Senior R&D Programme Manager

Overview:

VIOTAS is seeking a Senior R&D Programme Manager to further build and lead the programme management capability within VIOTAS Innovation. Reporting to the Director of Innovation, you will help create and manage a clear, prioritised and evidence-led portfolio across technology, product, market, research and strategic-option initiatives.

This is a senior role for someone who combines disciplined programme leadership with commercial judgement, strong stakeholder influence and practical use of AI and data. You will improve delivery visibility, help leaders make investment and resource decisions, identify emerging opportunities and lead engagement with funding bodies.

About VIOTAS:

Established in Limerick, Ireland in 2013, VIOTAS set about designing and delivering new innovations to address the challenges posed by increased renewable generation in electrical grids: How can a grid be balanced when a large amount of electricity is coming from unpredictable renewable sources that are difficult to forecast and that change the fundamental principles of how grids operate?

In response, VIOTAS developed proprietary technologies that place electricity customers at the core of the solution. By managing their electricity consumption and onsite generation in real-time, VIOTAS help balance the wider electricity grid. The company then aggregates participating customers to form Virtual Power Plants which are traded in the electricity market. This approach not only generates significant revenue for participating customers but also contributes to decarbonization of the power system. With a global expansion strategy, VIOTAS, currently with over 110 staff, operates in Ireland, Poland, USA and Australia.

The Role:

• Programme manage an integrated Innovation portfolio covering major programmes, products, experiments and funded initiatives.
• Coordinate prioritisation, capacity planning, dependency management, scenario analysis and benefits tracking.
• Introduce AI-assisted tracking, reporting, risk detection and portfolio optimisation, with appropriate human oversight and governance.
• Provide concise, decision-ready reporting to Senior Leadership and the Board.
• Lead or assure complex cross-functional programmes and support recovery where delivery is off track.
• Build a structured opportunity-scanning process across energy markets, grid services, DER, storage, AI, analytics, cloud, edge technology and cybersecurity.
• Programme manage strategic experiments using clear hypotheses, budgets, time limits and scale-or-stop decisions.
• Collaborate to identify suitable national and European funding opportunities and lead engagement, applications, delivery governance, claims and reporting.
• Develop robust business cases and work with Finance to assess value, cost, risk and strategic option value.
• Build a practical, high-value Programme Office that improves decisions without adding unnecessary bureaucracy.

What We’re Looking For:

• Significant experience leading complex programmes or portfolios in technology, energy, engineering, infrastructure, digital products or another regulated environment.
• A strong record of senior stakeholder management, executive reporting and evidence-based prioritisation.
• Experience with business cases, programme finances, benefits, risks, dependencies and governance.
• Practical experience applying AI, automation or advanced analytics to delivery or operational workflows.
• Experience engaging with funding bodies and coordinating funding applications or funded programmes.
• The judgement and confidence to challenge assumptions, redirect resources and recommend when work should be paused or stopped.
• A recognised programme or project-management qualification, or equivalent professional experience.

Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent.

Location: Limerick or Dublin, Ireland (Hybrid)

Compensation & Benefits: Competitive package, including base salary, performance bonus and benefits, commensurate with experience.