Director of Senior Public Service Institute of Public Administration

The organisation

The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) exists to support a capable, confident and effective Public Service in Ireland. Our purpose is to strengthen the capability and leadership required to meet complex demands, make sound decisions and contribute to better public services for the people of Ireland. We do this through learning and leadership development that is evidence based, practice led and focused on application at a whole-of-government level.

The role

Leadership development is a critical strategic enabler of delivering better public services to the people of Ireland. Senior Public Service (SPS) encompasses the leadership development portfolio and related support services for senior staff across the Public Service. SPS is managed by the IPA in close collaboration with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.

The successful candidate will lead the further development of senior strategic leadership capability across the Public Service. They will have responsibility for the SPS leadership development portfolio, leading the design, delivery and continuous enhancement of high‑impact programmes and support services aligned with system‑wide Public Service needs. They will develop excellent relationships with senior stakeholders across the Public Service, ensuring continuous innovation and best-practice thinking.

As a senior leader within the organisation, the role contributes to the overall strategy, governance and performance of the IPA, working closely with the Director General, Board and Executive Leadership Team.

The person

The successful candidate will be an experienced leader in executive learning and development, with a proven track record of designing and delivering high‑impact programmes for senior leaders in complex environments. They will bring strong strategic capability, a deep understanding of Public Service leadership needs, and sound knowledge of learning and development frameworks, behavioural change and evaluation methodologies. Highly skilled in communication, relationship building and influence, they will also demonstrate excellent organisational and prioritisation skills.

Application and further information

Applications are to be submitted via the online portal available here (filter results by ‘Executive Search’ category”) and must include:

1.     A completed application form.

o    This document is available to download below, or via email at execrecruit@mazars.ie

Forvis Mazars will be managing all aspects of this recruitment project on behalf of the IPA.

No enquiries or canvassing should be made directly to the IPA.

Deadline for applications: 13:00 (Irish time), Monday, 11 May 2026.

The IPA is an equal opportunities employer with a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion at all levels of the organisation.

An Eagraíocht

Tá an Foras Riaracháin (IPA) ann chun tacú leis an tSeirbhís Phoiblí in Éirinn d'fhonn go mbeadh sí cumasach, muiníneach agus éifeachtach. Is é is cuspóir dúinn ná an cumas agus an cheannaireacht a theastaíonn a neartú chun freastal ar éilimh chasta, cinntí stuama a dhéanamh agus seirbhísí poiblí a dhéanamh níos fearr do mhuintir na hÉireann. Déanaimid amhlaidh trí fhoghlaim agus forbairt ceannaireachta atá bunaithe ar fhianaise, treoraithe ag cleachtas agus dírithe ar chur chun feidhme ar leibhéal an rialtais ar fad.

An Ról

Is cumasóir straitéiseach ríthábhachtach í an fhorbairt ceannaireachta maidir le seirbhísí poiblí níos fearr a chur ar fáil do mhuintir na hÉireann. Is éard atá i gceist leis an tSeirbhís Phoiblí Shinsearach (SPS) ná an phunann forbartha ceannaireachta agus na seirbhísí tacaíochta gaolmhara do bhaill foirne shinsearacha ar fud na Seirbhíse Poiblí. Is é an Foras a bhainistíonn an SPS i ndlúthchomhar leis an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí, Bonneagair, Athchóiriúcháin Seirbhíse Poiblí agus Digitiúcháin.

Beidh an t-iarrthóir a n-éireoidh leis nó léi i gceannas ar an saothar le cumas ceannaireachta straitéisí sinsearaí a fhorbairt tuilleadh ar fud na Seirbhíse Poiblí. Beidh sé nó sí freagrach as punann forbartha ceannaireachta an SPS agus i gceannas ar chláir ard‑tionchair agus seirbhísí tacaíochta atá ailínithe le riachtanais na Seirbhíse Poiblí ar fud an chórais‑ a dhearadh, a chur chun feidhme agus a fheabhsú ar bhonn leanúnach. Forbróidh siad caidrimh den scoth le páirtithe leasmhara sinsearacha ar fud na Seirbhíse Poiblí agus cinnteoidh nuálaíocht leanúnach agus smaointeoireacht dea-chleachtais ag an am céanna.

Mar cheannaire sinsearach laistigh den eagraíocht, cuireann an ról le straitéis, rialachas agus feidhmíocht fhoriomlán an Fhorais, ag obair go dlúth leis an Ard-Stiúrthóir, leis an mBord agus leis an bhFoireann Ceannaireachta Feidhmiúcháin.

An Té

An t-iarrthóir a n-éireoidh leis nó léi, beidh taithí aige nó aici mar cheannaire san fhoghlaim agus san fhorbairt feidhmiúcháin. Ina theannta sin, beidh dea-theist air nó uirthi maidir le cláir ard‑tionchair a dhearadh agus a chur chun feidhme do cheannairí sinsearacha i dtimpeallachtaí casta. Tabharfaidh an té chun an róil cumas straitéiseach láidir, tuiscint dhomhain ar riachtanais cheannaireachta na Seirbhíse Poiblí, agus eolas maith ar chreataí foghlama agus forbartha, ar athrú iompraíochta agus ar mhodheolaíochtaí meastóireachta. Beidh ardscileanna aige nó aici i dtaobh cumarsáid a dhéanamh, caidrimh a chothú agus tionchar a imirt, agus léireoidh sé nó sí scileanna eagraíochtúla agus cur in ord tosaíochta den scoth freisin.

Iarratas a Dhéanamh agus Tuilleadh Eolais

Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil agus chun cur isteach ar an ról seo, téigh chuig www.forvismazars.com/ie/en/executiverecruitment.

Cuir ríomhphost chuig an bhFoireann Earcaíochta Feidhmeannach ag execrecruit@mazars.ie nó cuir glao orthu ar +353 (1) 449 4400 má bhíonn ceist ar bith agat faoin ról seo.

Is é Forvis Mazars a bheidh ag bainistiú gach uile ghné den tionscadal earcaíochta seo thar ceann an Fhorais Riaracháin.

Ní cóir aon cheisteanna a chur ar an bhForas Riaracháin go díreach agus ní cóir an Foras a chanbhasáil ach an oiread.

Spriocdháta d'iarratais: 13:00 Dé Luain, an 11 Bealtaine 2026.

Is fostóir comhionannais deiseanna é an Foras Riaracháin agus tá tiomantas láidir aige don chomhionannas, don éagsúlacht agus don ionchuimsiú ar gach leibhéal den eagraíocht.