Chief Operating Officer

Chief Operating Officer

Reference: COO 14/26
Salary Scale: £130,744 to £140,605 per annum (2025/26 rates currently under review)
​​​​Location: Hybrid (regular attendance is required at NIAO Belfast)
Contract: Permanent Full Time (37 hours per week).
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In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a highly attractive and comprehensive benefits package including:
•hybrid and flexible working ​​• generous annual leave plus 12 public/privilege holidays • family friendly benefits including enhanced paid sick and maternity and shared parental leave • salary sacrifice provisions (Cycle to Work, AVCs) • generous NICS pension scheme provision • free on-site car parking with EV charging points • on-site gym and an active sports and social calendar • payment of professional fees and extensive staff learning and development opportunities • employer supported volunteering • employee assistance programme and wellbeing hub.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
Candidates must clearly and concisely demonstrate the following criteria by way of personal and specific examples:

Strategic delivery (Achieving results)
Significant senior leadership experience at executive Director level (or equivalent) in an organisation with a political interface and professional staff base, with evidence of leading strategy development, business advancement and improvement and leading organisational performance.

Political engagement (Working together)
Experience working in a senior role with regular professional engagement with elected representatives or parliamentary institutions.

Organisational leadership (Achieving results)
Strong experience of working as a member of a Senior Leadership Team, with experience of successfully leading organisational delivery, and successfully leading transformation and improvement.

People and change (Developing people)
A proven ability to lead and motivate people through significant change and organisational improvement and developing a culture of delivering high-quality outcomes and people performance.

​​​​​​​Governance and accountability (Leading by example)
Experience in, or a strong understanding of, public sector accountability, audit, scrutiny, governance and public finance.

Judgement, Communication and Influence (Effective Communication)
The ability to exercise sound judgement and political awareness, navigate complex political and reputational considerations, and operate with credibility, integrity and discretion in a high-profile public service environment; together with outstanding communication and relationship management skills and proven experience of influencing, advising and constructively challenging senior stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.

More information on the role and key responsibilities can be found in the Role Profile. 

All job offers are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks including background checks.

The successful candidate will be required to demonstrate in pre-employment checks that they have the Right To Work in the UK.

NIAO is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications from diverse backgrounds.