The Work

Executive Officers are employed in all Government Departments and Agencies, covering a wide range of functional responsibilities in areas such as health, education, finance and international affairs, amongst others. The Executive Officer role is the entry level to junior management within the Civil Service.

As an Executive Officer, you can expect to have the opportunity to grow your career through a wide variety of roles and responsibilities across the Civil Service. An Executive Officer can be placed in any Government Department and may be involved in everything from researching and drafting proposals relating to policy issues and legislation to acting as a junior manager on key strategic projects. You may also deal directly with the public in providing support to the people of Ireland.

Executive Officers cover a wide range of roles and activities such as:

• Drafting proposals relating to policy issues and legislation.
• Managing junior staff members in government departments.
• Dealing directly with the public in providing public services.
• Many other activities such as finance, communications, public information and human resources.

In the role of Executive Officer, you can expect to advance your personal skills with plenty of opportunities for learning and development through a range of high-quality mentoring programmes and internal training initiatives. This will help you gain the skills needed to progress your career and succeed in a fast-paced and results-oriented role in the Public Service.

Further Information

• Civil Service - Executive Officer - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Civil Service - Executive Officer - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Civil Service - Executive Officer - from: GradIreland

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

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.

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.

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.

Recruitment of Executive Officers takes place through the Public Appointments Service.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 entry requirements for this grade are typically a minimum of Leaving Certificate level.You might also find it useful to look at the competency framework for this level.

Further details of the particular skills and requirements for this role can be found in the Information Booklet for each campaign at this level. An example of an Information Booklet for a recent campaign can be found here.

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

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €35k - €60k

Executive officer (PPC)

Executive officer (PPC)
35,687 – 37,589 – 38,663 – 40,759 – 42,638 – 44,455 – 46,266 – 48,039 – 49,830 – 51,581 – 53,440 – 54,685 – 56,461¹ – 58,251²

Executive officer higher scale (PPC)
38,663 – 40,759 – 42,638 – 44,455 – 46,266 – 48,039 – 49,830 – 51,581 – 53,440 – 54,685 – 56,461 – 57,792 – 59,126 – 60,462

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

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The changes in classification as a result of the introduction of the new Labour Force Survey in 2017 are partly responsible for the strong employment growth rate for this occupation, although employment also grew strongly between 2019 and 2020, and continued to grow in 2022. Those employed are primarily female (69%), working full-time (90%), and over half (55%) held third-level qualifications. With a higher than average share of persons employed aged 55 years and older (31% compared to 19% for all occupations), replacement demand is likely to result in opportunities opening up for these roles even if employment growth slows.

There was a significant number of vacancies advertised online for clerical officer roles across the civil service and Government administration roles. However, recent job hires for 2022 far exceeded employment growth indicating that job churn is a feature of this occupation. While job openings are set to continue, 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

  • Chapter House, 26/30 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1, D01 C7W6
  • (01) 858 7400 or Local: 1890 44 9999
  • [email protected]
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