Overview:
Salary: €65,000-€70,000 
Hours: Full-time 37.5 hours per week, but open to a four-day work week
Location: 8 Clanwilliam Terrace, Grand Canal Quay, Dublin 2, with Dublin city-based meetings

About Debra:
Debra is a national charity established in 1988 to provide support and drive research into treatments for those living with the rare skin condition, Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). EB is an extremely painful skin-blistering condition, which leaves the skin as fragile as the wings of a butterfly.
We are a person-led charity, with an ambitious and passionate team, who care deeply about the people we work with. We actively live our core values of Togetherness, Person-Centredness, Passion, Boldness and Integrity, with people at the heart of everything we do.

Role Overview:
Debra is an ambitious, patient-led charity with a strong and proven track record in advancing research into the rare genetic skin condition epidermolysis bullosa (EB). We play a leading role, both nationally and internationally, in ensuring that research delivers meaningful impact for people living with EB.
We are offering an exciting opportunity for an ambitious, capable, and personable individual with strong research and communication skills to make a real difference for those affected by EB. This role provides significant scope to shape the future of EB research and to influence key national and international networks.
The post holder will be responsible for implementing and monitoring Debra’s research strategy against clearly defined, measurable outcomes, in line with the organisation’s wider strategic goals. Working as part of a passionate, supportive, and patient-centred team, the successful candidate will help drive impactful research and advocacy activity. This is a unique opportunity for a highly motivated professional to make a meaningful contribution to the lives of people affected by EB in Ireland.
This job description is intended as a guide to the role. Responsibilities may evolve in response to the organisation’s changing needs, following discussion with the post holder.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Research Management and Support
•    Propose new research projects, in line with Debra’s research strategy
•    Manage and support ongoing and future research projects
•    Contribute to the research activities of DEBRA International and other EB charities
•    Act as a point of contact between researchers, people living with EB, other charities, funders and clinicians and support the development of research networks
•    Facilitate patient involvement in EB research
•    Support the translation of research outputs into therapies, including through support for clinical trials and the commercialisation of potential therapies
•    Manage all aspects of the research budget 
•    Identify sources of funding and contribute to securing funds for research
•    Develop Debra policies relating to research
•    Lobby and advocate for improved treatments, clinical trials and increased research investment

Communications
•    Produce accessible content on all aspects of EB research
•    Communicate across all stakeholder groups, helping to inform and create a sense of community 
•    Use all social media and traditional media platforms
•    Represent Debra at national and international meetings and in the media

Management 
•    Act as a member of the Debra management team and support all aspects of the organisation
•    Manage the research officer, including professional development and performance
•    Participate in the development and implementation of Debra’s strategy
•    Manage the Debra Research Committee
•    Represent Debra within relevant umbrella groups and organisations

Knowledge/Experience:
Essential
•    A minimum of 5 years’ experience in a related field
•    Degree-level and postgraduate qualification within the field of biomedical sciences, or equivalent
•    Expert knowledge of the health research environment
•    Minimum of five years’ experience managing teams and workloads
•    Strong inter-personal skills
•    Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to make complex topics accessible
•    Exceptional project management and computer skills, with excellent attention to detail
•    Self-motivated, highly capable of working independently and with a strong work ethic 
•    Flexibility to occasionally travel and work outside standard hours
•    Enthusiasm for the overall vision of Debra
•    Fluency in written and spoken English

Desirable
Experience working in the charity sector

Benefits
•    Generous annual leave entitlement including discretionary leave days: Good Friday, Christmas Eve, and working days between Christmas and New Year
•    Employer-matched Pension Scheme up to 6%
•    Long service leave
•    Opportunity for flexible/hybrid working
•    Employee Assistance Programme
•    Bike to Work Scheme
 

To learn more about our research, see https://debra.ie/eb-research/