytics, or policy environment.
• Deep experience in strategic planning, project delivery, research management (including commissioning, governance, ethics, evaluation, and knowledge translation) and stakeholder engagement.
• Proven track record establishing and managing new teams/functions to deliver results, with experience leading multiple research and data projects across methodologies.
• Strong understanding of DSGBV, ideally with PhD or experience across academic domains relevant to DSGBV; experience working with government and agencies on research and data strategy is highly desirable.

What's on Offer

• Salary: Incremental scale starting at €108,152 per annum, with progression to €133,775.
• 30 days annual leave per year, generous state pension, paid sick leave, and excellent benefits for work-life balance - including blended working arrangements (typically 2 days onsite).
• Outstanding training & career development, open promotion channels, on-the-job and facilitated training, and support for further education.
• Permanent contract, with performance management and support for continuous development.