The Irish government has formally launched the recruitment process for the newly vacant position of Executive Chairman at the Central Applications Office (CIU), marking a key step in refreshing senior leadership for the country’s third-level education admissions system.
Officials confirmed on Wednesday that the position, which carries a six-year fixed-term contract and an annual salary range of €124,000 to €138,000, is now open to external and internal candidates across Ireland. The government has published full recruitment advertisements on national public service job boards and major national media outlets, inviting qualified professionals with extensive leadership experience in public administration, education governance or related sectors to submit applications before the closing deadline in mid-October 2024.
The CIU, the independent statutory body responsible for overseeing the centralized application process for undergraduate courses at Irish universities and institutes of technology, has faced growing pressure in recent years to modernize its digital admissions systems and reduce processing backlogs amid rising applicant numbers. The newly appointed Executive Chairman will be tasked with leading the organization through its planned five-year modernization program, improving service delivery for thousands of annual prospective students, and overseeing governance reforms to align the body with new public sector accountability standards.
A spokesperson for the Department of Further and Higher Education emphasized that the open recruitment process is designed to attract the strongest possible candidates from across professional sectors, rather than relying on internal appointments. “This open advertisement ensures we follow best practice in public sector senior recruitment, bringing fresh perspective and strategic leadership to a critical role that supports Ireland’s higher education system,” the spokesperson said.
The successful candidate will be expected to take up the position by early 2025, following the completion of interview and security vetting processes overseen by the Public Appointments Service.