Chief Executive Officer

Hockey Ireland is the National Governing Body for the sport of hockey on the island of Ireland. 

Officially recognised by Sport Ireland (SI), Sport Northern Ireland (SNI), Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI), Federation of Irish Sport (FIS), European Hockey Federation (EHF), International Hockey Federation (FIH), their core responsibility is the development, promotion, and safeguarding of hockey on the Island of Ireland. 

As a non-profit, membership-based organisation, Hockey Ireland is a vibrant, inclusive, and high-performing community, committed to developing the sport from grassroots to elite levels. With over 30,000 members and 160 clubs, it oversees hockey across four Provincial Branches, working with affiliated clubs to sanction events and develop pathways for players of all abilities. Their strategic goals include increasing participation, enhancing club development, and progressing our Junior Age Group (JAGs) programmes nationally and provincially. 

The Board of Hockey Ireland is seeking a visionary and strategic Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to guide the organisation through an exciting phase of growth and international opportunity. With both senior teams targeting qualification for the 2027 World Cup and hosting international events, the role offers high visibility and impact.

The Opportunity

This is a rare chance to shape the future of Irish hockey. Reporting into the Board of Hockey Ireland, the CEO will lead a professional team and work closely with the Board to drive strategic growth, enhance performance, and build a commercially sustainable organisation. They will be at the forefront of Irish sport, attending international events, building strategic partnerships, and driving the growth of one of Ireland’s largest team-based sports.  

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Governance: Drive strategic planning, cultivate leadership excellence, ensure governance and compliance, and nurture key stakeholder relationships.
• Commercial Growth: Lead sponsorship, media engagement, and digital expansion to grow revenue and brand visibility.
• Operational & Financial Management: Manage budgets, staffing, events, and infrastructure partnerships.
• High-Performance & Player Development: Oversee elite pathways, coaching standards, and team performance.

 The Individual

•  5+ years of senior leadership experience in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong experience in governance, organisational management and financial oversight
• Commercial acumen and experience securing commercial sponsorship & partnerships
• A proven track record in stakeholder management and team leadership
• Change management and cultural transformation expertise
• Appreciation of high-performance sport and athlete pathways.
• Passion for sport development across all levels

 Odgers Ireland have been exclusively retained by Hockey Ireland to manage the appointment process.

 Candidates for this role will be sourced through both an advertised and executive search process.

 For further information, the Candidate Brief and details on how to apply, please visit www.odgers.com/HockeyIrelandCEO  

 Closing date for receipt of applications is 12noon, Friday 24^th October