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Head of Centralised Operations (Assistant Secretary)
Posted 9 hours 6 minutes ago by PUBLICJOBS
Job Summary
The Department is now recruiting a senior leader at Assistant Secretary level, with responsibility for leading the operation and development of a number of key schemes and services.
Reporting to the Deputy Secretary General, the person appointed as Assistant Secretary will have a responsibility for Centralised Operations and will lead a team of 6 Principals with over 1,600 staff based in large offices in Dublin, Longford, Sligo, Letterkenny and Buncrana. In addition to leading staff to maintain a high level of service performance, a key challenge for the successful candidate will be the continued modernisation of service delivery including greater use of online and self-service channels, and the potential use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance service quality and efficiency.
Main Duties of the Job
The person appointed should have recent senior experience leading a demanding and complex operations function including the implementation of change programmes with a high level of IT dependency. They should be a visible leader, able to demonstrate the ability to lead and empower senior managers to build and sustain high performance amongst their teams.
They should also be able to demonstrate a clear understanding, of the role of the social protection system with a good working knowledge of welfare and employment services or the capability to quickly acquire this knowledge. The ability to communicate effectively and persuasively is particularly important. The person appointed should have the ability to work with a wide range of stakeholders to lead and communicate change programmes effectively, to be adaptable, and to anticipate and find solutions to any challenges that may arise.
The person appointed will also be required to work effectively with the political system, to ensure the achievement of key Ministerial and Government priorities and to provide high quality advice.
Ideally, the person appointed should have:
- proven experience and knowledge in the areas of responsibility;
- a clear understanding, or the capacity to quickly develop an understanding, of public administration and governance;
- an ability to develop and manage high performing teams;
- an ability to build effective relationships internally and with other organisations;
- the ability to anticipate and manage change in a complex, fast moving environment;
- as a member of the Department's management board, be capable of contributing to all aspects of the work of the Department at Assistant Secretary level
Information about the Organisation
The Department of Social Protection is the largest Department of State in the Irish Civil Service and one of the largest organisations in the State.
The Department plays the lead role in developing policy and advising government on social protection/welfare, social inclusion and labour market issues including employment services, pensions, and other income supports and activation policies.
The Department, which employs over 7,300 staff in approximately 300 locations with an annual budget of €26 billion, processes in excess of four million customer service applications per annum, responds to approximately eight million calls and issues approximately 100 million payments to over two million customers. It is governed by a Management Board of 14 members, including the Secretary General.
Selection Process Details
This is a Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) position.
Further information on this significant opportunity including details on how to apply, is available on
The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 3pm on Thursday 24 th July 2025.
If you feel you would benefit from a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Sandra Cairns at
We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and encourage applications under all nine grounds of the Employment Equality Act.
PUBLICJOBS
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