Job Title:
Director of Digital and ICT
Employer:
An Garda Síochána
County:
Dublin
Closing Date:
3pm, Thursday, 11th September 2025
Starting Salary:
€114,104
About the Employer:
An Garda Síochána is the national police and security service of Ireland, comprised of approximately 14,200 Garda Members and 3,700 Garda Staff. An Garda Síochána is a community focused organisation with a mission of 'Keeping People Safe'. With a dual role and responsibility for the provision of policing services, and protecting the security of the State, An Garda Síochána is committed to delivering a responsive, effective and efficient service, that meets the needs of our communities.
The organisation was established over 100 years ago at the inception of the state, and has a proud history of delivering community policing. In order to build upon this strong foundation, An Garda Síochána must continue to evolve, responding as a modern police and security service to the changing face of crime, vulnerability, population and citizen expectation.
An Garda Síochána is charged with delivering on key commitments made within the Programme for Government. In support of such, the organisation is growing at scale, with the effective use of Garda resources and capabilities a key area focus.
An Garda Síochána has most recently delivered on a significant organisational transformation programme, in the context of "A Policing Service for Our Future". Further far reaching change is well underway, including; the completion of the Divisional Operating Model rollout and commencement of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act The latter provides for the Commissioner as Chief Executive of the organisation, further strengthens governance and accountability, introduces new regulations and supporting policy, in addition to a new employment model for Garda Staff.
About the Role:
The Head of Digital and ICT is a Director level senior management position in An Garda Síochána. Reporting to the Chief Information Officer (CIO), the person appointed will have overall responsibility for the Digital and ICT portfolio.
The Director of Digital and ICT will:
• Manage the significant Garda technology infrastructure estate, maintaining optimal resilience and security, commensurate with An Garda Síochána's roles and responsibilities;
• Develop and implement the Digital and Technology and Strategy for An Garda Síochána, aligned to the Organisation's ambitious strategies and plans;
• Lead the delivery of the Information Technology and Digital Roadmap and multi-year plans, continuously re-evaluating to ensure alignment with organisational priorities and the delivery of business value;
• Facilitate the transformation of the enabling corporate functions through the selection and implementation of modern digital technology solutions that will radically improve the efficiency of these functions and the internal employee experience;
• Consult and engage with key internal and external stakeholders to ensure that the strategies and roadmaps developed and the solutions delivered meet the current and future needs of a modern policing and security service;
• Partner with key internal stakeholders including the Strategy and Transformation teams to ensure that change is effectively planned and delivered;
• Build the capacity and capability of the Information and Communications Technology teams through workforce planning, effective performance and development planning and talent acquisition;
• Manage significant capital and operating expenditure, tracking expenditure, ensuring optimal use of resources and delivering value for money;
• Manage the governance processes associated with the Information and Communications Technology function, including oversight of programme delivery through key governance forums and the effective management of risk;
• Develop the required Digital and ICT policies and procedures, critical to enhancing the organisations products and services;
• Stay abreast of emerging trends and advise the Senior Leadership Team on new and emerging technologies and digital transformation opportunities;
• Source and manage best in class partners and vendors, aligned to public procurement guidelines;
• Build good working relationships and influence across the wider Government and Public Service senior technology sphere, developing opportunities for collaboration and integration and more generally contributing to the digital transformation of the public sector.
About You:
The suitable candidate should have a third level qualification (minimum Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications or equivalent) in Information Technology, Computer Science or a related discipline.
AND
• Significant Information Technology experience at a senior level in a large organisation including senior stakeholder engagement and managing resources at a senior management level.
The successful candidate must also have:
• Direct experience of accountability for enterprise scale mission critical systems – 24x7, high rate of change and essential to real time operations.
• Expertise in information technology strategy development and planning of emerging technologies and expertise of leading significant digitally enabled change programmes and projects.
• Direct responsibility for the successful delivery of multiple large scale ICT solutions.
• Proven ability to manage and influence demanding and complex business stakeholder networks.
• Significant vendor management experience, gained from working with a variety of Information Technology vendors.
• Significant financial budget management experience – capital and operating expenditure.
• Solid experience in developing and implementing technology strategies in a data rich environment.
• Expert knowledge and experience of the governance structures needed to manage a large and complex portfolio of Information Technology projects.
The Closing Date for this competition is Thursday, 11th of September at 3pm.
We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and encourage applications under all nine grounds of the Employment Equality Act.