Assistant Secretary - Building Services and Capital Works – Office of Public Works

Assistant Secretary – Building Services and Capital Works – Office of Public Works

Job summary

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.

The successful person will report directly to the OPW Chairman and lead a new Division within the OPW with responsibility for delivering a key element of the projects outlined in the OPW NDP Programme efficiently and on a value for money basis, ensuring excellent project oversight and anticipating and managing risk.

Main Duties of the job

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.

The successful person will support the Chairman in their role as Accounting Officer, through ensuring sound management of the capital expenditure under their remit, including;

· Reporting to the C&AG and the Public Accounts Committee.

· Managing the procurement strategy required to ensure that construction projects are procured on a value for money basis, in line with public procurement regulations.

· Closely managing the delivery of projects, against budgets and timeframes, with design teams, contractors, specialists, and construction management firms.

As well as the key competencies for Assistant Secretaries, the person appointed will have:

· 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 and 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.

Information about the Organisation

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is a Government Office under the remit of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and Minister of State for the Office of Public Works. With responsibility for coordinating Strategic Flood Risk Management Policy and delivering flood relief schemes, it also has a delivery focus, through

maintaining, and managing public property and infrastructure for the State. The OPW employs approximately 2400 staff in a wide variety of positions at its Headquarters in Trim, major centres in Dublin, Kilkenny and Claremorris, along with some 100 locations throughout the country. The OPW’s annual budget is approximately €700m.

Selection Process Details

This is a Top-Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) position.

Further information on this significant opportunity including details on how to apply, is available on www.publicjobs.ie

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 3pm on Thursday 22nd October 2026.

If you feel you would benefit from a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Andrea Wilson at andrea.wilson@publicjobs.ie. For more information and to apply, visit: https://bit.ly/RI_AD_ASBSCWS

We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and encourage applications under all nine grounds of the Employment Equality Act.