Policy, Research and Evaluation Manager

Position:  Part-time, 22.5 hours per week over 5 working days
(Standard working hours are 37.5 hours and flextime applies).

Contract:  Two-year Fixed Term Contract
(With the possibility of renewal subject to funding).

Salary:  €60,000 per annum pro rata (€36,000 per annum for 22.5 hours)

Reporting to: CEO

Direct Report: Salesforce Coordinator

Location:  This role is based at our offices in Marino Institute of Education, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9. Flexible hybrid working arrangements are in place, with a requirement for the post holder to work from the office on average one day per week. In person attendance is required for regular events, meetings and training.

Background
Age & Opportunity is the national organisation working to enhance wellbeing for older people through participation in sport and physical activity, arts and creative engagement, personal development, community collaboration and active citizenship. Our mission is to create opportunities that empower older people to enhance individual and community wellbeing through participation in physical activity and recreational sport, arts and creativity, personal development and active citizenship initiatives
We have an opportunity for an experienced Policy, Research and Evaluation Manager to lead this area of our work. The Policy, Research and Evaluation Manager will be a key part of the Senior Management Team, will report directly to the CEO and will act as a spokesperson for the organisation. They will lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of Age & Opportunity's organisation-wide evaluation framework, in line with the Research and Evaluation Strategy 2025-2029 and will ensure that policy positions and advocacy work are informed by robust research and evaluation evidence.
Evaluation and research are central to Age & Opportunity's work, allowing us to understand the realities of ageing, demonstrate the impact of our Active, Arts and Engage Programmes, and build an evidence base that informs public policy. Our Research and Evaluation Strategy 2025-2029 sets out an ambitious programme of work built on robust data, Personal and Public Involvement (PPI), and a common organisational evaluation framework.
One of Age & Opportunity's key priorities is to amplify the voice of older people and influence policy development. Our Strategic Plan 2025-2029 identifies Influencing Public Policy as a core strategic theme, underpinned by eleven Policy Priorities developed over nearly 40 years of engagement with older people, covering areas such as challenging ageism, tackling social exclusion, enabling age friendly environments and championing global solidarity.

Job Description
Tasks and Responsibilities:

Research and Evaluation
•  Lead the implementation of Age & Opportunity’s Research and Evaluation Strategy 2025 – 2029.
•  Lead the continuous improvement of Age & Opportunity's organisation-wide evaluation framework, in line with the Research and Evaluation Strategy.
•  Design and conduct robust formative, process and outcome evaluations of Age & Opportunity and our Programmes, using a balance of quantitative and qualitative methods.
•  Develop and maintain a common approach to data collection and evaluation indicators across all Programmes, ensuring these remain relevant, measurable and aligned with best practice in ageing research.
•  Manage the organisation's data gathering systems and processes, including the administration and ongoing development of our Salesforce Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, ensuring data is accurate, robust, secure and used effectively across the organisation.
•  Build organisational capacity to develop and apply theories of change, logic models and outcome frameworks, and to measure and report on outputs, outcomes, impacts and KPIs.
•  Plan, procure and manage externally commissioned research and evaluation projects, including requests for tenders, evaluation of proposals, preparation of contracts and financial tracking.
•  Lead the development and maintenance of an evaluation data repository and/or dashboard capable of tracking and reporting on organisational and Programme-level KPIs.
•  Work closely with Age & Opportunity’s Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) group to ensure research and evaluation activity is grounded in the lived experience of older people and reflects the highest standards of ethics, integrity and transparency.
•  Build evaluation awareness, capacity and capability among staff and volunteers, providing guidance and training on data collection and evaluation practice.
•  Report research and evaluation findings and data insights to the CEO, Senior Management Team and Board, and prepare reports for funders and sponsors that demonstrate impact and value for money.
•  Disseminate research and evaluation findings through reports, presentations and accessible, community-friendly formats to funders, stakeholders, policy makers and the public.
•  Ensure all research, evaluation and data management activities comply with GDPR and relevant data protection legislation.
•  Ensure that research and evaluation evidence inform policy positions, communications and Programme development.
•  Lead the development of high-quality funding applications by contributing evidence, impact data, and evaluation insights that demonstrate organisational effectiveness and outcomes. Work collaboratively with colleagues to identify and articulate the need for funding, using evaluation findings to strengthen the evidence base, demonstrate impact, and align proposals with funder priorities.

Policy and Advocacy
•  Lead the development, review and implementation of Age & Opportunity's policy priorities, ensuring these are evidence-based, current, and reflect the lived experience of older people

•  Identify, monitor and analyse policy, legislative and political developments relevant to ageing and older people, and formulate timely, evidence-based policy responses, both proactively and in response to Government and stakeholder requests.
•  Lead the preparation of policy papers, position papers, briefings, consultation responses and submissions, including the organisation's annual pre-budget submission.
•  Act as a spokesperson for Age & Opportunity, representing the organisation with the media, at external conferences and events, articulating our policy positions in the public domain.
•  Draft speeches, briefings, presentations and other content for the CEO, Senior Management Team and Trustees, and support other Age & Opportunity spokespeople to articulate our policy positions.
•  Work closely with the Communications team to develop and deliver a joined-up communications and advocacy strategy that raises the organisation profile and amplifies our policy priorities.
•  Build and maintain strategic relationships with stakeholders, including elected representatives, Government Departments, statutory bodies, academia, funders, and other NGOs.
•  Create and support opportunities for older people to participate in and inform Age & Opportunity's advocacy and policy work, including through the Personal and Public Involvement Group.
•  Lead engagement with the Policy, Research and Evaluation Advisory Group with the CEO.
•  Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, policy and research developments affecting older people, and compile and maintain statistical information to inform policy positions.

