EMERGE Implementation Officer

Applications are invited for the following position:

Title of Post: EMERGE Implementation Officer

JOB SYNOPSIS

The EMERGE Implementation Officer is a senior operational coordination role supporting the University of Limerick’s participation in the EMERGE European University Alliance under the Erasmus+ European Universities Initiative. Reporting to the EMERGE Project Manager, the postholder will act as the principal local operational coordination point for EMERGE activities within UL. The role will support the administration and institutional implementation of Alliance activities across governance, reporting, communications, stakeholder engagement and operational follow-up. The post holder will coordinate activities involving academic departments, professional service units, governance structures and international university partners. The role also includes the day-to-day operational coordination and supervision of the EMERGE support team within a matrix management environment, balancing UL-focused implementation requirements with Alliance-wide and WP1 operational support activities. The successful candidate will require strong organisational capability, stakeholder management skills and operational judgement, together with the ability to coordinate multiple concurrent workstreams and respond effectively to evolving institutional and Alliance priorities. The role will contribute significantly to the effective implementation of EMERGE within UL while supporting wider Alliance objectives and maintaining alignment with university strategy, governance and operational requirements.

Office, VP Global & Community Engagement

Global & Community Engagement

Contract Type: Specific Purpose

Salary Scale: €61,642 - €87,643 p.a. pro rata

University of Limerick is a research-led, energetic and enterprising institution with a proud record of innovation and excellence in education and scholarships. We value creativity, curiosity and excellence in our inclusive community which is committed to social good. Our motto Eagna chun Gnímh translates as Wisdom for Action reflecting our mission to contribute to the discovery of new knowledge for a better world.

Informal enquiries regarding the post may be directed to:

Mr John Mulcahy

EMERGE Project Manager

Global & Community Engagement

University of Limerick

Email: [email protected]

The closing date for receipt of applications is Thursday, 12th November 2026

Applications must be completed online before 12 noon, Irish Standard Time on the closing date.

Please note your application must include:

A letter of introduction and a current CV indicating how you meet the criteria outlined in the Job description.

A completed online application form.

Are you currently legally entitled to work and reside in Ireland?

If you are not currently an EEA Citizen and have stated that you are currently legally entitled to work and reside in Ireland, you MUST upload a copy of your current Visa and Work permit in the attachments section application form. Unfortunately, if the attachment, as noted, is required and not provided your application cannot be processed.

Please note your current work authorisation status must allow you to fulfil the terms of the contract on offer.

Please email [email protected] if you experience any difficulties

Applications are welcome from suitably qualified candidates.

Further information for applicants and application material is available online from: University of Limerick Vacancies

We are committed to upholding the principles of fairness, equality, and transparency in pay, in line with the EU Pay Transparency Directive (Directive (EU) 2023/970)

Many thanks for your interest in this role.

TITLE OF POST: EMERGE Implementation Officer LOCATION: University of Limerick REPORTS TO: EMERGE Project Manager CONTRACT TYPE: Specific Purpose (Approximate contract end date – 31/12/28) SALARY SCALE: €61,642 - €87,643 p.a. pro rata

JOB DESCRIPTION JOB SYNOPSIS:

The EMERGE Implementation Officer is a senior operational coordination role supporting the University of Limerick’s participation in the EMERGE European University Alliance under the Erasmus+ European Universities Initiative. Reporting to the EMERGE Project Manager, the post holder will act as the principal local operational coordination point for EMERGE activities within UL. The role will support the administration and institutional implementation of Alliance activities across governance, reporting, communications, stakeholder engagement and operational follow- up. The post holder will coordinate activities involving academic departments, professional service units, governance structures and international university partners. The role also includes the day-to-day operational coordination and supervision of the EMERGE support team within a matrix management environment, balancing UL-focused implementation requirements with Alliance-wide and WP1 operational support activities. The successful candidate will require strong organisational capability, stakeholder management skills and operational judgement, together with the ability to coordinate multiple concurrent workstreams and respond effectively to evolving institutional and Alliance priorities. The role will contribute significantly to the effective implementation of EMERGE within UL while supporting wider Alliance objectives and maintaining alignment with university strategy, governance and operational requirements.

