We are retained to appoint a Head of Delivery to help shape and drive the next phase of growth across daa's complex capital programmes in Dublin and Cork. This is a significant client-side opportunity with daa—a global aviation leader with operations across four continents and more than 3,000 employees delivering world-class services to customers worldwide.
The role requires a proven leader with substantial experience delivering large, complex capital programmes. The successful candidate will assume responsibility for managing delivery of the Infrastructure Portfolio
,
including defining—through close collaboration with stakeholders—the best practice frameworks, guidelines, and policies that set the organisation's standard ways of working. They will play a key role in enabling integration and safeguarding the integrity of the infrastructure portfolio.
daa is seeking an individual with strong interpersonal skills, a professional approach, and demonstrable hands-on experience leading the delivery of major construction and infrastructure projects. This experience may have been gained in client, contractor, or consultancy environments, with a preference for brownfield construction. daa is open to relocating international candidates back to Ireland, and the role will be onsite four days per week.
Key Responsibilities
* Define and establish strategies and structures to achieve objectives aligned with daa's current and future capacity needs.
* Lead internal and external teams to ensure the successful delivery of all programmes from inception through completion, including the handover of assets that meet end-user requirements.
* Maintain rigorous oversight of schedule, cost, and quality to ensure safe delivery within approved targets.
* Drive programme delivery performance, set reporting standards, and address deviations from process or best practice.
* Regularly review and evaluate programme performance to ensure alignment with organisational objectives and a strong focus on value creation.
* Prepare monthly board papers and briefings for Senior Leadership on key issues, progress, and performance.
* Partner with the Head of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) to promote the HSE framework and ensure safety remains central to all delivery activities.
* Stay up to date on legislative changes and best practice developments to ensure compliance across all programmes.
* Manage delivery outputs using available resources to meet financial, quality, client satisfaction, and service targets.
* Provide strategic leadership to Programme Directors to ensure all programmes deliver agreed outcomes and benefits.
* Optimise programme delivery across the Infrastructure Portfolio by adjusting resources to meet evolving requirements.
* Implement people management processes and ensure compliance with relevant policies and performance standards.
Desired Skills and Experience
* 20+ years' experience, including at least 10 in a management role, with a track record of leading capital delivery programmes.
* Extensive understanding of capital project and programme delivery and how these integrate within complex operational environments and capital investment plans.
* Strong leadership and management capability, including experience in project management, procurement, contract management, financial management, and change management.
* Experience in planning, governance, and delivery, having managed multiple teams with a focus on setting objectives, priorities, and clear roles and responsibilities.
* Demonstrable experience documenting best practice infrastructure development frameworks, policies, and standards.
* In-depth understanding of the design and delivery requirements of technically complex projects in the architectural, engineering, and construction sectors.
* Proven ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels, driving process improvements to support successful project, programme, and portfolio delivery.