General:
•  Be a key part of the SMT, proactively supporting the implementation of the organisation's Strategic Plan 2025-2029 and Business Plans, setting KPIs and contributing to strategy and decision-making.
•  Deputise for the CEO in their absence, in relation to external relations other issues when appropriate.
•  Represent Age & Opportunity at relevant external forums, conferences and networks on policy and advocacy and evaluation and data practice, and build strategic relationships with academic institutions, funders, other research organisations and the media.
•  Prepare and present documents for relevant Board, Committee, and Advisory Group meetings as required.
•  Ensure adherence to legislation, regulations and defined quality standards.
•  Follow the policies and procedures outlined in the organisation's Employee Handbook, Policies and Procedures Manual, Internal Financial Controls and Procedures and Safety Statement.
•  Commit to the purpose of Age & Opportunity and work within the values of the organisation.
•  Participate in one-to-one meetings with the CEO and in SMT meetings and full team meetings.
•  Show reasonable flexibility in relation to hours of attendance to meet the needs of the work. Work during unsocial hours may be required.
•  Have a flexible approach in response to organisational change, development and best practice.
•  Participate in and engage with a performance planning and review process.
•  Identify training needs with your line manager and participate in training opportunities appropriate to the role.
•  Operate within agreed budgets seeking authorisation for expenditure and be accountable for such expenditure authorised and ensure the appropriate coding of expenses.
•  Provide written reports as per deadlines requested.
•  Undertake any other tasks as will from time to time be requested

Person Specification
This person specification sets out the various criteria which are essential for the post and by which we will assess your application.

Education – essential

Applicants must possess the following:
•  A third-level qualification (Level 8) in social policy, social science, social research, evaluation, politics, public policy, public affairs or a related discipline.
Education – desirable
•  A postgraduate qualification in a relevant field such as social policy, public affairs, evaluation, research methods, statistics or a related discipline.
•  Demonstrated evidence of continuing professional development.

Experience – essential
•  A minimum of 3 years’ experience in an evaluation or policy management role covering the following areas: research, evaluation or data management role, including experience of developing and implementing research and evaluation frameworks, with a proven track record of influencing public policy and engaging decision makers.
•  Experience developing evidence-based policy positions, submissions and briefings.
•  Experience acting as a spokesperson or representing an organisation with media and external stakeholders.
•  Experience building and maintaining relationships with Government Departments, elected representatives, statutory bodies and other NGOs.
•  Experience designing, conducting and managing quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation studies, including formative, process and outcome evaluation.
•  Experience developing, managing and analysing large datasets, including managing the administration of a database or CRM system.
•  Experience procuring and managing externally commissioned evaluation or research projects, including budget and contract management.
•  Experience of high-quality professional report writing and speech writing and presenting findings to a range of audiences, including funders and Boards.

Experience – desirable
•  Experience working at Senior Management level or deputising for a CEO or senior leader.
•  Experience working within the community and voluntary sector, and knowledge of the ageing sector in Ireland.
•  Experience working closely with a Communications team or function.
•  Experience of participatory approaches involving service users or members of the public in advocacy work, such as a Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) group.

Skills and Competencies – essential
•  Strong knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation methodologies and statistical analysis techniques.
•  Excellent understanding of public policy development and the political landscape in Ireland, with the ability to identify and seize opportunities to influence policy makers.
•  Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, with demonstrated aptitude for accurate, evidence-based writing and public speaking.
•  Confident and credible media performer, able to represent the organisation as a spokesperson.
•  Demonstrated leadership and management skills, with the ability to work as part of, and contribute to, a Senior Management Team.
•  Excellent IT skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office systems and experience of CRM/database systems, preferably Salesforce.

Remuneration and Benefits
Age & Opportunity offers the following benefits in addition to salary:
•  Excellent working conditions in our Dublin office with a hybrid working model in place, facilitating flexible working arrangements.
•  An 8% employer's contribution to pension (subject to a minimum 4% employee contribution).
•  Annual leave of 24 days (pro-rata) plus two gift days (Good Friday and Christmas Eve).
•  Paid Maternity / Adoptive leave after 12 months' service.
•  Employee Assistance and Wellbeing programme.
•  Opportunity to avail of CPD training specific to the role as deemed appropriate.
•  Travel (bike to work scheme, tax saver commuter tickets).
•  Free on-site parking.
The complete list of benefits will be made available to the successful candidate.

To apply
Please send your CV and cover letter outlining how you match the above criteria by email to Karen Horgan, CEO, at jobs@ageandopportunity.ie. Include the role title in the subject of the email.
All applicants from countries outside the EU are required to provide relevant work authorisation to take up employment in the Republic of Ireland. This must be submitted as part of the application process with your CV and cover letter.
Shortlisting will apply based on the criteria outlined above.

The closing date for receipt of applications is Wednesday the 30th of September at 5pm. Interviews will be held in Dublin on Friday the 9th of October.
Age & Opportunity is an equal opportunities employer.