Basic Function: 

To develop, lead and implement a state of the art research programme in the production of suckler beef cattle with particular focus on the following:

• Genetic and nutritional factors influencing the productivity of suckler beef cattle.
• Increasing animal performance and efficiency from both grazed and conserved forages
• Impact of both genetics and nutrition on environmental sustainability of suckler beef production systems

Background:

The beef industry is a major contributor to the value of Ireland’s agri-food sector.  For example, the output value of the Irish cattle sector was 16% of Agri-food exports in 2022 generating approximately €3.1 billion. Additionally, beef cattle production is a significant enterprise on over 94,000 farms, which are widely dispersed throughout the country. Teagasc plays a key role in developing and supporting competitive, profitable and sustainable systems of beef production.

These production systems must maximise the use of grazed grass to capitalize on Ireland’s natural competitive advantage in grass production, and to contribute to the high quality, grass-fed reputation of Irish beef worldwide.

Teagasc are seeking to appoint a highly qualified and enthusiastic researcher to develop and lead a cutting research programme to underpin the continued development and sustainability of the Irish suckler beef production sector. The successful candidate’s research programme will have particular emphasis on, but will not be limited to, investigating the impact of animal genetics and nutrition on the biological performance of suckler beef cattle, and how these management interventions influence both economic and environmental sustainability.  The programme will also investigate how to further increase animal performance from grazed and conserved forage. This will be a key appointment for Teagasc with national significance in further developing our beef industry over the coming years.

The Grange campus is part of the Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre in Teagasc and has extensive facilities for field and laboratory research.   These include pasture and overwintering facilities for in excess of 1100 cattle including 200 beef cows and their progeny to finish. Field and laboratory resources include state of the art electronic individual feed intake and methane emissions measurement equipment; a feed digestibility research unit and a suite of animal nutrition, animal health and molecular biology based laboratories to support a world-class beef cattle research programme.

Indeed, Teagasc has an international reputation for research and development in grass-based systems of livestock production and the successful candidate will work with a dynamic and multidisciplinary team of researchers and knowledge transfer specialists across Teagasc’s Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Programme at Moorepark, Grange and Athenry.

• Develop, lead and implement a cutting edge research programme on aspects of the breeding and nutrition of  suckler beef cattle 

• Design and manage experiments; statistically analyse and publish the resulting data.

• Manage staff and resources assigned to the research programme.

• Identify opportunities for cutting-edge research to address key knowledge gaps.

• Lead successful submissions for external funding, that is consistent with the Teagasc research programme, with the objective of developing critical mass in the area by building and supervising a dynamic team of post-doctoral researchers(s) and post-graduate student(s). 

• Develop and maintain active collaboration with relevant national and international research organisations.

• Work closely with Teagasc Knowledge Transfer Specialists to ensure effective dissemination of research findings to advisors and stakeholders.

• Supervise, in conjunction with academic collaborator postgraduate students to Masters and PhD level.

• Interpret and publish research results in the scientific and popular press, at conferences (nationally and internationally) and to stakeholders

• Contribute to the teamwork and team spirit in the Animal & Bioscience Department, and foster and add to further collaboration and integration

• To assist Teagasc in meeting the commitments of the Quality Customer Service Charter and Action Plan.

• To actively participate in the annual business planning and Performance Management Development System (PMDS) processes.

• Fully co-operate with the provisions made for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of themselves, fellow staff and non-Teagasc staff and co-operate with management in enabling Teagasc to comply with legal obligations. This includes full compliance with the responsibilities outlined in the Safety Statement.

• Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time

* This job specification is intended as a guide to the general range of duties and is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive.  It will be reviewed from time to time with the post holder.

 Note:  The ‘essential’ qualifications, knowledge, skills and behavioural competencies outlined above are ‘must-have’ which will be used in the selection process.