Director of Operations

Steering Point; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Hybrid working

Job summary

ETBI/PPLI is seeking a Director of Operations to strengthen capacity, systems, and structures for national-language education initiatives. Reporting to the PPLI Director, the role drives operational development and oversees governance, risk, and compliance across the organisation.

The successful candidate will lead four functional teams, guide organisational planning, and partner with government bodies and external partners.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in the operational delivery of complex services, programmes or functions.
• A strong track record of building systems and processes in growing organisations.
• Experience leading organisational change and transformation.
• Proven people management and HR leadership experience.
• Credibility to work with government departments, public bodies and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and integration of operational systems, structures and processes across the organisation.
• Oversee governance, risk management and compliance.
• Support planning, performance and continuous improvement.
• Provide leadership to PPLI's four functional teams and managers.
• Act on behalf of the PPLI Director as needed.

Skills

Operational leadership

Governance & compliance

People management

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Post-Primary Languages Ireland (PPLI) is a nested business unit of Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) and fully funded by the Department of Education and Youth. It is now seeking to appoint a Director of Operations. This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic team as it diversifies, enhances and expands foreign languages education in Ireland.

PPLI has grown from a small unit to an organisation of now almost 80 staff, supporting language learning and multilingualism in primary and post-primary schools nationwide.

This new role will report to the Director of PPLI and will be central to strengthening the organisation’s capacity, systems and structures to support this ongoing growth. The successful candidate will drive the operational, organisational and structural development of PPLI, helping to ensure it is positioned to deliver programmes and services effectively at a national scale.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the development and integration of operational systems, structures and processes across the organisation
• Overseeing governance, risk management and compliance
• Supporting organisational planning, performance and continuous improvement
• Providing leadership to PPLI’s four functional teams and managers
• Acting on behalf of the PPLI Director as needed

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior leader with:

• Significant experience in the operational delivery of complex services, programmes or functions
• A strong track record of building systems and processes in growing organisations
• Experience leading organisational change and transformation
• Proven people management and HR leadership experience
• Credibility to work with government departments, public bodies and external partners.

This appointment is on the Principal Officer salary scale and includes 30 days annual leave as well as a hybrid working arrangement (three days per week on site at the Digital Hub, Dublin 8). The role will be offered as an initial three-year fixed contract, in line with ETBI practice.

The Information Booklet outlining the full role, eligibility criteria is available here.

Closing date for applications: 4.00pm on Thursday, 19 November 2026.

This recruitment process is being managed on behalf of ETBI/PPLI by Steering Point Executive Search. For a confidential discussion, please contact Shay Dalton ([e-mail]).

ETBI/PPLI is an equal opportunities employer.