Examinations and Assessment Manager (Research and Development)

Job Title: Examinations and Assessment Manager (Research and Development)

Employer: State Examinations Commission

County: Nationwide

Closing Date: 3pm, Thursday, 11th June 2026

Starting Salary: €65,783

About the Employer:

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has responsibility, for the operation of the State Certificate examinations. Its remit includes the development, assessment, accreditation and certification of examinations, including the Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied and Junior Cycle examinations.

About the Role:

The SEC now have a vacancy for an Examinations and Assessment Manager (EAM) in the area of Research and Development in its Examinations and Assessment Division. This is an exciting opportunity for a suitably qualified, enthusiastic and committed individual.

The Examinations and Assessment Division (EAD) is the professional division of the SEC responsible for ensuring the quality and effective conduct of all of the Commission’s examinations. This involves taking all necessary actions to maintain parity of standards in each subject from year to year and ensuring compliance with the requirements and procedures of the Commission. It involves ensuring that full account is taken of all relevant legislation in areas such as equality, anti-discrimination, special educational needs, etc. The EAD is also responsible for research and development in the organisation.

The EAD comprises the Head of Examinations and Assessment Division (Deputy Chief Inspector level), four Assistant Heads (Assistant Chief Inspector level) and approximately 50 Examinations and Assessment Managers.

The EAM for Research and Development will report to an Assistant Head of the Examinations and Assessment Division and will play a key role in designing and implementing a research support structure for the organisation.

The Principal Duties and Responsibilities of the Role will include the following:

• Developing a programme of research proposals;
• Planning and co-ordinating an annual schedule of research activities;
• Undertaking research directly;
• Commissioning research projects to be conducted by external agencies and managing such projects;
• Providing technical support in the areas of statistics and psychometric methods;
• Support other research and development activities in the SEC;
• Preparing an annual report on the research activities of the SEC;
• Preparing an annual technical report on the examinations;
• Remaining abreast of relevant legislation, literature and ongoing research; analysing and evaluating intelligence as necessary;
• Providing research-based advice to the SEC;
• Liaising with relevant national and international organisations in relation to assessment research and information;
• Contributing to the training of EAD and contract staff;
• Managing the performance of assigned contract staff, including their training needs, as required;
• Interacting with school management and staff;
• Ensuring the quality and effective conduct of the state examinations;
• Representing the SEC in national and international fora.

Please note: The above is a general guide to the key duties and responsibilities of the role and is not an exhaustive description. Other duties and responsibilities appropriate to the role may be assigned from time to time by the relevant line manager.

The Closing Date for this competition is Thursday, 11th of June at 3pm.

We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and encourage applications under all nine grounds of the Employment Equality Act.