Project Officer (Quality Assurance)

The National Apprenticeship Office wishes to recruit a Project Officer to the area of Quality Assurance. The person in this role will assist in developing and implementing models of QA for craft apprenticeships, monitoring internal and external compliance with SOLAS requirements, managing cases of suspected malpractice, creating standard operating procedures and maintaining strong controls around QA documentation.

The person in this role will also support implementation of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021–2025, in particular key deliverables 1 and 2 to: build a strong framework of QA, and to drive an evidence-based approach to continuous improvement.

An estimated 40,000 people are currently involved or supporting in national apprenticeships. This community is growing month on month. With a target of 10,000 apprentice registrations annually by 2025 it is expected that the community will grow by at least a third, up to 60,000. The Project Officer will be a key member of the NAO team.

Job Description

The Project Officer will:

➢ Work as part of a team to deliver quality assurance activities, including external authentication as per SOLAS’ craft apprenticeship Quality Assurance procedures.

➢ Draft, develop and maintain a range of controlled documents for craft apprenticeships.

➢ Lead on engagement with stakeholder group/s in the review and development of quality assurance, external authentication and related monitoring activities.

➢ Coordinate the function of Programme Boards for Craft Apprenticeships.

➢ Lead on the assessment feedback process, in conjunction with collaborating providers and the relevant Programme Boards.

➢ Conduct ongoing review/s of external authentication of apprenticeship programmes and monitoring apprenticeship activities in accordance with SOLAS specifications and guidelines.

➢ Plan and execute internal audits and controls to ensure apprenticeship compliance with internal policies and procedures and external regulations.

➢ Prepare and present a range of report findings as required from all quality assurance activities.

➢ Supervise team members, assign tasks and monitor performance to ensure goals are met.

➢ Lead and facilitate meetings with internal colleagues to progress actions, resolve issues and agree timelines for completion.

➢ Carry out any other duties deemed appropriate for the position by the NAO line manager.

➢ Undertake professional and personal development.

Requirements

➢ At least 3 years’ experience in a similar role, in further or higher education and training.

➢ Excellent written and oral communication skills, including ability to present information clearly, concisely, and confidently.

➢ Ability to liaise and network effectively with a range of stakeholders both internally and externally.

➢ Strong team player, who supports and collaborates with colleagues to achieve organisational and unit goals.

➢ Ability to lead, present and facilitate meetings.

➢ Ability to work on multiple tasks and management deadlines and meet targets.

➢ Proven ability to work on own initiative and deliver assigned goals and tasks.

➢ Strong report writing skills.

➢ Experience in document control processes is desirable.

➢ An understanding of Quality Assurance practice and processes within Further Education is desirable.

➢ Strong stakeholder management skills and experience is desirable.

Key Competencies for the Role

Leadership – Inspiring and energising self and others to achieve personal and organisational success. Creates team spirit and helps direct individuals towards the achievement of the team and organisational goals.

• remains visible, available and approachable to others

• provides a clear definition of individual and team member roles and responsibilities

• explains what needs to be done and why

• allows the team to take the glory

• regularly finds ways to celebrate and reward successes with the team

• takes a stand on issues he/she feels strongly about but supports a decision once it is made

Communication – Exchanging information and ideas with others to promote effective discussion and decision making; promoting 2-way communication.

Exchanges information in an open, honest and clear manner to enhance team effectiveness.

• regularly asks for, and listens to, the views and opinions of others, showing genuine respect for what they have to say

• responds to others in a way that demonstrates he/she has heard and considered their opinions

• adjusts language, style and tone of communication to suit audience

• brings forward to Management the ideas and concerns of his/her team to ensure they are heard

• openly voices and constructively shares differences of opinions, yet is willing to modify perspective and demonstrate flexibility

Results-focused and business-aware – Maintaining a focus on the important issues to achieve and improve results and awareness of and applying sound business principles and effective operational practices to drive successful outcomes.

Works with team to ensure that sound business principles and operational practices are being applied and focuses the team on activities to achieve goals.

• brings discipline to the team, encouraging them to find easier and more efficient ways of working

• encourages team to continuously focus their activities to meet the team’s objectives and sets measurable targets

• establishes team priorities, and identifies critical tasks and milestones to help keep projects and individuals on track

Developing self and others – Finding ways to keep skills current and maintain up-to-date knowledge of specific and broad-range topics; providing developmental opportunities to others and taking ownership for own learning and others.

Promotes information sharing within the team and encourages learning as integral to the team’s daily activities.

• provides time for the team to share information from a variety of sources, demonstrating that learning is integral to work

• surrenders the interesting jobs to others to help broaden and strengthen their capabilities

• exchanges information with a wide range of contacts to keep abreast of new ideas, technology etc.

Learner and stakeholder focus – Maintaining learner/ stakeholder focus, understanding their needs, providing realistic commitments and taking responsibility for delivering on those commitments.

Works with team to develop a better understanding of the learner or stakeholders’ circumstances to provide the most effective service.

• engages with stakeholders whenever possible to better understand their business and build relationships

• works with team to ensure that learner/stakeholders are kept informed as their requests are being managed

• seeks feedback from learners/stakeholders, listening and responding positively to suggestions and criticisms

Thinking big – Generating and implementing creative solutions to achieve NAO Strategic goals, conceptualising and articulating future opportunities and trends.

Assists the team in the development of new ideas and ways to work.

• considers how new ideas/trends may affect the team

• shares new ideas/trends with the team, asking how those trends could be turned into opportunities for the team

• engages others in “what if” thinking to encourage them to find new and better ways of working

• provides time for brainstorming and the sharing of ideas

Pay

The salary scale for this position is as for public servants at Grade 8 as of 01 Aug 2025 as follows:

17 point scale

Min point on scale: €46,665

Max point on scale: €73,978

Salary: The appointment will be made on the salary scale at a point in line with current Government Pay Policy. New entrants to the Civil or Public Sector, as defined in Circular 18/2010, will commence on the first point of the salary scale. Different pay and conditions may apply if, immediately prior to appointment, the appointee is a serving civil or public servant.

Annual Leave: Annual leave will be 29 working days. This leave is exclusive of public holidays.

Hours of Attendance: Working hours are in accordance with the standard arrangements for government agencies including SOLAS and the HEA and will equate to no less than 35 hours (net of rest breaks) per week. No additional payment will be made for extra attendance as the rate of remuneration payable covers any exceptional extra attendance liability that may arise from time to time.

Location: Office premises for the National Apprenticeship Office are in SOLAS headquarters, Castleforbes House, Dublin 1. The location of the office premises may change; however, they will continue to be in Dublin. A Blended Working policy is in place and an arrangement is available for request with this role, with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office. One of the days must be a Tuesday. Please note that as a public sector employee, you must work in the Irish jurisdiction to avail of blended working, and in accordance with Department Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) requirements, you must be available to attend in person if and when required. SOLAS headquarters is currently based in Castleforbes House, Dublin 1.

Tenure: This is a permanent post in the National Apprenticeship Office, employed by SOLAS.

Probation: A probation period of 9 months applies to this role.

Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER): It is a condition of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in Department of Finance Circular 12/09 that retirees, under that Scheme, are not eligible to apply for another position in the same employment or the same sector. Therefore, such retirees may not apply for this position.

Declaration: Applicants are required to declare in writing whether they have previously availed of a Public Service scheme of incentivised early retirement. Applicants will also be required to declare any entitlements to a Public Service pension benefit (in payment or preserved) from any other Public Service employment and/or where they have received a payment-in-lieu in respect of service in any Public Service employment.