Head of Enterprise

Kilkenny County Council

About Kilkenny County Council

Kilkenny County Council provides services to a population of over 103,000 citizens in County Kilkenny in areas of housing, roads, transportation, planning, environment, economic and community development, tourism, libraries, fire and emergency response, parks, amenities, heritage, arts and water services.

We have over 750 employees and can offer exciting careers across our services in various roles such as engineering, technical, financial, management, administration, library services, fire services and general services. Our headquarters are in Kilkenny City and we have area offices throughout the county.

The Council operates within an annual revenue budget of €129.4 million and a multi-annual six-year capital budget of €1,015 million. The Local Authority has a broad remit in the business and economic development area, with a focus on supporting and encouraging economic activity and jobs growth in the County.

An opportunity now exists in Kilkenny County Council for the position of Head of Enterprise.

Job Summary

A vacancy currently exists in Kilkenny County Council for Head of Enterprise. Reporting to the Director of Service, this is a senior role within the broad Economic Development function of the Local Authority.

Kilkenny has a rich culture of entrepreneurship and a thriving business community, with key strengths in agri-food, creative industries, engineering, financial services, tourism and retail industries locally.

The Head of Enterprise will work to ensure an ‘enterprise-friendly’ county for companies and individuals setting up or expanding their businesses and will lead a team to support enterprise and economic development.

The successful candidate will lead a team charged with delivering a high-standard quality system of coordinated and cohesive State support to the small business sector.

This is a key position within the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) structure of the Local Authority. The successful candidate will be required to make a significant contribution to the development and implementation of a strategic plan to support enterprise, entrepreneurship and job creation at a local level.

Success will be measured by ensuring that the LEO serves as a First Stop Shop, providing services to start, grow and develop micro and small businesses in the local area.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The Head of Enterprise will:

• Lead the development and implementation of Kilkenny County Council’s Local Enterprise Development Plan for the Local Authority, supporting enterprise at local level in line with national Government policy objectives and commitments on enterprise, entrepreneurship and job creation.

• Lead a team to achieve key enterprise and economic development objectives in the Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP).

• Support the ongoing implementation, monitoring and review of the LECP.

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the Local Enterprise Office (LEO).

• Deliver all commitments between Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authority, together with any protocols involving other Government Departments and State Agencies.

• Support the development of an enterprise-friendly environment for companies and individuals establishing or expanding businesses in County Kilkenny.

• Lead and support a team delivering coordinated and cohesive State support to the small business sector.

• Contribute to the strategic development of enterprise, entrepreneurship and local job creation.

Further details of the role and a full list of duties are available in the official Candidate Information Booklet.

Salary and Benefits

The salary scale, effective from 1 June 2026, is:

Working hours: Not less than 35 gross hours per week. Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time.

Annual leave: 30 days.

Contract Details

• Contract: Permanent

• Working pattern: Full-time

• Role type: Local Authority

• Grade: Head of Enterprise

• Location: Kilkenny County Council, County Kilkenny, Ireland

Selection Process

A ranking and/or shortlisting exercise may be carried out on the basis of the information supplied in the application form.

The criteria for ranking and/or shortlisting will be based on the requirements of the post, as outlined in the eligibility criteria and the skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of the job specification.

Applicants should ensure that they clearly demonstrate their relevant experience in relation to these requirements. Failure to include relevant information may result in an applicant not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.

How to Apply

For further information and to apply, please visit:

https://bit.ly/PMJ_Ad_HEKCC

The Candidate Information Booklet is available through the official vacancy page.

Equal Opportunities

Kilkenny County Council is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and encourages applications under all nine grounds of the Employment Equality Act.

Local authorities are committed to being equal opportunities employers.

Vacancy ID: 9789

Closing date: Thursday 19 November 2026 at 3:00pm.