JOB PURPOSE:

The EMERGE Implementation Officer is a senior operational coordination role supporting the University of Limerick’s participation in the EMERGE European University Alliance under the Erasmus+ European Universities Initiative. Reporting to the EMERGE Project Manager, the post holder will support the operational coordination, administration and institutional implementation of EMERGE activities within UL under the strategic direction of the EMERGE Project Manager. The role is intended to strengthen local implementation capacity while enabling the EMERGE Project Manager to focus on Alliance- wide strategic coordination, programme leadership, governance activities, WP1 leadership and external engagement. The role operates within a complex international and multi-stakeholder environment involving academic departments, professional service units, governance structures, international university partners and externally funded programme obligations. The postholder will act as the principal local operational coordination point for EMERGE activities within UL and will support institutional engagement across governance, communications, reporting, stakeholder coordination, operational implementation and institutional follow-up.

The role includes the day-to-day operational coordination and supervision of the EMERGE support team within a matrix management environment where staff contribute to both:

• UL-focused institutional coordination and implementation activities.

• Alliance-wide and WP1 operational support activities coordinated through the EMERGE Project Manager.

The role requires strong organisational capability, stakeholder management skills and operational judgement, together with the ability to coordinate complex operational activities across multiple concurrent workstreams and evolving institutional and Alliance priorities.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Local Institutional Coordination

• Coordinate the day-to-day operational implementation of EMERGE activities within UL.

• Support the EMERGE Project Manager in ensuring the effective local delivery of Alliance obligations and institutional implementation activities.

• Monitor local operational actions, deliverables, deadlines and implementation requirements.

• Coordinate institutional inputs into Alliance activities, consultations, reporting exercises and implementation processes.

• Support the operational implementation of governance, mobility, communications and institutional coordination activities associated with EMERGE.

• Act as a central operational coordination point for EMERGE activities within UL.

Governance and Stakeholder Management

• Prepare briefing papers, operational updates, governance documentation and meeting materials.

• Coordinate local institutional follow-up arising from governance decisions, operational actions and implementation requirements.

• Liaise with academic departments, professional service units and institutional stakeholders involved in EMERGE implementation.

• Support the scheduling, coordination and administration of meetings, workshops, governance groups and operational working groups.

• Support institutional coordination relating to Alliance governance, reporting and implementation activities.

Programme and Operational Management

• Track progress against milestones, deliverables, timelines and reporting obligations associated with institutional EMERGE activities.

• Maintain operational oversight of reporting schedules, implementation tracking, documentation and action-management processes.

• Support the operational coordination of governance, Project Management Team and institutional implementation activities, including documentation, follow-up and action tracking.

• Coordinate operational arrangements for Alliance meetings, workshops, visits and events hosted or supported by UL.

• Support operational coordination across multiple concurrent workstreams and implementation activities.

Communications and Dissemination

• Coordinate communications and dissemination activities relating to EMERGE within UL.

• Support the development of websites, newsletters, stakeholder communications, dissemination materials and promotional activities.

• Coordinate institutional contributions to Alliance communications and dissemination activities.

• Ensure compliance with Alliance branding, visibility and dissemination requirements.

• Support stakeholder engagement and institutional awareness activities relating to EMERGE.

Team Leadership and Staff Coordination

• Provide day-to-day operational coordination and administrative supervision of the EMERGE support team.

• Coordinate workloads, operational priorities and implementation activities in consultation with the EMERGE Project Manager.

• Ensure that operational planning appropriately balances UL-focused implementation requirements with Alliance-wide and WP1 support responsibilities.

• Support efficient operational workflows, communication processes and implementation-tracking activities.

• Support the operational coordination of governance, reporting and implementation-support activities undertaken by the team.

• Where competing priorities arise between institutional and Alliance- wide operational requirements, agree prioritisation with the EMERGE Project Manager.

