Director of Services

Fingal County Council

About the Organisation

Fingal is a highly attractive place to live, work, visit and do business. It comprises a geographical area of 450 sq. km, stretching from Balbriggan in the north, to Blanchardstown in the west and to Howth in the east.

The area is defined by the diversity of its landscape and settlement patterns, with rural, urban and suburban locations all rolled into one county. There are 88 km of coastline, three large, protected estuaries and salt marsh habitats, and 13 major beaches.

Fingal County Council is one of the county’s major local employers and currently employs approximately 1,600 staff.

The Council is mandated to deliver a diverse range of functions and services, which can be broadly described under the headings of:

• The provision of physical and social infrastructure

• Housing

• Economic and tourism development

• Community development

• Recreation and amenity services

• Management of the planning and environmental regulatory framework

The role of the County Council, as provided for in law, is to represent, lead and serve the communities of Fingal.

An opportunity now exists in Fingal County Council for the position of Director of Services.

Job Summary / Description

Reporting to the Chief Executive, the Director will be expected to fulfil a key leadership role in the Local Authority, with responsibility for the delivery of programmes and functions and services of the Local Authority.

The role involves considerable engagement and consensus-building with Elected Members, staff and other external stakeholders.

In addition, the Director provides policy support and advice for members of the Strategic Policy Committees, the Local Community Development Committee and any other relevant Committees.

In the current economic climate, senior managers are charged with service delivery and change management in an environment of limited resource availability, both human and financial.

Delivery of efficient services and value for money is crucial, as is the management and motivation of staff.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The Director of Services will be expected to:

• Understand the workings of local government and its role as the second tier of government within the county.

• Contribute, as a member of the senior management team, to the development and delivery of a long-term vision for the county that promotes the physical, social, cultural and economic environment in an integrated way.

• Lead, manage and motivate a team to deliver on the particular functional areas and programmes within their remit, ensuring a strong focus on the delivery of results.

• Initiate, develop and drive appropriate change programmes that can enhance the range and quality of services.

• Engage and build consensus with Elected Members, staff and external stakeholders.

• Provide policy support and advice to members of the Strategic Policy Committees, the Local Community Development Committee and other relevant Committees.

• Support efficient service delivery and value for money while managing available human and financial resources.

A full list of duties and responsibilities is 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

• Grade: Director of Services

• Contract: Permanent

• Working pattern: Full-time

• Role type: Local Authority

• Location: Fingal County Council, County Dublin, Ireland

• Vacancy ID: 9596

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 carefully consider their experience in light of these requirements. Failure to include information regarding these requirements 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, visit:

https://bit.ly/PMJ_Ad_DOSFCC

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

Equal Opportunities

Fingal 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.

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