Director of Capital Projects Funding, Delivery and Governance

SOLAS is seeking to recruit a Director of Capital Projects Funding, Delivery and Governance to lead the assessment, funding, delivery and governance of Further Education and Training capital projects, working in partnership with the sixteen Education and Training Boards, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Grangegorman Development Agency. The Director will provide strategic leadership across the full capital project lifecycle, from the initial assessment of funding proposals through appraisal, approval, procurement and delivery to post completion review. The postholder will make recommendations and decisions, as appropriate, on project selection and decision-gate approvals in line with the Infrastructure Guidelines, while recognising the statutory functions of ETBs and their Chief Executives as accountable officers. The role will oversee a diverse portfolio including FET college major capital projects, the Strategic Infrastructure Upgrade Programme, apprenticeship capital, the emergency health and safety programme of work, the minor works programme, along with devolved capital programmes. This is a senior Director-level role requiring strong governance, commercial judgement, programme leadership and stakeholder and relationship management. The successful candidate will provide the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Leadership Team with clear assurance on delivery, expenditure, risk, compliance, quality, value for money and decisions required. The successful candidate will be a key member of the senior leadership team, contributing to the mission and strategic direction of SOLAS and supporting the effective delivery of capital investment across the FET sector. Key Responsibilities Capital programme leadership and delivery - Provide SOLAS leadership in the planning and delivery of FET capital projects across the relevant funding streams in line with agreed schedules, the Infrastructure Guidelines and associated governance agreements. - Work collaboratively with ETBs to oversee the full project lifecycle, including appraisal, project selection, decision-gate approvals, design, statutory processes, procurement, construction, completion and post-project review. - Provide recommendations and decisions, as appropriate, in relation to project selection, prioritisation and progression through approval gateways. - Ensure that project decisions are timely, evidence-based and aligned with SOLAS strategy, business plan objectives and agreed sectoral priorities. - Provide oversight of and support ETBs in the planning, procurement and delivery of major and minor capital projects. - Embed the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate across SOLAS and the FET system through governance, policy alignment, and compliance monitoring - Advance implementation of the Decarbonisation Strategy. Governance, assurance and compliance - Develop and implement programme and project governance structures with DFHERIS, the Grangegorman Development Agency and ETBs, ensuring clarity of roles, responsibilities, accountabilities and decision-making arrangements. - Lead the development of a detailed understanding of DFHERIS and SOLAS oversight requirements and monitor compliance by SOLAS and ETBs throughout the project lifecycle. - Prepare and present Board papers for capital project approvals by the SOLAS Board and provide regular progress updates to the Board throughout the year. - Ensure a strong governance, assurance and value-for-money approach is applied to all project and funding decisions. - Establish and maintain effective programme risk, issue, dependency, change-control and escalation arrangements. - Ensure appropriate compliance monitoring is completed so that projects are procured and delivered in accordance with applicable requirements, while recognising the statutory roles and responsibilities of ETB Chief Executives and their teams. - Promote good practice in project and programme planning and delivery, including appraisal, design, procurement, health and safety, construction quality and benefits realisation. Financial and performance oversight - Lead active monitoring and reporting of in-year and multi-year programme expenditure, budgets, costs and progress against agreed schedules. - Ensure robust expenditure profiling, forecasting and oversight of financial and delivery controls. - Provide regular, accurate and concise reports to the SOLAS Board, the CEO, Executive Leadership Team and DFHERIS, ensuring that material risks and issues are escalated promptly with practical options for resolution. - Lead the preparation of reports, recommendations, Board papers, briefing material and presentations. Stakeholder engagement and representation - Work closely with ETBs,DFHERIS and GDA on the development and implementation of capital plans for the FET sector. - Build and maintain effective relationships with external organisations and agencies involved in capital delivery. - Chair project team meetings and represent SOLAS at liaison committees, quarterly governance meetings with DFHERIS and other key project and programme fora. - Manage complex stakeholder relationships in a credible, constructive and solution-focused manner, protecting the integrity and reputation of SOLAS. External advisers, design and delivery inputs - Lead the procurement and active performance management of external multidisciplinary advisers, including clear assignment of deliverables, ongoing communication and reporting. - Manage the preparation and delivery of all SOLAS and adviser inputs required throughout the project lifecycle. - Work with ETBs to oversee the design process, including the statutory applications required to support delivery of projects at ETB level. Leadership and management - Lead the capital team in providing effective support to ETBs in accordance with the terms and conditions of funding. - Lead and manage staff assigned to the function, setting clear priorities and supporting performance, development and effective deployment of resources. - Engage actively with the SOLAS senior management team on resource planning and the development and delivery of SOLAS strategy and business plan objectives. - Contribute as a senior leader to the wider development of SOLAS and perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time. Person Specification The person selected for this Director post will have a leadership role in managing results and delivering to high standards. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate: - Senior management experience in leading complex capital, infrastructure or major programme portfolios in a public sector or similarly governed environment; - A strong record of achievement in the appraisal, funding, governance and delivery of major and minor capital projects; - Knowledge of, or the capacity to acquire quickly, a strong working understanding of the FET sector, the ETB operating environment and SOLAS's statutory mandate; - Demonstrable experience of programme and project governance, risk and issue management, financial oversight, procurement, assurance and value-for-money decision-making; - The ability to interpret and apply public capital appraisal, infrastructure, procurement and governance requirements; - Excellent judgement, strategic thinking and decision-making capability in complex and pressurised situations; - The ability to engage, influence and negotiate effectively with senior internal and external stakeholders; - A proven ability to build trusted relationships and work collaboratively across organisational boundaries; - Strong leadership and people-management capability, including the ability to set priorities, manage performance and develop teams; - Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the preparation of high-quality reports, recommendations, Board papers and presentations; - The capacity to contribute to the overall strategic direction of SOLAS as a member of the senior leadership team; and - Strong ICT capability and confidence in the use of programme, project, financial and reporting information. It is highly desirable that the successful candidate has at least five years' relevant experience at a sufficiently senior level. Applicants should also demonstrate the capabilities required at Director level, with reference to specific achievements and the relevant publicjobs capability framework for a Principal Officer-level post. A relevant qualification in capital project delivery, construction, engineering, quantity surveying, architecture, programme or project management, public administration or a related discipline is desirable but not essential. Secondment requests from across the public sector will be considered. This is a temporary 3 year position for which the salary scale ranges from €108,152 to €133,775 per annum (inclusive of two long service increments) for a 35-hour week. Starting pay will be at the minimum point of the scale as per Government Circular E100/8/82. Exceptional circumstances may apply for candidates with current service in the Civil/Public service. SOLAS offers an excellent benefit package including a contributory pension scheme and the opportunity for further training and development. Applications, using the SOLAS Application Form, quoting reference number 653, should be e-mailed to recruitment@solas.ie. Please complete the application form as specified. CVs will not be accepted. The closing date is 12pm, Monday, 02 November 2026 at 12.00pm (Noon) SOLAS is an equal opportunity employer. SOLAS welcomes people with diverse and underrepresented backgrounds to apply. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process, please reach out to us on recruitment@solas.ie. Canvassing will disqualify.