Functional direction, strategic oversight and programme leadership responsibility for Alliance-wide and WP1-related activities remain with the EMERGE Project Manager.

CONTEXT:

The EMERGE Implementation Officer operates within a complex international partnership involving nine European universities, multiple governance structures, work packages, reporting obligations and institutional stakeholders. The role supports the translation of Alliance-level objectives, decisions and obligations into coordinated implementation activity within UL. It requires close collaboration with the EMERGE Project Manager, the EMERGE support team, relevant UL units and international Alliance partners.

Key Working Relationships & Contacts

The successful candidate will report directly to the EMERGE Project Manager and work closely with the EMERGE operational support team, relevant UL academic and professional service units and Alliance-level stakeholders. The post holder will provide day-to-day operational coordination and supervision for the EMERGE support team and will work within a matrix management environment supporting both institutional implementation and Alliance-wide operational activities.

The role requires regular engagement with:

• UL Global, UL Engage and the Office of the Vice President Global & Community Engagement.

• Faculty and School administrative teams.

• Academic departments and professional service units.

• Finance, Procurement and Human Resources.

• ICT and Digital Services.

• Communications and Marketing teams.

• Governance groups and working groups associated with EMERGE.

• Alliance partner operational contacts and work package teams.

The postholder may represent UL at relevant operational coordination meetings, workshops and events involving university partners, external stakeholders and European collaboration structures.

Working Environment/Special Circumstances

The role operates within a dynamic and evolving international partnership environment involving multiple institutions, governance structures, work packages, reporting cycles and externally driven deadlines. The appointee’s primary place of work will be the UL campus. Blended Working arrangements may be applied for subject to the business needs of the relevant area and in accordance with university policy. Additional on-campus presence may be required during periods of intensive operational activity, including meetings, workshops, governance events and institutional visits. Occasional national and international travel and out-of-hours commitments may be required to support Alliance meetings, workshops, conferences, events and operational engagement activities. The post holder must be capable of coordinating complex activities involving multiple stakeholders, competing deadlines and evolving institutional and Alliance priorities.

Job Boundaries

The EMERGE Implementation Officer will operate within the strategic direction established by the EMERGE Project Manager and within the governance, operational and compliance frameworks of the University and the Erasmus+ European Universities Initiative. The role has significant operational autonomy in coordinating day-to-day institutional implementation activities, operational workflows, stakeholder engagement and support processes associated with EMERGE within UL.

The post holder will be expected to:

• Exercise initiative, judgement and problem-solving capability.

• Manage competing priorities across multiple concurrent workstreams.

• Progress operational activities independently while maintaining alignment with agreed strategic direction.

• Work within University governance and operational procedures.

• Comply with Erasmus+ programme requirements and Alliance operational frameworks.

• Observe data protection, confidentiality, communications and reporting requirements.

• Manage sensitive operational and institutional information with diplomacy and discretion.

The post holder will provide day-to-day operational supervision and coordination for the EMERGE support team. Functional direction, strategic oversight and programme leadership for Alliance-wide and WP1-related activities will remain with the EMERGE Project Manager.

DIMENSIONS:

Staff The post holder will have direct day-to-day operational coordination and supervision responsibility for:

• EMERGE Senior Administrator.

• EMERGE Executive Administrator.

The post holder will coordinate team workloads, operational priorities and implementation activities in consultation with the EMERGE Project Manager. The EMERGE Project Manager will retain overall functional oversight and strategic direction for Alliance-wide and WP1-related activities undertaken by the team.

Customer The post holder will engage regularly with:

• Academic and professional service units.

• Governance groups and working groups.

• Alliance operational contacts.

• International university partners.

• Staff and students participating in EMERGE activities.

• External stakeholders and collaboration networks.

The post holder will be expected to maintain responsive, professional and effective relationships across institutional, national and international stakeholder environments.

Operational The post holder will support operational implementation and coordination activities associated with:

• Governance and governance follow-up.

• Institutional and Alliance reporting.

• Communications and dissemination.

