ESRI Opens Applications for Senior Research Officer in Sociology Role Focused on Quantitative Social Research: 5 -Year Tenure-Track Role Based in Dublin, Ireland @Year Tenure-Track Role Based in Dublin, Ireland

Five-Year Tenure-Track Position Announced in Dublin’s Leading Social Research Institute

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has announced a new Senior Research Officer in Sociology position as part of its long-established Social Research Division.

The appointment is a five-year tenure-track role based in Dublin, Ireland, with a strong emphasis on quantitative sociology and policy-relevant research.

Founded in 1960, the ESRI is one of Ireland’s leading independent research institutions, focused on producing evidence to inform economic and social policy. The institute employs approximately 110 staff members, including sociologists, economists, epidemiologists, psychologists, statisticians, and other social scientists.

ESRI’s Mission and Research Environment

The institute’s core mission is to generate high-quality research that supports Ireland’s economic and social development while contributing to international academic knowledge and public policy debate.

Researchers at ESRI work within a multidisciplinary environment that promotes collaboration across several fields, including:

• Sociology
• Economics
• Health and epidemiology
• Psychology
• Education research
• Labour market studies
• Public policy and welfare analysis

The organisation also maintains strong institutional links with academic partners, including affiliation with Trinity College Dublin, allowing researchers to engage in joint academic and policy-oriented work.

Role Overview: Senior Research Officer in Sociology

The Senior Research Officer position is designed for an experienced sociologist with strong quantitative research expertise and leadership capacity. The successful candidate will join the Social Research Division, contributing to both individual and collaborative research projects.

The division focuses on key areas of Irish and European social policy, including:

• Social inclusion and inequality
• Migration and integration
• Education and educational inequality
• Employment and workplace studies
• Health and quality of life
• Child and youth wellbeing
• Behavioural research
• Welfare, taxation, and pensions

The institute emphasises applied, empirical research with direct relevance to policymaking and public debate.

Key Responsibilities and Expectations

The appointed candidate will be expected to contribute both intellectually and strategically to ESRI’s research agenda. Core responsibilities include:

• Leading and contributing to high-impact sociological research projects
• Producing peer-reviewed journal publications and policy reports
• Managing and mentoring junior researchers and research teams
• Securing external research funding through grant applications
• Engaging directly with policymakers and stakeholders
• Supporting the development of European collaborative research initiatives
• Communicating research findings to academic, policy, and public audiences

The role places strong emphasis on research leadership, policy engagement, and the ability to work across disciplinary boundaries.

Required Skills and Academic Background

Applicants must hold a PhD in Sociology and typically have around eight years of postdoctoral research experience. The institute is particularly interested in candidates with expertise in:

• Social stratification
• Educational inequality
• Social inclusion and equality
• Migration and integration

In addition, the role requires advanced methodological expertise, particularly in quantitative research.

Essential skills include:

• Strong proficiency in advanced statistical and longitudinal data analysis
• Experience in mixed-methods research (quantitative and qualitative)
• A strong publication record in peer-reviewed academic journals
• Proven experience in research leadership or supervision
• Ability to communicate complex findings to diverse audiences, including media and policymakers
• Experience in securing competitive research funding
• Strong teamwork and project delivery skills under tight deadlines

The ESRI also emphasises flexibility across research areas and a strong commitment to policy-relevant scholarship.

---

Work Environment and Institutional Links

The ESRI is located in Whitaker Square, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2, in the heart of Dublin’s South Docklands research and business district.

The institute promotes a blended working model, allowing staff to work remotely from within Ireland while maintaining a minimum in-office presence of one day per week (subject to operational needs). Staff may also work abroad within the European Economic Area for up to 20 days per year.

Researchers benefit from:

• A collaborative and team-based research environment
• Access to strong institutional support and training
• Opportunities to attend international conferences and networks
• Engagement with European research collaborations
• Policy impact through direct engagement with government stakeholders

Employment Terms and Salary

The position is offered on a five-year fixed-term contract, with eligibility for tenure subject to performance evaluation.

Key employment conditions include:

• Standard 35-hour work week (Monday–Friday)
• Flexible working arrangements
• Starting salary of €93,162 per annum (with pension-related structure)
• 30 days annual leave
• Membership in the Single Public Service Pension Scheme

The ESRI also considers secondment arrangements for eligible candidates and provides structured career development support.

Application Process and Deadline

Applications for the Senior Research Officer in Sociology position must be submitted by:

03 July 2026 (5:00 PM Irish time)

The selection process will include:

• Preliminary interview stage
• Final interview and research presentation (for shortlisted candidates)

All applications will be acknowledged, and only complete submissions received before the deadline will be considered.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

The ESRI has reaffirmed its commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion across all hiring processes. The institute actively encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds and particularly welcomes candidates from underrepresented groups in academia and research.

The organisation highlights its aim to foster innovation through diverse perspectives and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Strengthening Social Science Research for Policy Impact

This new tenure-track position reflects ESRI’s continued investment in high-level sociological research that directly informs national and international policy. With increasing global attention on inequality, migration, and social cohesion, the role is positioned at the intersection of academic research and practical policymaking.

As Ireland continues to evolve socially and economically, ESRI’s work remains central to understanding long-term trends and supporting evidence-based governance.

APPLY HERE

For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel

Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.

JOIN GSO WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW