Business and Operations Apprentice

Role Overview:

As a Business and Operations Apprentice, you will earn as you learn and gain a recognised qualification alongside practical hands-on experience working for one of a variety of Civil Service organisations.

Whether you are school leaver, starting out in your career, looking to upskill, or change career, this apprenticeship may be for you. The comprehensive teaching and learning experience will lay a strong foundation for long-term career growth in the Civil Service.

As a Business and Operations Apprentice, you will improve your skills and knowledge in areas such as:

• improving operational delivery and business performance,

• budgeting and financial management,

• providing quality customer service to the public,

• project management and evaluating performance,

• the use of technology and data to improve processes,

• human resources and talent management.

Throughout the programme, you will also build your understanding of how public services are delivered, engage with a variety of business functions, and improve your digital and leadership capabilities in a changing world of work.

For the English language stream, positions are available in Dublin, Kildare, Laois and Leitrim.

Some of the positions available in this competition will provide an opportunity for suitable candidates to develop their Irish skills further, through an Irish language stream in the following locations: Donegal (Gaoth Dobhair) and Galway (Na Forbacha). You will find out more about the Irish language stream later in this booklet.

Candidates who successfully complete their apprenticeship will be given the opportunity to continue to develop their career at Executive Officer level, which is the entry grade to junior management in the Civil Service.

Why not take this exciting opportunity to join us and to earn while you learn?

Who should apply?

We are looking for people who are enthusiastic about learning new skills, making positive changes to society, and seeking to kick-start a career in the Civil Service.

Are you someone who:

• wants to Earn as you Learn, gaining a recognised qualification while working in a supportive environment?

• is enthusiastic, adaptable and eager to develop new skills?

• holds a strong commitment to public service, with a desire to contribute positively to society?

• is a good communicator who enjoys collaborating as part of a team or project group?

• is motivated by challenge and driven to overcome obstacles?

• is driven to create meaningful, positive change?

For the Irish language stream, are you someone who:

• is eager to provide Irish language or bilingual services to the public?

• wants to develop your Irish language skills?

The 26 month Business and Operations apprenticeship programme is designed to be inclusive and accessible, welcoming applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and educational levels. Whatever your individual journey, the apprenticeship is a unique opportunity to grow, contribute and build a meaningful career in the Civil Service.

Please note as follows:

• The Principal Conditions of Service applicable to the role, including details of salary, and Eligibility to Compete and Certain Restrictions on Eligibility applicable to the role, including citizenship requirements, are accessible in Booklet III of the additional documents on the job listing.

• Information on location of vacancies and the General Rules and Regulations Governing Recruitment Competitions held by publicjobs are accessible in Booklet II of the additional documents on the job listing.

• Further information about the Civil Service career path, including the grade structure, is accessible on our website EN or GA.

• Visit the FAQ page on our website EN or GA for more information about the recruitment process.

Essential Requirements:

Candidates must, on or before Thursday 30th April 2026:

(a) be at least 18 years of age

and

(b) possess a Leaving Certificate at Level 4 or above; or hold a minimum Level 4 qualification, major award on the National Framework of Qualifications. Applicants who possess a Level 5 qualification or higher are also eligible and encouraged to apply.

Candidates must also be able to demonstrate their interest in and motivation for becoming a Business and Operations Apprentice in the Civil Service. During the interview, a candidate’s interest and motivation will be assessed along with the following two capability areas:

Evidence Informed Delivery

Communicating and Collaborating

For further information on the interest and motivation section and the capability areas which will be assessed at interview, please see page 13.

In addition to the above, candidates applying for the Irish language stream should satisfy themselves that they have a minimum B1 level of spoken Irish on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages CEFR using the self assessment grid EN or GA. Candidates should expect to have their spoken Irish assessed as part of the interview stage. Candidates who possess a B2 level or higher of spoken Irish are also eligible and encouraged to apply.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

The specific duties of each apprenticeship role will largely be determined by the Civil Service organisation to which you are assigned. However, some duties and responsibilities will be common to all roles, such as:

• Attending all scheduled training as part of this apprenticeship

• Meeting all progression milestones, and achieve the required certifications as outlined throughout the apprenticeship programme

• Completing on the job training

• Playing an active role on the team, and participating effectively as a team member in pursuit of team goals

• Collaborating effectively with other teams and business units in your organisation to ensure the delivery of high quality work in a timely manner

• Being enthusiastic and flexible, results focused with the ability to work independently

• Presenting written material in a clear, concise and comprehensive manner

• Improving customer service processes and dealing directly with the public to deliver services and initiatives

• Participating in organisational activities and contributing new ideas to improve processes

• Providing Irish language or bilingual services to the public Irish language stream only

• Carrying out any other duties relevant to the role which may be identified from time to time

This job description is a guide to the general range of duties of the successful candidate. It is not intended to be definitive or restrictive.

Pathway to Executive Officer in the Civil Service:

If you successfully complete your Civil Service Business and Operations Apprenticeship, this opens the possibility of a bright future ahead of you as an Executive Officer in the Civil Service.

For those Business and Operations apprentices who successfully complete all elements of their 26 month programme and who are on track to achieve the QQI Level 6 NFQ award, you will be given the opportunity to join the Civil Service as an Executive Officer.

During the final quarter of the programme, qualifying apprentices will be invited to apply to a specific competition run by publicjobs to be appointed as an Executive Officer. To note, a specific Irish language competition will be run for qualifying apprentices on the Irish language stream.

For the Irish language stream, you must also have obtained a minimum B2 level on the CEFR to be eligible for a confined competition for an Irish language Executive Officer position.

If successful, you will be appointed as an Executive Officer in the Civil Service, and potentially within the organisation where you have completed your apprenticeship.

Salary: €28,814 per year