MESL Researcher

Reference No: VA465

Location: SVP House, 91/92 Sean MacDermott Street, Dublin 1

Duration: Specific purpose contract (maternity cover)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Closing Date: 23rd May 2025

VP is a large, national, voluntary organisation with extensive experience of working with a diverse range of people who experience poverty and exclusion. Through its network of over 12,000 volunteers and 700 staff, it is strongly committed to working for social justice and advocates the creation of a more just and caring society. SVP employs people to support volunteers in a variety of settings including housing, community care, shops, administration, and other specialist areas.

The Role:

We are currently looking to recruit a Specific Purpose contract (37.5 hours per week) MESL Researcher to join our MESL Research team in National Office, Dublin 1. The post holder will have responsibility for ongoing maintenance and development of the Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) data, including facilitating focus groups, updating pricing models, and contributing to research reports and policy outputs. The role involves conducting literature reviews, data collection and analysis, writing reports, and presenting findings, as well as supporting dissemination efforts and administrative tasks related to MESL research activities. This is a great opportunity to join one of Ireland’s largest voluntary organisations and make a difference in your community.

Candidate Requirements:

EDUCATION

• Degree in Social Policy, Sociology, Economics, Equality Studies or a related discipline.

KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of the Society and of its mission and values.
• Knowledge of needs and issues of people experiencing poverty and disadvantage.
• Understanding of poverty, social exclusion and inequality in Ireland and of current and emerging issues in this area.
• Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Knowledge of the Irish social protection system would be an advantage.

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience conducting applied social research in an academic, statutory or NGO setting.
• Experience of collecting data, analysing results and report writing.
• Experience of facilitating focus groups, preferably as a social research tool.

SKILLS

• Strong skills in qualitative and quantitative methodology and experience in the facilitation of focus groups.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Comfort working with numbers, problem solving and analytical approach.
• Good knowledge of Excel, or similar.
• Ability to explain findings clearly, both verbally and in written reports to a wide range of audiences.
• Ability to deliver high quality work to tight deadlines.
• Ability to work successfully as part of a team and independently.

The person must also demonstrate the following personal attributes:

• Be honest and trustworthy
• Be respectful
• Possess cultural awareness and sensitivity
• Be flexible
• Demonstrate sound work ethics

​If you meet these requirements and have the desire to join one of Ireland’s best known, trusted, and respected not-for-profit organisations please complete the online application www.svp.ie/careers.

Appointment is subject to Garda Vetting and satisfactory references. Canvassing will not be accepted and may lead to disqualification. Due to the large volume of applications, we are not in the position to provide individual feedback to candidates who are not shortlisted.

​PLEASE NOTE: If you are interested in being considered for this ​position, please apply as soon as possible as the role may be closed in advance of the date shown above due to high volume of applications.

​SVP is an Equal Opportunities Employer