TransformDairyNet Lead Facilitator

The Role

TransformDairyNet is a 36-month (2024-2027), €2.7 million EU-funded project that aims to revolutionize dairy farming practices across Europe by promoting cow-calf contact (CCC) systems. With a consortium of 26 partners, the project will establish 11 National Innovation Practice Hubs and a pan-European Knowledge and Innovation Network.

The successful applicant will cover a maternity leave to manage our team of facilitators in the mobilisation and maintenance of National Innovation Practice Hubs (NIPs) and supporting a pan-European Knowledge and Innovation Network (EKIN). During 2025 the focus of the NIPs will be to develop and trial living lab ideas which TransformDairyNet will fund, and this role will support facilitators in the mobilisation of the living lab process.

The other main responsibility of this role will be in the mobilisation of a pan-European Knowledge and Innovation Network (EKIN) and organising and coordinating the project activities at the first EKIN meeting in Greece, at the end of May 2025. This meeting will focus on maximising the value of networking opportunities for the delegates and sharing the outputs of existing CCC practices from across TransformDairyNet (led by WP3). The successful candidate will need to work closely with the coordinator, WP3 leaders and the host partner in Greece, to develop and deliver the EKIN programme.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the work of TransformDairyNet’s National Network Facilitators (NNFs) and National Innovation Practice Hubs (NIPs)(WP1).
• Mobilise and coordinate the activities of the European Knowledge and Innovation Network (in collaboration with WP2).
• Complete the 1^st deliverable report synthesising the activities of the NIPs and EKIN (in collaboration with WP2).
• Work closely with the project coordinator (Siobhan Mullan) and project manager (Rachel Annan) at UCD to support any other WP tasks delivered in collaboration with WP1.

This role will suit candidates with a strong interest and passion in cow-calf contact (CCC) dairy systems who can utilise their network and CCC experience to support a farmer-led and pan-European network to support the upscaling of CCC systems.

Skills and Qualifications

• Educated to Honours and Masters degree levels in an agricultural or related discipline
• Experience, period of study and/or qualification related to CCC dairy systems
• Understanding and knowledge of current and emerging issues and opportunities in the dairy sector, including CCC systems
• Experience of working with and engaging multi-actor stakeholders in the dairy sector
• Established relationships with relevant dairy stakeholder networks and experience of building capacity for wider engagement
• Excellent project management skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to inspire and engage

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for the Royal Agricultural University, please proceed through the following link to be redirected to their website to complete your application.

https://www.rau.ac.uk/about-rau/work-for-us

Closing date: 12^th January 2025 with interviews: 24^th January 2025

The Royal Agricultural University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from candidates of all ethnic backgrounds.

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