The Assistant Secretary General in this role will lead a team of seven Principal Officers with over 500 staff who are mainly located in Blanchardstown and Athlone.

The Major Operations division provides one of the largest payroll services in the State, making payments to nearly 200,000 payees across 4,000 schools, 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and a number of Higher Education institutions. The role involves working extensively with other divisions in the Department of Education and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Education and Training Boards; Higher Education Institutions; a number of funded organisations, as well as other stakeholders and partners in the education sector and wider public and private sector. The person appointed will be responsible for providing leadership and overseeing delivery in respect of the following:

• ETB Payroll Shared Services

• Apprentice & Learner Payments Shared Services

• ETB Finance Shared Services Head of Major Operations (Assistant Secretary), Department of Education TLAC number: 820

• Higher Education Payroll Shared Services

• Shared Services Implementation Unit (including Procurement shared services)

• School employee payroll

• Education sector pensions

• Procurement in the sector, including leading on, and overseeing best procurement practice and the promotion and implementation of effective governance and compliance in respect of all aspects of procurement

• Significant experience in leading the management of payroll and/or pensions and/or shared services and or other major operations;

• Leadership experience and a proven high level of management and organisational skills with the ability to develop teams and manage staff based in a number of locations and to influence senior management across the Department and in other organisations;

• The skills, or a demonstrated capacity to quickly develop the skills, necessary to lead the Department’s Major Operations Division in delivering high quality services;

• A proven ability in relation to resource allocation and financial management in a resource constrained environment;

• Extensive and successful experience in the anticipation and management of organisational change: this includes the ability to drive and develop dynamic innovative change in a complex, fast-moving environment;

• Demonstrated sound judgement, analytical thinking, problem solving and decision making skills and excellent leadership and interpersonal skills at a senior level in an organisation;

• Knowledge of public procurement principles and procedures;

• Excellent communication skills with an ability to build effective relationships internally and with other organisations and diverse stakeholders;

• A proven track record of problem solving, risk management and delivery of change;

• The capacity to contribute to the work of the Department of Education at Assistant Secretary General level in respect of any of the Department’s functions and to contribute effectively as a member of the Department’s Management Board.

Ideally, applicants will meet at least two of the following criteria at a senior level:

• Experience in more than one organisation,

• International experience (e.g. working abroad or significant engagement with international organisations and processes),

• Experience outside the Civil Service,

• A variety of experience (e.g. operational, policy and strategic planning).