Join to apply for the Director General role at publicjobs.
1 day ago Be among the first 25 applicants
Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.
County: Wexford
Closing Date: 3pm, Thursday, 13th November 2025
About the Employer
The EPA is an independent public body, established under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992. Its sponsor in Government is the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE) and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) also has responsibility for a number of areas of direct relevance to the EPA’s remit.
The purpose of the EPA is “to protect, improve and restore our environment through regulation, scientific knowledge and working with others”. This reflects its three core roles - as an environmental regulator; as a key source of trusted scientific evidence and knowledge; and as a voice for the environment through leadership, advocacy and collaborating and partnering with others to deliver better environmental outcomes.
The EPA is a multi‑functional and multi‑disciplinary organisation with a wide and diverse stakeholder group. With 550 staff it operates from its Headquarters in Wexford and regional inspectorates in Dublin, Cork, Kilkenny, Castlebar and Monaghan together with smaller regional offices in Athlone and Limerick. The budget of the EPA in 2025 is €93 million.
The EPA is managed by a full‑time Executive Board appointed by Government, consisting of a Director General and five Directors. The Board fulfils both the governance and management roles in the organisation.
About the Role
The role of Director General is to lead and strategically manage the EPA, offering the opportunity for the successful candidate to carry out purposeful work in a dynamic organisation that positively impacts on our society and people.
The Director General serves as Chair of the Executive Board and operational chief executive of the EPA and is responsible for the overall running of the Agency. The Director General is accountable to the Oireachtas through the Public Accounts Committee.
This senior position requires the Director General to take responsibility for the overall stewardship and strategic leadership of the EPA. As well as a clear focus on delivering on the EPA’s mandate of protecting, improving, and restoring the environment through regulation, scientific knowledge, and collaboration with others, the Director General will have to lead a process of change and renewal to meet the new operational challenges set by the forthcoming revisions to its governing legislation, as well as ensuring efficient and appropriate decision making processes for interested stakeholders.
The Director General will also set the tone, leading the organisation with a strong culture and values. This includes promoting and demonstrating the organisation’s key values of professional, trustworthy, customer & stakeholder focussed, collaborative and innovative. They will strive to consistently present the EPA, along with its mission, work programmes, and services, in a strong and positive manner to stakeholders.
About You
Potential candidates should have:
* An appropriate qualification (minimum NFQ Level 8) in Science, Engineering or in another relevant discipline.
* Significant knowledge and experience in relation to environmental and/or radiological protection matters.
* Significant experience as an effective leader of change and development in an organisation.
* Significant experience leading operational improvements as a senior manager in a medium/large complex organisation, including through digitisation and have a knowledge of, or capacity to quickly acquire, a broad understanding of the EPA’s wide‑ranging responsibilities.
* Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and communication skills; interacting positively, collaboratively, and effectively with a wide range of regulatory agencies and public and private stakeholders.
* Sound judgement, decision making, analysis and an ability to analyse complex issues.
* The ability to set and drive the strategic direction of the EPA while balancing that strategic focus over the longer term with delivering at pace.
* Strong Corporate Governance experience including the ability to oversee the proper expenditure of a large budget.
Please note, this post requires a high level of personal commitment and may require frequent work outside normal working hours. It may also require frequent overnight travel. This vacancy offers the opportunity for the successful candidate to carry out purposeful work that makes a difference and impacts on our society and people.
We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and encourage applications under all nine grounds of the Employment Equality Act.
Seniority level
* Director
Employment type
* Full‑time
Job function
* Management
Industries
* Government Administration and Environmental Services
#J-18808-Ljbffr