Head of Corporate Affairs (Assistant Secretary)

Head of Corporate Affairs (Assistant Secretary),

Department of Defence

Job summary

The Department of Defence was established by the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 and comprises both civil and military elements. The civil element is headed by the Secretary General who is the principal policy adviser to the Minister for Defence. Defence Forces Headquarters is the military element of the Department and is headed by the Chief of Staff who is the Minister's principal military adviser. The Secretary General is also a member of the Ministerial Council on National Security, an ex-officio member of the External Oversight Body for the Defence Forces and a member of the Advisory Board to the National Shared Services Office (NSSO).

The mission of the Department is to support the Minister through relevant policy advice and implementation, efficient and effective use of resources and management of defence provision for Ireland.

Main Duties of the job

Reporting to the Secretary General, this role at Assistant Secretary level will be headquartered in Newbridge with necessary regular attendance in Dublin and elsewhere as required. The Head of Corporate Affairs has responsibility for the following areas:

• People and Development
• Finance
• Pay and Pensions
• Internal Audit
• Corporate Support
• Communications
• Projects

The person appointed will have:

• A proven track record of achievement as a senior leader in a large, complex organisation, including managing corporate governance, and operational issues, as well as leading change.
• Experience of organisational design and workforce planning, coupled with strongly developed employee engagement skills.
• Experience of the management of significant financial resources and the public financial procedures in a complex and multi-faceted organisation.
• Excellent communication skills with proven experience in managing relationships, with the ability to work effectively, with integrity, within the political process.
• Proven ability to manage, motivate, develop and lead teams to deliver a quality value for money service within tight deadlines.
• Commitment, energy, drive and enthusiasm coupled with vision, resilience and political awareness.
• In-depth knowledge (or the ability to quickly acquire same) of the defence sector.

Information about the Organisation

The Department has 483 Civil Service staff. The overall Defence budget for 2026 is €1.5 bn. The Department also employs 450 civilian employees and civil servants to support Defence Forces' capability in military establishments around the country.

Selection Process Details

This is a Top-Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) position.

Further information on this significant opportunity including details on how to apply, is available on

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 3pm on Thursday 3rd September 2026.

If you feel you would benefit from a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Sandra Cairns at

We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and encourage applications under all nine grounds of the Employment Equality Act.