Assistant Secretary

Office of Public Works; Dublin; On-site; EUR 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

The Office of Public Works seeks an Assistant Secretary – Building Services and Capital Works Support to assist the Chairman and Management Board in delivering a range of capital projects on behalf of OPW and its clients.

This role requires strategic leadership across property maintenance, engineering services, energy efficiency and climate action delivery, with five direct reports, and close collaboration with civil service stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Have proven record of accomplishment as a leader and senior manager in a large or complex organisation.
• Demonstrate strong management of large capital budgets.
• Have demonstrated senior level experience in developing strategically important capital programmes.
• Proven ability to lead organisational change and collaborate with senior staff.
• Led delivery of large scale capital programmes with budget, timelines and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience in dynamic planning, budgeting and prioritisation at senior management level.
• Excellent negotiating, influencing and interpersonal skills with multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead a new Division with five direct reports and oversee multiple units.
• Interface with senior Civil Service and political system to engage stakeholders.
• Ensure delivery of capital projects and maintenance programmes within budgets and timelines.
• Drive organisational change and performance improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Budgeting

Change management

Job description

The Assistant Secretary – Building Services and Capital Works Support will support the Chairman and Management Board to manage the effective delivery of a range of capital projects on behalf of the OPW, as well as its Clients. With responsibility for delivering the projects outlined in the OPW NDP Programme efficiently and on a value for money basis, the successful person will ensure excellent project oversight, anticipating and managing risk.

This role will involve close collaboration with colleagues in the OPW, and with external stakeholders, to ensure that the OPW Sectoral Investment Plan is appropriately managed, with progress tracked and reported. The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to sound project management and delivery, including inputting to measures across the wider Civil Service, as required.

This role will interface with senior stakeholders across the Civil Service, as well as with the political system, requiring an ability to persuasively communicate and engage stakeholders. The person will be expected to manage a range of property projects and maintenance programmes as part of the OPW NDP Programme, interacting with relevant departments, as well as external parties, including contractors and delivery partners. In addition, good knowledge and experience of parliamentary and political processes, are a requirement of this position. Strong leadership and collective support for organisational change, including inputting into key organisational and corporate responsibilities, is required.

This role reports directly to the OPW Chairman and leads a new Division within the OPW, with several direct reports at Principal Officer Level. This role will carry responsibility for a range of units, with five direct reports across Property Maintenance, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Services, Energy Efficiency and Climate Action Delivery, as well as Civil and Structural Engineering.

Essential requirements for the role:

The suitable candidate will:

Have a proven record of accomplishment as a leader and senior manager in a large or complex organisation, with a capacity for sound judgement and strategic decision making.

Demonstrate a strong understanding and track record in the management of large capital budgets.

Have demonstrated senior level experience of leading the development of strategically important capital programmes.

Proven ability to lead organisational change, to foster organisational development and to collaborate with senior colleagues and staff at all levels and disciplines in the organisation;

Have led the delivery of large scale capital programmes/projects, ensuring successful delivery, with reference to budgets, timelines and stakeholder engagement.

Have a proven track record in the areas of dynamic planning, budgeting, and prioritisation at a senior management level in a complex, multi-dimensional organisation in either the public or private sector;

Have a proven ability to lead organisational change, to foster organisational development and to collaborate with senior colleagues and staff at all levels and disciplines in the organisation

Have excellent negotiating, influencing and interpersonal skills in an environment of multiple stakeholders, including an ability to recognise and manage different stakeholders’ perspectives to achieve mutually acceptable outcomes.

Have a proven track record of achievement in their career to date, including leading change and delivering performance improvements in business-critical operational areas.

Have clearly demonstrated a strong corporate commitment at a senior management level in support of broader organisational performance and development.