Assistant Director, Head of Business Improvement
Division - Capital Investments
Location - Dublin
Salary - DOE
The Assistant Director Head of Business Improvement (Capital Investments) is the senior leader responsible for driving organisational effectiveness, digital transformation and information led decision making across the Capital Investments Division. This strategic role provides leadership for business improvement, systems optimisation and the development of a modern, integrated information environment capable of supporting a €1bn+ per annum capital portfolio.
The post holder will provide hands-on leadership to Capital Investments managers and professional staff in the transformation of Capital Investments business processes, systems, data standards and ways of working across Capital Investments, ensuring that project teams, senior leaders and external partners operate within a coherent, efficient and future‑ready operating model. The role also provides strategic oversight of the Digital & Information function, ensuring that Common Data Environments, project information models and digital platforms are deployed, governed and continuously improved by the teams involved in these areas at programme/project and portfolio levels.
This is a senior internal and external facing role requiring significant engagement with the Capital Investments Senior Leadership Team as well as the Irish Rail Executive Group, external funding bodies, senior government stakeholders and industry partners to ensure alignment, sponsorship, prioritisation and delivery of the Capital Investments transformation agenda.
Essential Requirements
- Strong leadership skills, with the vision and ability to establish cross-functional relationships and drive cultural / organisational change across multiple teams in Capital Investments
- Exceptional interpersonal skills, possessing the ability to interact and maintain credibility with people at all levels within the organization up to and including Executive Group and Board level as well as with industry stakeholders
- Significant experience of leading and managing matrix teams across complex business improvement / Transformation programmes.
- Comprehensive skills in leading a customer service orientated organisation / business
- Expertise in navigating stakeholder relationships and maintaining effective communication channels across diverse teams.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
Desirable
- Excellent change management, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Proven experience to effectively lead, motivate, manage and optimise the performance of teams across multiple locations.
- Expert level analytical and quantitative skills with proven experience in developing strategic solutions with the ability to develop collaborative relationships both internally and externally to achieve business results and improve outcomes.
- Certification in project management, digital information management or CDE platforms.
- Experience developing asset information strategies or Digital Twin initiatives.
- Experience working with government departments, regulators or funding bodies.
A competency-based interview will form part of this selection process. Candidates may be shortlisted on the basis of their application/CV and relevant experience.
If any applicants have special requirements, please advise Shared Services when forwarding your application.
If you are interested in applying for this role, applications including CV and cover letter should be forwarded to: sharedservicesrecruit@irishrail.ie by 4pm Friday 7th August 2026.
At Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail we are committed to embedding diversity and inclusion in all that we do. This starts with how we recruit people. It is important to us that all individuals feel welcome to join our organisation and we take great care to ensure an even playing field for all.
We will strive to provide reasonable accommodation to all candidates where required and requested.
We are an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, ethnicity, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression or disability.