The National Transport Authority wishes to recruit a suitably experienced and qualified individual to the role of Programme Manager – MetroLink. Successful candidates may be placed on a panel from which future vacancies may be filled.
Duties and Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be responsible for managing, monitoring and liaising with the Sponsoring Agencies in the development and the successful delivery of the NTA's multi-billion-euro metro rail infrastructure investment programme, spanning design, planning, construction and operations.
The cornerstone of the metro investment programme is the MetroLink project, an 18.8km driverless (Grade of Automation 4) metro system travelling from north of Swords through to south city centre in Dublin via Dublin Airport. The route comprises sections of single bore tunnel, open and covered retained cut, and above ground running and will deliver a capacity of up to 20,000 passengers per hour per direction. The MetroLink project received planning approval on 2 October 2025, and preparation of the tender design and procurement packages is currently underway. It is anticipated that the project will enter initial construction phases in 2027 with commencement of passenger services in 2036.
Reporting to the Senior Programme Manager (MetroLink), the primary role of the Programme Manager – MetroLink, in the Metro Investment Section of the Transport Planning and Investment Directorate, is to manage, or assist in the management of, the MetroLink investment project funded by the NTA. This project is being delivered by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) on behalf of the NTA.
The Programme Manager – MetroLink will include managing, monitoring and liaising with the TII and its partners in the development and delivery of the MetroLink project spanning design, planning, procurement, construction and operations.
In addition, the Programme Manager – MetroLink will be required to liaise with other key stakeholders such as NTA internal stakeholders and Government Departments, local authorities and other state agencies in respect of the MetroLink project.
In addition to the MetroLink project, in line with government policy, feasibility studies on the future extension of the MetroLink project will be undertaken over the coming years feeding into the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy.
In addition to the MetroLink project, the role also encompasses engagement across the other areas of transport planning and investment with the NTA's capital investment portfolio ensuring the delivery of an integrated transport system meeting the needs of all users.
The principal duties and responsibilities of the Programme Manager – MetroLink may include some or all of the following
:
* Managing the delivery of the MetroLink project through the various stages of the project life cycle, from concept development to completion of implementation;
* Overseeing and managing the delivery of MetroLink by other agencies;
* Managing assurance and approval processes;
* Undertaking reviews of project designs and project proposals;
* Ensuring project designs and tender documentation meet project requirements;
* Ensuring the project delivers on the benefits in the approved business case and planned outcomes as specified by the NTA;
* Overseeing and co-ordinating internal and external stakeholders;
* Managing and overseeing various consultant disciplines;
* Overseeing and reporting on project and programme expenditure;
* Overseeing the appraisal of MetroLink including reviews of business cases;
* Managing and monitoring a portion of the NTA's overall capital investment budget, ensuring financial accountability for incurred expenditure;
* Ensuring compliance of funded projects with national policies including planning and procurement policies;
* Preparing regular progress / expenditure reports; and
* Taking part in other NTA projects and initiatives as required.
Note
:
The functions and responsibilities initially assigned to the position are based on the current organisational requirements and may be changed from time to time. The person appointed requires the flexibility to fulfil other roles and responsibilities at a similar level within the NTA.
Essential Criteria
Please note: In order to satisfy the shortlisting panel that you meet these criteria you must explicitly reference how you meet same in your application. Failure to demonstrate these may prevent your application progressing to future shortlisting stages.
Each candidate must meet the following requirements at the time of the competition closing:
1. Hold a minimum of an NFQ degree level 7 qualification in a relevant discipline, being engineering or project management or equivalent;
2. Have a minimum of 5 years' satisfactory experience in an engineering or project management focused role, including at least 2 years' satisfactory experience in the area of oversight and management of large rail and/or tunnelling projects (over €500m) in either the private or public sector;
3. Have experience in construction tender documentation preparation for large transport projects;
4. Possess high level of interpersonal and communication skills; and
5. Possess a high standard of technical experience and stakeholder engagement skills.
Desirable Criteria
Please note: Should further shortlisting be required after essential criteria above, a selection of the following may be assessed.
The ideal candidate will also:
1. Have a good knowledge of public service policies, guidelines, services and activities, particularly in the transport area;
2. Have experience in the design development stage, procurement stage and the construction delivery stage of underground rail infrastructure projects, with a strong knowledge of current relevant guidelines and technical specifications;
3. Have experience in development and/or management of NEC contracts and/or contracts which involve private finance such as PPP forms of Contract, or similar;
4. Be able to work within, and contribute positively to, multi-disciplinary teams;
5. Have good analytical skills and a creative approach to problem solving;
6. Be able to work autonomously;
7. Have superior report writing skills together with an ability to produce high quality analysis and reporting; and
8. Have a good level of computer proficiency.
Remuneration
Salary Grade: Engineer Grade II
Salary Scale: €74,701, €76,408, €78,110, €79,821, €81,527, €81,981, €83,662, €85,408, €88,250 (LSI1), €91,100 (LSI2)
Personal Pension Contribution (PPC) rate.
This salary is payable to an individual who is required to make a personal pension contribution (PPC) to their main pension (in general those persons whose initial appointment to the Public Service is on or after 6th April 1995).
€71,072, €72,700, €74,313, €75,941, €77,562, €79,183, €80,798, €82,436, €83,836 (LSI1), €86,539 (LSI2)
Non Personal Pension Contribution (non-PPC) rate.
This salary is payable to an individual who is not required to make a personal pension contribution (PPC) to their main pension scheme.
Annual Leave:
27 days per annum. This leave is on the basis of a five day week and is exclusive of the usual public holidays.
Note:
* entry will be at point 1 of the scale and will not be subject to negotiation;
* different pay and conditions may apply if, immediately prior to appointment the appointee is already a serving Civil Servant or Public Servant;
* the rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.
Contract:
Permanent Contract
Probation:
There is a 6 month probationary period which may at the discretion of the CEO be extended to 10 months.
Selection Process
Prior to completing your application please read the Important Candidate Information Booklet on our careers page here:
How to Apply
Please submit your application in one single word document or PDF referencing the title of the role you wish to apply for in the subject of the email to
with the following:
1. A comprehensive cover letter
outlining why you wish to be considered for the post and where you believe your skills and experience meet the requirements for the role of Programme Manager – MetroLink; and
2. A comprehensive CV (not to exceed 3 pages).
Please note that omission of any or part of the 2 requested documents, as set out above, will render the application incomplete. Incomplete applications will not be considered for the next stage of the selection process.
Closing Date
The closing date and time for applications is strictly 12pm (noon) on 13 February 2026.Applications received after the specified deadline cannot be accepted.
If you do not receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your application within 2 working days of applying, please email