Working Life

As a Higher Executive Officer, you will be a key member of the middle management team and report to and support an Assistant Principal in achieving the goals of the organisation. This grade is basically the same as a ‘Team Manager’ where people management skills will play a major role.

In this position, you will advise and interact with senior management in respect of their areas of responsibility and play a central role in driving organisational change. To succeed in this role, it is essential that you have experience in managing and leading teams, delivering projects, managing budgets and developing or implementing policy.

As a Higher Executive Officer, depending on the specific position, you could expect to advance your personal skills in a wide range of different ways, and you could have the opportunity to up-skill and develop yourself professionally through high-quality training programmes, mentoring and internal training initiatives. This will assist you in developing the skills and knowledge required to succeed in a fast-paced and results-oriented role in the Public Service.

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.

The Higher Executive Officer (HEO) grade is the highest level to which staff are regularly recruited to general administrative grades of the civil service. From this grade, employees often progress to more senior roles over the course of their career.

On appointment, HEO’s are assigned to a government department/office, such as education, health, social welfare, tourism or finance.

Details of all current competitions are made available on https://www.publicjobs.ie/en/ . Applicants will be required to undergo the selection procedures as set out for the particular competition.

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.  

Steps to applying:

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

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €55k - €72k

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

Higher executive officer (PPC)
55,996 – 57,633 – 59,267 – 60,900 – 62,539 – 64,170 – 65,806 – 68,167¹ – 70,522²

Higher executive officer higher scale (PPC)
59,267 – 60,900 – 62,539 – 64,170 – 65,806 – 68,167 – 69,713 – 71,263 – 72,816

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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