Download Head of IT Operations Career Booklet HERE.pdf
Download Head of IT Operations FSPO - Application Form HERE.docx
About the Role
The Head of IT Operations, operating at Assistant Principal Officer level, is a senior managerial role with responsibility for the delivery and oversight of the FSPO’s IT operations, infrastructure and cybersecurity services. Reporting to the Director of IT, the role involves leading and managing teams and vendors, addressing complex technical and operational issues, and supporting the organisation through a significant period of digital transformation. The successful candidate will provide strong leadership, ensure robust governance and service delivery, and contribute to the achievement of the FSPO’s strategic objectives and key performance indicators.
Key Responsibilities:
- Manage the IT service desk to ensure high-quality service delivery.
- Collaborate with an external CISO to oversee cybersecurity in:
1. identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
2. protecting the organisation
3. detecting issues
4. responding to incidents
5. recovering from incidents
- Assist the Director of IT in the Cybersecurity governance process.
- Manage the IT infrastructure and operations to ensure smooth and efficient functioning.
- Manage projects (internal and external) to address identified issues and changes.
- Manage external procurement processes as required.
- Manage services provided by external vendors, including IT services, Managed Print Services, WAN connectivity, and telephony.
- Establish and execute IT policies, procedures, and best practices.
- Conduct formal reviews with key stakeholders and drive continuous service improvement.
- Drive and lead on strategic objectives across the organisation to promote and improve services.
- Support the strategic and business planning for the IT Department and be responsible for delivery of work plan commitments, deliverables and strategic goals and objectives.
- Manage the performance of reporting staff including the management of Probation and PMDS.
- Keep abreast of current IT and industry trends, legislation and other developments relevant to the area through stakeholder engagement and personal learning.
- Contribute to the development and achievement of the strategic goals of the FSPO generally, and divisional objectives, by participating in cross-divisional projects as required and progressing potential strategic projects.
- Any other duties as assigned by the Director of IT from time to time.
Essential Criteria:
In order to be effective in the role of Assistant Principal in the FSPO, the successful candidate should have:
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- A problem-solving mindset
- Ability to confidently lead cross disciplinary discussions relating to the specific responsibilities of the role
- The ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines and to take a strategic approach in the delivery of key objectives
- The ability to foster a positive working relationship with colleagues and external stakeholders and to lead and work in multi-disciplinary teams
- The confidence to liaise with senior personnel, legal and other professionals and the ability to represent the organisation externally
- A commitment to the delivery of quality public service
Required Experience, Knowledge and Skills
Candidates, on or before 9th February 2026, must have:
- A qualification of at least Level 7 on the NFQ (or equivalent), in a relevant discipline in STEM (such as IT, Engineering, Data Analytics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Science)
- At least 5 years of experience in an IT infrastructure or operations role, including demonstrable experience in the following criteria as set out in (1) to (4) below:
- IT Operations: Solid background in IT operations, including experience with IT service management (ITSM) frameworks such as ITIL. Skilled in managing IT service desks, overseeing outsourced IT services, and ensuring the smooth operation of IT systems and applications. Knowledge of disaster recovery and business continuity planning.
- Cybersecurity: Strong understanding of cybersecurity principles and practices, including threat detection and mitigation, incident response, security assessments, penetration testing, and vulnerability management. Familiarity with industry standards and frameworks.
- Networking Infrastructure: Experience in implementing and managing networking infrastructure, including switches, firewalls, VPNs, and wireless networks. Experience with network monitoring and troubleshooting tools.
- Technical Skills: Proficiency in server and systems administration. Familiarity with scripting and automation tools is a plus.
Desirable Criteria:
· Vendor Management: Experience in managing relationships with external vendors, including negotiating contracts, monitoring performance, and ensuring service level agreements (SLAs) are met.
· Leadership and Team Management: Proven experience in managing and leading teams, with the ability to motivate and develop staff. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with various stakeholders.
· Project Management: project management skills, with the ability to lead and oversee IT projects from inception to completion. This includes planning, resource allocation, risk management, and stakeholder communication.
· Strong verbal and written communication skills.
· Demonstrable experience of building and effectively managing a wide range of internal and external relationships.
· Demonstrable experience of working under pressure, to tight deadlines, requiring analytical skills and thorough judgement.
· Excellent skills in the planning and organisation of work.
· Excellent IT skills and knowledge of business applications and tools
· Familiarity with Civil Service/Public Service structures and processes, or the ability to quickly acquire same.
How to Apply:
Completed application forms must be uploaded via the portal at https://www.consciatalent.com/fspo no later than 5pm (Irish time) on Monday 9th February 2026.
Applications will not be accepted by any other method, nor if received after the closing date. CV's will not be considered.
When outlining your application, accuracy is essential. The information you supply in your application will play a central part of the selection process.
If you do not receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your application within 24 hours, please check your junk/spam folders as email notifications may be filtered here.
The onus is on each applicant to ensure that they are in receipt of all communication from Conscia Limited. Conscia Limited accept no responsibility for communication not accessed or received by an applicant.
If you have any queries about the role, please contact us at fspo@consciatalent.com
Download Head of IT Operations Career Booklet HERE.pdf
Download Head of IT Operations FSPO - Application Form HERE.docx
