Assistant Director Programme Development

Division – Capital Investments
Location – Dublin
Salary –nDOE

The Assistant Director Programme Development is responsible for leading the development of major, complex and strategically significant capital projects, including significant third party funded schemes, through the early and intermediate stages of the project lifecycle. Reporting directly to the Development and Design Director, the post holder sets the strategic direction for and takes forward early scheme development outputs produced under the Director Development and Design and advances them through detailed option refinement, business case progression, planning, design assurance and delivery readiness.

The hands-on leadership role ensures that large and complex projects are shaped, governed and developed to the highest standards, enabling a smooth and fully assured transition into the construction phase under the Delivery Director. This position provides senior leadership across multiple multidisciplinary teams, both internal and external to Capital Investments, ensuring that programme development is robust, compliant, strategically aligned and capable of securing funding, approvals and stakeholder confidence.

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 as envisaged under the All Island Strategic Rail Review.

Essential Requirements

Experienced hands-on senior leader with a strong background leading and managing multidisciplinary teams in rail infrastructure development, transport planning, major capital programmes or public‑sector project development.
Proven track record in early‑phase project leadership, optioneering, planning, construction phasing and stakeholder engagement for large scale and/or complex projects.
Strong understanding of public‑sector governance, funding, procurement and assurance processes (DoT, NTA, DPER).
Exceptional communication, analytical and negotiation 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 at the most senior levels
Experience in developing delivery strategies across phases focussed on development, design and delivery.
Proven experience to effectively lead, motivate, manage and optimise the performance of internal and external teams across multiple locations.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.

Desirable

Excellent change management, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
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.
Experience working with government departments, regulators or funding bodies.
Knowledge of sustainability, climate adaptation and environmental assessment requirements for major infrastructure projects.

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.