Training Programme Manager - IPIC

Training Programme Manager - IPIC
Contract : Full Time/Fixed Term

You will deliver a world leading researcher training experience and support our trainees achieve their career ambitions.

The Irish Photonic Integration Centre (IPIC – www.ipic.ie) at Tyndall National Institute seeks a dynamic and people focused Training Programme Manager. IPIC is Ireland’s centre of excellence for research, innovation and PhD training in photonics – the science and application of light – which represents a $0.5 Trillion global industry. Today we have over 200 researchers from the Tyndall, Dublin City University, Munster Technological University, Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork. Our work focuses on developing the next generation of highly-compact and miniaturised photonics technologies that underpin the digitalisation of the globe, support our transition to a greener more sustainable world and help the health & wellbeing of citizens. This includes high efficient displays for VR/AR, smart medical devices for improved patient outcome and sensors for point-of-care diagnostics and wearable devices. We have an international industry network, including some of the world’s leading technology companies and Ireland’s high performing SMEs, who we work with to address their technology and talent needs (around 75% of our trainees currently work in industry).

We have an ambitious plan to expand our structured training programmes, at both PhD and Postdoc levels, and as a result are seeking to recruit a Training Programme Manager who will provide strategic leadership and deliver the following programmes, which represent an investment of over €8M:

• The Centre for Doctoral Training in Photonic Integration & Advanced Data Storage (PIADS), in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Glasgow, which is training 75 doctoral students. (www.cdt-piads.ac.uk).
• Sparkle, a fellowship training programme funded by the MSCA-COFUND programme and SFI, with the objective to train 27 future research leaders. (www.ipic.ie/sparkle)
• The Semiconductor Photonics Education and Research (SPEAR) Centre, in partnership with Atlantic Technological University and Ulster University, which is training 15 doctoral students.
• Provide strategic direction and build a detailed plan for our future future PhD and Postdoc training programmes.

You will deliver a world leading training experience and support our trainees achieve their career ambitions, while also nurturing a culture of continuous improvement. In addition, you will be the first point of contact for PIADS, Sparkle and SPEAR, and will lead the engagements with our university partners, industry partners and funders.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with the Director, Centre Manager and Principal Investigators across IPIC’s academic partners to build and deliver high quality training and development programmes that span across the organisations.
• Lead recruitment drives to attract high calibre candidates from Ireland and overseas, and co-ordinate candidate selection processes.
• Oversee secondments to industry, and in partnership with Technology Transfer Offices, manage associated issues such as confidentiality and IP.  
• Be an active board member at steering board or management committees where appropriate.
• Provide strategic leadership to the development of IPIC’s training plans and programmes, incorporating inputs from stakeholders such as industry.
• Be a member of the IPIC Operations team who support the centre’s ambition and activities to become one of Europe’s leading photonics research centres.
• Project and budget management of PIADS, Sparkle and associated training programmes.
• Co-ordinate associated training events, such as Summer and Winter Schools, conferences.
• Coordinate engagements with international photonics associations and students chapters.
• Working with the Centre Director and Centre Manager, prepare presentations and reports to funding bodies, programme committees and international peer review panels.
• Support our Education and Public Engagement activities.
• Establish feedback processes and utilise feedback to continuously develop and optimise training programmes.
• Engage with graduate schools at partner organisations to ensure seamless administration and compliance to marks and standards for graduate students.
• Ensure all activities are compliant with the required Health and Safety standards.
• Carry out any additional duties as may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post.

Essential Criteria

• Degree in a physical sciences or engineering subject, or a degree in another discipline with more than 3 years’ experience working in the fields of physical sciences or engineering.
• Typically of 5 years’ experience working in either a research or training centred organization.
• Have a track record of developing and managing training programmes, or complex projects, with numerous stakeholders. 
• Have organised meetings and/or events that had attendees of over 20.

Desirable Criteria

• Evidence of entrepreneurial experience and creativity
• Experience in managing PhD training programmes on national or European level e.g. Centres of Doctoral Training / Centres for Research Training and/or Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Training Networks programmes.
• Have professional Project Management accreditation.
• Have technology background experience in photonics, microelectronics, ICT or MedTech.
• Have experience liaising with academic staff, students, and external partners.
• Experience of drafting proposals and reports to national and international funding bodies.
• Experience with student support.
• A team player with experience working with business functions, such as HR, finance and legal.

Personal Characteristics

• Demonstrated record of people skills, specifically of developing and maintaining positive working relationships with internal and external peers, stakeholders and others
• Ability to work on own initiative and to manage high workloads

Tyndall National Institute has a proactive entrepreneurial culture and we welcome applications from candidates who possess entrepreneurial and creative skills or experience, including the creation of technology start-ups.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Patrick Morrissey .

Appointment may be made on the Grade 6 (Admin III) salary scale - € 60,260 to € 71,946 per annum. Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with public sector pay policy.

Closing date of applications is 1pm, 3rd November 2025.

Application Instructions:
Please make sure to attach an up-to-date CV and a brief motivation letter outlining how you meet the ‘Essential Criteria’ for this role.

A full candidate information pack is available to download by clicking here.

Please note that Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.
Please note that an appointment to posts advertised will be dependent on University approval, together with the terms of the employment control framework for the higher education sector.

At this time, Tyndall National Institute does not require the assistance of recruitment agencies.
Tyndall National Institute at University College, Cork is an Equal Opportunities Employer