• Stakeholder engagement.

• Institutional coordination.

• Meetings, workshops, visits and events.

• Work package support activities across the EMERGE Alliance.

• Monitoring of operational actions, milestones, deliverables and deadlines.

The role has a significant operational impact on the effectiveness, coordination and implementation of EMERGE activities within UL.

Administration The post holder will:

• Support the monitoring and coordination of local EMERGE operational expenditure.

• Support procurement, budget-related administration, financial reporting and expenditure coordination.

• Maintain appropriate documentation, records, reporting schedules and action-tracking processes.

• Prepare operational updates, briefing papers, governance documentation and meeting materials.

• Support compliance with University, Erasmus+, Alliance, data- protection and confidentiality requirements.

• Ensure that sensitive institutional and operational information is managed appropriately.

KNOWLEDGE, FUNCTIONAL SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge

Essential Criteria:

• Familiarity with university administrative systems, governance structures and operational procedures.

• Understanding of international higher education collaboration environments.

• Understanding of operational coordination within complex multi- stakeholder environments.

Desirable Criteria:

• Familiarity with Erasmus+ or other European-funded project environments.

• Knowledge of European University Alliance structures and operational processes.

• Understanding of communications, dissemination and stakeholder engagement processes.

Qualifications

Essential Criteria:

• An Honours degree at Level 8NFQ on the National Framework of Qualifications in a relevant discipline, or equivalent professional experience.

Desirable Criteria:

• A postgraduate qualification in a relevant area.

Functional/Work-based Skills

Essential Criteria: • Excellent organisational and stakeholder management skills.

• Strong written and verbal communication capability.

• Ability to coordinate complex operational activities and deliver against deadlines.

• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information appropriately.

• Strong IT and digital administration skills.

• Ability to work effectively across institutional and international partnership environments.

Experience

Essential Criteria:

• Significant experience in a senior administrative, coordination or operational role.

• Experience coordinating across multiple stakeholders and operational workstreams.

• Experience supervising staff or coordinating operational teams.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience within higher education or international partnership environments.

• Experience supporting governance, reporting or externally funded programme activities.

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES:

Customer Focus Ensures that a customer-focused approach is implemented across operational activities. Systematically analyses stakeholder and operational requirements and supports the delivery of responsive, high-quality services and coordination processes. Level: 4 Planning & Organising Contributes to the development and coordination of operational plans and implementation activities. Effectively manages multiple priorities, monitors progress and ensures corrective action is taken where required to achieve operational objectives and deadlines. Level: 4 Using Initiative, Achieving Goals Demonstrates initiative in progressing operational activities and implementation requirements. Supports the development of effective operational processes and contributes to the achievement of institutional and Alliance objectives. Level: 4 Decision Making & Problem Solving Analyses operational issues and complex situations, identifies practical solutions and exercises sound judgement in progressing activities and resolving implementation challenges. Takes responsibility and accountability for operational follow-through. Level: 4 Leadership Provides effective day-to-day operational coordination and supervision within a matrix management environment. Leads by example and supports collaborative and professional working practices across operational teams and stakeholder groups. Level: 4 Effective Communication Communicates clearly, confidently and diplomatically with a broad range of institutional and international stakeholders. Produces high-quality operational documentation, reports and briefing materials and contributes effectively within governance and operational environments. Level: 4 Team & Collaborative Working Supports collaborative working across institutional and Alliance operational structures. Coordinates effectively across multidisciplinary and multicultural environments and contributes positively to team and operational objectives. Level: 4 Effective Networking and Relationships Develops and maintains effective operational relationships across UL, Alliance partner institutions and external stakeholder environments to support operational coordination and implementation activities. Level: 4 Innovation & Creative Thinking Identifies opportunities to improve operational processes, coordination activities and implementation practices. Supports the development of practical and efficient approaches within evolving operational environments. Level: 4 Change, Adaptability & Flexibility Responds effectively to evolving operational requirements, competing priorities and changing institutional and Alliance environments. Supports the implementation of operational improvements and change activities where required. Level: 4 Continuous Development Actively seeks opportunities for professional development and operational improvement. Supports learning, knowledge-sharing and continuous improvement across operational activities and team environments. Level: 4 Thinking & Acting Strategically Understands the broader strategic objectives of the EMERGE Alliance and supports operational implementation activities in alignment with institutional and Alliance priorities. Contributes to implementation planning and supports the delivery of agreed objectives and priorities. Level: 4

Further Information for Candidates:

Are you currently legally entitled to work and reside in Ireland?

