The successful candidate will join a collaborative research team, comprising Teagasc, Ashtown, UCC and DIT, that is focused on investigating acceptability of novel food technologies by consumers and industry. This post constitutes a 36 months fixed term contract and provides an excellent opportunity for an early stage researcher with experience in the marketing and/or consumer behaviour field to expand their knowledge and skill base through direct interaction with Irish consumers and food researchers.
BACKGROUND:
This project is funded under the Food Institutional Research Measure of the Department of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The successful candidate will be based at the Ashtown Food
Research Centre (AFRC), Dublin 15

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
•Accumulation, documentation, and updating of relevant literature and supporting materials throughout the course of the project
•Assist Project Manager in management and progression of all project tasks
•Management of key relationships including, but not limited to stakeholders, from the public, private and consumer sectors
•Development of question guides for qualitative and quantitative research tasks in consultation with the research team’
•Organisation, management and supervision of in-depth consumer interviews and large consumer survey
•Analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, and interpretation of research findings to contribute to and inform subsequent project tasks
•Development of guidelines and recommendations, in consultation with the research team, that will inform food technology researchers, policy makers and the food industry
•Maintenance of regular internal lines of communication
•Publication of high quality peer reviewed articles and contribution to overall dissemination and research outputs of Teagasc in collaboration with the research team
•Promotion of the findings of the research to key stakeholders and relevant audiences
•To maintain responsibility for own development and updating through active participation in PMDS.
•To assist Teagasc in meeting the commitments of the Quality Customer Service charter and action plan.

ESSENTIAL
QUALIFICATIONS
•Candidates must have an honours Level 8 degree in marketing/management/food business or equivalent area with a strong marketing or consumer behaviour element
SKILLS
•Administration and organisation
•Questionnaire design and statistical analysis
•Oral and written communication
•Strong analytical ability
KNOWLEDGE
•The food industry
•Main consumer behaviour theories
•Trends within food technology
•Analytical techniques and software

DESIRABLE Qualifications
•A postgraduate degree and/or research experience in marketing or consumer behaviour would be a distinct advantage
SKILLS
•Research experience in primary data collection and quantitative & qualitative research.
•Experience in writing or contributing to peer reviewed journal articles
•Aptitude for multidisciplinary approaches
KNOWLEDGE
•Previous working knowledge of analytical software (i.e. NVivo & SPSS or equivalent) within a research environment

BEHAVIOUR COMPETENCIES
•Ability to work independently and as part of a team, including consulting, collaborating and building relationships with key stakeholders.
•Strives for high quality of work and demonstrates commitment to the programme.
•Ability to communicate effectively to enable knowledge and technology transfer.

HOW TO APPLY
A detailed job description and application form for this position can be accessed on our website at www.teagasc.ie/careers

Interviews for successful applicants will be scheduled to take place week commencing 16th November 2009.

The latest date for receipt of completed application forms is 5pm on Monday 2nd November 2009