PLEDGE is recruiting a Project Manager (Ireland)

Job Advertisement: Project Manager on the PLEDGE project

Location: National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, Office of Public Works, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland

Duration: 30 months, starting Nov 2026.

Background

Western Ireland, Iceland, and Scandinavia share vulnerable coastal, peatland and arctic-alpine species and ecosystems in need of conservation. Ex situ plant conservation capacity is uneven and fragmented in this region. The PLEDGE project (Plants on the Edge - Building resilience to climate driven biodiversity loss through ex-situ plant conservation) will strengthen climate resilience by building a coordinated ex situ conservation network, resulting in better preparedness to restore threatened plant species. The project, co-funded by the EU Interreg Northern Periphery & Arctic programme, is led by the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, with partners at the University of Oulu, Finland, the Natural Science Institute of Iceland, and Reykjavík Botanic Gardens, Iceland. Associated partners from Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland will also bring their expertise to the project. The main outputs of PLEDGE include jointly developing and implementing enhanced ex situ conservation strategies, optimising techniques and developing seed banking and cryopreservation facilities at the various sites. A target list of species (vascular plants and bryophytes) will be selected across the region and protocols will be developed and implemented for their ex situ conservation.

The role – Project Manager

There is an opportunity in the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin to join the PLEDGE project team as a Project Manager on a 30 month contract. The job will involve:

• Project coordination across the partnership to ensure targets and deliverables are achieved.

• Managing budget and reporting for the lead partner, collating cohesive partner reports.

• Fieldwork involving application for licences, monitoring plant populations and collection of biological material (sometimes in remote locations)

• Developing and conducting laboratory protocols for seed banking, cryopreservation and/or genetic studies of plants.

• Data analysis, reporting and publication of scientific results.

• Procurement of laboratory equipment and consumables.

• Coordinating stakeholder engagement, outreach & communications.

Requirements

This job is ideally suited to someone who is highly organised with a scientific training and an interest/experience in botany. The candidate should have a degree and postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline, or significant experience in a relevant field. Familiarity with managing EU funded projects is desirable, as is experience in one or more relevant laboratory skills such as plant genetics, tissue culture or biobanking. Knowledge of Ireland’s flora is also desirable. A full driving licence and access to a car is essential. The candidate must be eligible for employment in Ireland.

The candidate will be appointed at point 1 of the IUA Post-doctoral Researcher salary scale, €47,273 per annum. For more details on the project see https://www.interreg-npa.eu/projects/PLEDGE/home/

Application Process

Please apply with a letter of interest and curriculum vitae to DBNHerbarium@opw.ie using the subject line ‘PLEDGE Project Manager’. Please submit your application before the deadline of 20th Nov 2026.