If you are not currently an EEA Citizen and have stated, you are currently legally entitled to work and reside in Ireland. You MUST upload a copy of your current Visa and Work permit in the attachments section application form, or your application will not be processed. Please note your current work authorisation status must allow you to fulfil the terms of the contract on offer.

Recruitment Procedures used at University of Limerick (UL)

University of Limerick uses a three-stage recruitment procedure: screening, shortlisting and interview.

Screening: Initially, applications for an advertised position are screened to determine if applicants meet the ‘Essential Criteria’ as outlined in the advertised job description. It is only candidates who meet the ‘Essential Criteria’ that progress beyond this stage.

Shortlisting: Depending on the number of applications remaining, it may not be possible to interview every candidate who has passed the screening process. Therefore, at this stage the Selection Board may review the applications and select a final shortlist of candidates who, in their view, are most closely aligned to the post as advertised.

Interview: Once a shortlist has been finalised, all applicants will be notified of the status of their application. The final shortlist of candidates will then be invited to interview. We aim to provide at least two weeks’ notice to all candidates. The interview process will take the format of a standard interview and may include a presentation –you will be provided with details of this in your invitation to interview letter.

University of Limerick benefits to staff

Employees of the University of Limerick receive a variety of benefits including: • Supported professional development under the Researcher Development Programme and Staff Training Programmes.

• Membership of the Public Sector Single Public Service Pension Scheme.

• Membership of the Income Continuance Plan

• The opportunity to join the University’s Additional Life Cover plan.

• Coverage in the UL Sick Leave Scheme (available under “S” on the HR A- Z)

• Flexible working practices such as the Shorter Working Year Scheme.

• Preferential rates for health insurance.

• Employee wellness is a priority and a number of initiatives take place each year for the benefit of UL employees, see more at Be Well at UL.

• Preferential rates for access to the UL Arena swimming pool and fitness centre.

Additional Links: • Join the Team in UL Join the team in UL | University of Limerick • Link to website for new staff New To UL - Staff Roadmap

Equal Opportunities

University of Limerick holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advancing equality in higher education. University of Limerick is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to selection on merit, welcoming applicants from all sections of the community. UL is committed to developing and maintaining a positive working environment, in which all employees are treated with dignity & respect. In pursuit of this, it is the policy of the University to provide all employees with an environment which is free from bullying, harassment or victimisation of any form. You can read more about UL’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion here.

Culture Charter A positive culture within an organisation is a shared system of values and behaviours that influence and reflect how its people behave and interact with each other and the wider community. It is shaped by the everyday actions, behaviours and words that are used. The values and behaviours outlined in UL’s Culture Charter should guide how we act, interact and connect with one another in the challenges and successes of university life.

Pension Abatement If an appointee has previously been employed in the Civil or Public Service and that appointee is entitled to or in receipt of a pension from the Civil or Public Service or where a Civil/Public Service pension comes into payment during the appointee’s re-employment that pension will be subject to abatement in accordance with Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012. Please note: In applying for this position you are acknowledging that you understand that the abatement provisions, where relevant, will apply. It is not envisaged that the employing Department/Office/Body will support an application for an abatement waiver in respect of appointments to this position.

Qualifications Please take note of the essential qualifications for this position as listed in the job description. If you are successful in being offered this position, the offer will be made pending the Chair of the selection committee verifying your qualifications. Therefore, after the interview, you will be required to forward your transcripts to the Chair by email. No contract of employment will be issued until all required documentation is received.