This is a unique opportunity to contribute to an important cross-border project focused on education, skills and mobility across the island of Ireland. The successful candidate will play a key role in delivering high-quality research and analysis, engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, and helping shape policy-relevant outputs that support greater cooperation and mobility across both jurisdictions. This role may also be of interest to candidates currently working in roles such as Research Officer, Policy Researcher, Education Researcher, Social Policy Analyst, Labour Market Researcher, Project Research Officer or Public Policy Analyst.

About the Organisation

The Centre for Cross Border Cooperation is an independent think-and-do tank with charitable status, based in Armagh, Northern Ireland. Established in 1999, the organisation works to support and strengthen cross-border cooperation on the island of Ireland, with a particular focus on research, policy development and practical action that contributes to peacebuilding and cooperation.

Its work is framed by a commitment to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and to promoting constructive North-South and East-West engagement. Over the years, the Centre has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality research, convening meaningful dialogue, and supporting collaborative approaches to shared challenges across these islands.

About the Project

The Centre is a key partner in the North-South ESTEEM project, led by Atlantic Technological University, alongside Ulster University, North West Regional College and Donegal ETB. The project aims to remove systemic barriers to cross-border tertiary education mobility and employment skills mobility through research, pilot actions and the development of an all-island strategy.

The Role

The NS ESTEEM Researcher will support the Centre’s contribution to the North-South ESTEEM project from 2026 to 2029. The role will focus on cross-border tertiary education systems, skills pathways, accreditation structures and labour market dynamics, while also collaborating closely with project partners across both jurisdictions.

This is an excellent opportunity for a research professional who combines strong analytical capability with the ability to engage confidently with external stakeholders and translate evidence into clear, policy-relevant outputs.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct comparative research into tertiary education access, admissions and qualification frameworks across both jurisdictions on the island of Ireland, including progression pathways for cross-border learners
• Undertake labour market and sectoral skills analysis to identify mobility barriers in priority sectors such as healthcare, early childhood education, apprenticeships and engineering
• Contribute to key project deliverables, including tertiary education progression and mobility research, and employment skills mobility analysis
• Engage with government bodies, professional regulators, employer groups and sector skills councils across the island of Ireland
• Support cross-border data collection, workshops, interviews and focus groups
• Provide research input to inform the Pilot Cross-Border Tertiary Education Website and the Pilot Cross-Border Skills Framework
• Assist in synthesising evidence to support the delivery of the North-South ESTEEM Strategy
• Prepare research reports, policy summaries, infographics and briefing papers
• Present findings at the North-South Education & Skills Conference and partner events
• Support the Centre’s reporting responsibilities to the Project Delivery Group and Steering Group

Essential Criteria

• Right to work in the UK from May 2026 until May 2029
• Honours Degree or equivalent in education, economics, social policy, labour market studies, public administration, or a related field with clear relevance to the project, and three years’ demonstrable relevant professional experience in research and/or policy analysis within the last five years OR five years’ demonstrable relevant professional experience in research and/or policy analysis within the last seven years where a relevant qualification is not held
• Demonstrable experience of conducting applied quantitative and qualitative research
• Excellent analytical, writing and reporting skills
• Experience working with external stakeholders

Desirable Criteria

• A relevant postgraduate qualification in education, economics, social policy, labour market studies, public administration, or a related field with clear relevance to the project
• Knowledge of UK and Irish qualification and skills systems
• Experience in cross-border or EU-funded research
• Labour market and education data analysis skills
• Experience of organising in-person and online meetings and workshops
• Experience of organising report launches and policy events
• Experience of working with externally funded projects
• Strong commitment to and understanding of the value of cross-border and all-island co-operation

Personal Attributes

The successful candidate will bring excellent interpersonal skills, a collaborative and supportive approach, and the ability to work to strict deadlines as part of a small, dynamic team across a dispersed range of sites. A willingness to work flexibly to meet the requirements of the post will also be important.

Special Factors

• Willingness and ability to travel to meetings and events in Ireland and Northern Ireland
• Access to a car or other suitable form of transport, where necessary to meet the essential requirements of the post

Location, Hours and Contract

• This is a full-time, three-year fixed-term contract from Spring 2026-30 April 2029.
• The role will be based at the Centre’s office in Armagh and is offered on a hybrid basis, with two days per week in the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Salary and Benefits

• £46,700 per annum
• Participation in an excellent Retirement Benefits Plan
• Hybrid working arrangements
• Excellent holiday entitlement, with 12 public holidays, 5 days at Christmas, 5 days at Easter, plus 23 other days

About PEACEPLUS / SEUPB

This role is funded through the PEACEPLUS Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). PEACEPLUS is designed to support peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland, and is co-funded by the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of Ireland.

Interview Dates

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to first round online interviews, which are provisionally scheduled to take place on 5, 6 and 7 May 2026.