Working Life

Principal Officers are key participants in the top management of the Civil and Public Service, who generally have responsibility for managing a major policy development, business planning or service delivery unit within their Department.

Some of the specific duties and responsibilities you may have in this role include:

• Formulating and developing policies, business plans and expenditure budgets.
• Providing advice on emerging policy proposals to Assistant Secretaries, Secretaries General, Ministers and Government.
• Preparing legislation and providing expert advice to Ministers and members of the Oireachtas.
• Monitoring policy formulation, strategy, legislative and regulatory development of a range of state, semi-state, private sector and national organisations.
• Representing the State on EU, Anglo-Irish and Cross-Border bodies and participating at meetings of international organisations where decisions reached may be of vital importance to Irish economic and social well-being.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

 Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

 Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Principals Officers are recruited both internally as a progression step up through the Civil Service, and externally, through open competition via the Public Appointments Service [PAS] www.publicjobs.ie.

Full details of the specific [PAS] competency requirements for Principal Officer are available here.

• Have significant management experience, including leading teams and managing resources at an appropriate scale and senior level
• Have significant experience of some or all of the following: project management, managing budgets and strategic management including relevant experience of strategy/policy development
• Demonstrate that they possess the skills/competencies identified as being important for the role.

Third level educational qualifications in relevant discipline(s) commensurate with this role would be a decided advantage.

Steps to applying:

1. Apply online at Publicjobs.ie before closing date.
2. Online Assessment Questionnaire.
3. Interview.

 Professional Development 

The Civil Service strongly encourages its staff to further their education and improve their qualifications. A scheme providing for the refund of fees for third level courses is in place and paid study leave is allowed for staff attending such courses. On-the-job training also plays an important role in enabling employees to maximise their potential.  

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €95k - €127k

Salary will be based on Public Appointments service- Civil service scale. Scales will depend on date of entry to Civil service.  

Principal higher
103,142 – 107,395 – 111,663 – 115,917 – 119,553 – 123,381¹ – 127,206²

Principal
95,842 – 99,902 – 103,939 – 108,011 – 111,439 – 114,998¹ – 118,548²

Data Source(s):
Gov.ie/ PAS/ Forsa

Last Updated: July, 2024

Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: National government administrative occupations, Local government administrative occupations, Officers of non-governmental organisations.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2024).

The strong employment growth rate for this occupation relates mainly to growth between 2020 and 2021, with employment levels falling by 7,000 since 2022. Despite this there was a relatively high level of recent job hires for this occupation in 2023, and it also featured strongly in online job adverts (Eurostat/CEDEFOP) data. At 59%, this occupation had the highest share with third level qualifications across the group potentially leading to a level of skills mismatches.

Job openings are likely to continue, particularly given the size of the occupation and the slightly higher than average share of older workers. Upskilling and reskilling may also be required for those already employed in these occupations in order to reach targets set out in the Civil Service Renewal Plan 2024 in areas such as in digital skills.

• Public Appointments Service

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