Graduate Opportunities Admin Officer

The Role

The Administrative Officer (AO) is the main graduate recruitment grade for the Civil Service and provides successful candidates with the opportunity to progress to middle management. As an AO, you would have a crucial role in policy and strategy formulation across the spectrum of economic, financial, international, environmental and social issues. Those appointed will have the opportunity to effect real change in the Civil Service and help shape a changing Ireland. You will also have the opportunity to gain a deep understanding of the development and implementation of government policy over a period of time. Assignments may also be made to support functions e.g. Facilities Management and Corporate Affairs.

To apply you must have a first or second class primary honours degree (at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications), or, a first or second class higher diploma (at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications) and a primary degree (at least Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications), or, a Masters degree (at Level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications). Consideration may be given to relevant qualifications as deemed equivalent by publicjobs.

In addition to having achieved a high standard of education, and demonstrating the required capabilities for this role, effective AO candidates should demonstrate:

• excellent communication (oral and written), presentation and interpersonal skills

• the capacity to carry out research, analysis and problem solving

• experience of effective team-working and the capacity to work in a multidisciplinary environment

• the capacity to develop leadership capability and lead in your area of expertise

• the capacity to show initiative while working with minimal supervision

• evidence of working on projects and producing results within specified deadlines

It is expected that from the outset, newly recruited AOs will be able to make a substantive contribution to the work of the Civil Service. While training is to a significant extent “on the job”, induction and training courses in specific skills and areas of work will be provided to assist you to become familiar with the public sector. Those appointed will undertake the Graduate Development Programme which will build upon your experience to further develop your expertise, confidence, self-awareness and personal effectiveness to enable you to realise your potential and deliver important outcomes early in your career.

It is envisaged that these graduate recruitment opportunities will arise across a range of Departments. Selection for the position of AO involves a structured assessment process that may take place over a period of time. publicjobs will keep applicants informed as they progress through the selection process. Relevant information on each subsequent stage of the selection process will be provided in advance to those candidates who are invited to progress, to ensure they are equipped to perform to the best of their ability.

The Administrative Officer Capability Framework (click here to view) will inform the assessment of candidates at all stages. Further information on the Capability Framework for the Administrative Officer role is set out in Appendix 1.

The onus is on the candidate to ensure that they satisfy the essential eligibility requirements for the positions for which they are applying. Candidates are required to confirm at application stage that they hold the required qualifications. Admission to the competition does not imply acceptance that a candidate is eligible to compete in the competition.

Location

The Irish Civil Service is a large complex organisation employing nearly 42,000 people in approximately 40 Government Departments and Offices.

If you are successful in this competition you will be placed on a panel, in order of merit. As vacancies arise in Government Departments/Offices, in an ‘agency’ of a Government Department or in Garda civilian positions in An Garda Síochána, successful candidates will be drawn from the panel in rank order, according to their performance score at the final stage. While the majority of vacancies that arise for this competition will be in Dublin, a small number may also arise in other regional locations throughout the lifetime of the competition.

Positions requiring specialist Irish language skills

The Civil Service is fully committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Official Languages Act. It is intended that any vacancies arising, which require staff to provide a full range of services through the Irish language (Functional Bilinguals), may be filled from this competition. In this regard individuals who have proficiency in the Irish language and who fulfil all other eligibility criteria set out below may indicate their interest on the application form.

Candidates who indicate their interest and who are successful at the final selection stages will be required to undergo certain assessments through Irish (e.g. interview, written test, etc.) at an external assessment centre, prior to being considered for such a position. They must achieve the required proficiency level in the Irish language (for example - demonstrate a minimum Level B2 on the Europass self-assessment framework).

Summary Conditions of Service

Starting Salary: €40,268 (Full salary scale available in the Principal Conditions of Service below)

Annual Leave: 25 Days

Hours of attendance: 41 hours and 15 minutes gross per week

Entry/Eligibility Requirements

Qualifications/eligibility may not be confirmed until the final stage of the process, therefore, those candidates who do not possess the essential requirements, on or by the date specified below, and proceed with their application are putting themselves to unnecessary effort/expense and will not be offered a position from this competition.

Please note that, given the volume of applications, publicjobs is not in a position to consider or offer advice on the qualifications/eligibility of individuals unless they come under consideration. The onus is on the candidate to ensure they fulfil the eligibility requirements set out below. publicjobs reserves the right to deem an applicant ineligible at any stage if it is apparent that the candidate does not hold the required eligibility/qualifications e.g. from the submitted application form. Candidates who come under consideration following the final selection stage will be required to provide documentary evidence of their eligibility, including qualifications.

Candidates who are unable to show that they hold the required qualifications may be withdrawn from the competition at any stage. An invitation to tests, interview or any element of the selection process is not acceptance of eligibility.

Essential Requirements

Applicants for these positions must, on or before the 3rd of November 2025 have achieved:

(i) a first or second class primary honours degree (at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications)

OR

(ii) a first or second class higher diploma (at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications) and a primary degree (at least Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications)

OR

(iii) a Masters degree (at Level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications)

AND

(iv) successfully demonstrate the required capabilities for this role.

IMPORTANT: Please see Appendix 1 for more information on the Capability Framework and preparation guidelines.

Candidates with Disabilities – Reasonable Accommodations for the Selection Process

publicjobs has a key role to play in attracting candidates from all sectors of society, ensuring that routes to career opportunities are accessible to all who are interested. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all candidates.

If you have a disability or need reasonable accommodations made during the selection process, we strongly encourage you to share this with us so that we can ensure you get the support you need. Please note, this relates only to the selection process (e.g. online tests, interviews, etc.) and not workplace accommodations.

Reasonable accommodation in our selection process refers to adjustments and practical changes which would enable a disabled candidate to have an equal opportunity for this competition. Examples of adjustments we provide include the use of assistive technology, extra time, scribes and/or readers or a range of other accommodations.

Please be assured that having a disability or requiring adjustments will not impact on your progress in the selection process; you will not be at a disadvantage if you disclose your disability or requirements to us. Your disability and/or adjustments will be kept entirely confidential.

Should you be successful, the disclosure of a disability for this stage of the process will not be passed onto the employing department unless you request that we do so.

If you have indicated on your application/profile that you require reasonable accommodations, you should upload a copy of your psychologist/medical report directly to your online application before submitting your application. You are required to include a copy of your medical/psychologist report before the closing date of the competition (3pm on Monday 3rd of November 2025). Please do not email a copy of your report to the graduate mailbox.

The purpose of the report is to provide publicjobs with information to act as a basis for determining reasonable accommodations, where appropriate. The information within these reports that is useful for us to see includes the outcome of any diagnostic tests conducted by your psychologist/doctor, and their summary of recommendations in relation to your requirements. You may redact (block out) parts of medical reports/psychologist’s reports that you feel are sensitive or unnecessary for the decision to make reasonable adjustments.

If you have previously applied for a competition with publicjobs and submitted a report (within the past 3 years), there will be an area on the online application where you can provide details of the previous competition and/or your previous candidate ID number. A member of the Assessment Services unit will check if your report is still on file (if you consented to this information being retained).

If you have any queries about the reasonable accommodations process or the accommodations you have received, or if you have any difficulty with sourcing your medical/psychologist report by the closing date, please contact ASU@publicjobs.ie

. For further information on the accessibility of our service please see our Accessibility page. If you wish to discuss any matter relating to the accessibility of our service or our building, please contact our Disability Champion, Amanda Kavanagh, at edi@publicjobs.ie

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