Head of System Resilience

EirGrid; Dublin; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

EirGrid is leading Ireland's energy transition by ensuring resilience of the transmission system. The Head of System Resilience role oversees strategy, emergency preparedness and continuity planning to secure reliable operation amid growing renewables and system changes.

The position reports to the Director of TSO Operations and drives cross‑functional resilience initiatives, training, and governance within the Operations Chief Office.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree with significant leadership experience in the power system industry and deep knowledge of system resilience.
• Experience developing resilience strategies within critical infrastructure environments.
• Strong people leadership skills, including the ability to influence, negotiate and resolve conflict.
• Proven ability to engage internal and external stakeholders and explain technical issues confidently.
• Ability to work under pressure, meet strict deadlines and plan or manage operational risk.
• Ability to adapt, innovate and respond effectively to changing system and operational demands.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the Chief Operations Office System Resilience Strategy, ensuring resilience considerations are embedded in system operations.
• Oversee resilience assessments of the transmission system under operational and planning scenarios, ensuring robust contingency planning for credible and extreme events.
• Lead the ongoing development of system defence and restoration plans to ensure black start and restoration readiness.
• Evaluate the resilience impacts of increasing renewable penetration, distributed energy resources, storage, interconnection and demand‑side participation.
• Lead System Operations training programmes, including for the National Control Centre, ensuring compliance with EU regulatory requirements and developing deep technical capability.
• Lead resilience preparedness exercises, post‑incident reviews and implementation of corrective actions following resilience‑related incidents or emergency events.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Risk management

Change adaptation

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

We are at the heart of Ireland’s energy transition - connecting, operating and transforming the electricity grid to support a low carbon, renewable future. We are building talented teams that tackle real world challenges every day and help us to achieve our goal to prepare the grid to carry up to 80% of Ireland’s electricity from renewable sources. We are proud to be a certified Great Place to Work, recognised for our culture built on trust, collaboration and inclusion. At EirGrid you will find supportive teams, opportunities to grow and meaningful work. We also offer secure employment with a range of flexible and family friendly working policies to support your life and wellbeing. If you are ready to make an impact and grow your career in a purpose-led organisation, your journey starts here.

The Opportunity

We are now seeking a Head of System Resilience to join the Operations Chief Office. The successful candidate will report to the Director of TSO Operations and will play a key leadership role in developing, implementing and continuously enhancing the system resilience strategy for Ireland’s transmission system. The role holder will lead across operational resilience, security of supply, emergency preparedness, TSO business continuity and adaptation to emerging system risks associated with the energy transition. This is a critical role in ensuring EirGrid can continue to operate the transmission network securely, reliably and sustainably through significant change.

The Team

The Operations Chief Office is responsible for operating Ireland’s power system, EirGrid’s first and most fundamental responsibility. The team operates today’s system with reliability, safety and security, while adapting it for a very different future. It is also responsible for operating and developing efficient and transparent electricity markets, delivering the energy transition and driving affordable outcomes for consumers.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the Chief Operations Office System Resilience Strategy, ensuring resilience considerations are embedded in system operations.
• Oversee resilience assessments of the transmission system under operational and planning scenarios, ensuring robust contingency planning for credible and extreme events.
• Lead the ongoing development of system defence and restoration plans to ensure black start and restoration readiness.
• Evaluate the resilience impacts of increasing renewable penetration, distributed energy resources, storage, interconnection and demand‑side participation.
• Lead System Operations training programmes, including for the National Control Centre, ensuring compliance with EU regulatory requirements and developing deep technical capability.
• Lead resilience preparedness exercises, post‑incident reviews and implementation of corrective actions following resilience‑related incidents or emergency events.

About you

• Engineering degree with significant leadership experience in the power system industry and deep knowledge of system resilience.
• Experience developing resilience strategies within critical infrastructure environments.
• Strong people leadership skills, including the ability to influence, negotiate and resolve conflict.
• Proven ability to engage internal and external stakeholders and explain technical issues confidently.
• Ability to work under pressure, meet strict deadlines and plan or manage operational risk.
• Ability to adapt, innovate and respond effectively to changing system and operational demands.

Closing date for applications

25th September 2026

We value potential as much as experience.If you believe you can succeed in this role,

We'rededicated to diversity and inclusion at EirGrid. We recognise the strength that comes from having a diverse workforce and the importance of a supportive culture for all our people to achieve their potential. Our diversity and inclusion networks have been designed to create an inclusive culture that enables our people to feel a sense of belonging at work.

As an equal opportunities’ employer, we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. Reasonable accommodations are offered at every stage of our recruitment process.