Acting Director

Introduction

This is an internal Expression of Interest competition and is open only to eligible NCRI employees.

Following the conclusion of the Director's term and receipt of Department of Health and DPER approval for an interim appointment, the Board of NCRI is seeking expressions of interest from eligible internal candidates for appointment as Interim CEO (Acting Director).

This is a time-bound interim measure to ensure continuity of leadership and governance pending completion of an open recruitment process.

The acting-up appointment will remain in place for a period of up to six months or until a substantive CEO/Director is appointed, whichever occurs first.

Eligibility

This Expression of Interest is open to all current NCRI employees who have successfully completed their probation period and who can demonstrate that they possess the qualifications, experience, skills and competencies necessary to undertake the duties of the Interim CEO (Acting Director) role.

The Interim CEO (Acting Director) will report directly to the Board and assume core governance and leadership functions, with the SMT continuing to collectively manage operational delivery.

The Interim, CEO (Acting Director) will:
• Provide executive leadership and coordination during the transition
• Maintain continuity of governance and decision-making
• Act as primary contact with the Department of Health
• Support recruitment and handover to the incoming Director

Selection Criteria

Applications will be assessed having regard to:

• relevant leadership experience;
• performance at current grade;
• demonstration of the required competencies;
• readiness to perform at Director level;
• organisational impact and succession arrangements.

Key Competencies

Candidates should demonstrate the following:

• Leadership & Team Management
  Ability to provide clear leadership and direction to the Senior Management Team, maintaining stability, focus, and collaboration during the transition period.
• Governance & Decision-Making
  Strong understanding of governance, with the ability to operate effectively in a Board-led environment and make sound, timely decisions.
• Stakeholder Engagement
  Proven ability to engage and build effective relationships with key stakeholders, including the Board, the Department of Health, and external partners.
• Communication & Influence
  Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present clearly, influence at a senior level, and represent the organisation effectively.
• Delivery & Dual Responsibility Management
  Capacity to maintain oversight of organisational delivery while continuing to effectively manage and deliver the responsibilities associated with their substantive role.

Salary

The appointment will be remunerated in accordance with the DPER sanction and the NCRI Acting Up Policy. The successful candidate will remain in their substantive post and, where applicable, will receive a Higher Duties Allowance calculated in accordance with Department of Finance Circular 38/2007 and the NCRI Acting Up Policy. The approved remuneration level for the Interim CEO role is Director level, comprising the Principal Officer (Higher) scale and Director's Allowance as sanctioned by DPER..

Conditions of Assignment
• The role will be based in the NCRI Cork office.
• The successful candidate will retain their substantive role, with acting up arrangements applying for the duration of the assignment
• The candidate will be based in the NCRI Cork office, subject to current hybrid arrangements
• The acting up arrangement will remain in place until the appointment of the incoming NCRI CEO/ Director

This arrangement will be reviewed by the Board of NCRI after three months to ensure that it is meeting the expectations of both parties
• In the event of the successful candidate's service not being satisfactory the acting up arrangement will cease, and the individual will return to his or her substantive role within the NCRI,
• At the end of the period of acting up the successful candidate will return to his or her substantive role within the NCRI.

Application Procedure:

To apply for this role please complete the Digital Application Form and ensure that all questions are answered,

Closing date for receipt of Expression of Interest is 5pm Tuesday 14th July 2026.