Specialist Inspector – Critical Entities Resilience

Location and Contract Details

Location: Dublin, Cork, or Galway

Tenure: Permanent

Additionally, HIQA may create a panel for future permanent and fixed term vacancies that may arise.

Blended Working: 1 – 2 days per week in the office, with the remainder of the working week spent working from home.

Further information can be found below in the Principal Conditions of Service under Blended Working Arrangements.

Salary: €74,701 (Engineer Grade II, Point 1)

Closing Date: 5pm, Tuesday 3rd February 2026

Role Purpose

The purpose of this role within the relevant business unit and for HIQA as a whole:

In accordance with Government Policy, HIQA recently assumed new responsibilities through the transposition of the EU Critical Entities Resilience (CER) Directive into Irish law. The legislation stemming from this Directive – SI 559 of 2024 – has expanded HIQA’s remit to become a new Competent Authority with responsibilities to risk assess the Irish health service and regulate those services determined to be critical under the legislation. This is a significant further expansion in HIQA’s responsibilities in the health sector driven by European legislation.

The successful candidate will support the planning and delivery of activities required of the Directive, which include health sector risk assessment and identification of critical entities within the health service, aligned to nationally determined thresholds. Once entities are identified, monitoring of critical entities will then occur to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and to safeguard operational resilience through business continuity and emergency planning.

The Specialist Inspector role operates as a member of the team responsible for the regulation of designated critical entities. The role as advertised will carry out all regulatory activities in accordance with HIQA’s policies, processes and procedures to determine compliance with legislation and national standards, report publicly on findings and respond appropriately when service providers do not meet requirements.

Behavioural Expectations

The way that HIQA people are expected to work to role model HIQA values:

The incumbent of this role is expected to demonstrate HIQA’s values in the delivery of everyday work and interactions with clients and colleagues by putting people first, being fair and objective, being open and accountable, demonstrating excellence and innovation, and working together.

Common TasksTeam Member

• Seek clarity on the tasks associated with own role

• Complete tasks in compliance with policies and procedures

• Adhere to relevant legislation, standards and internal audits

• Fulfil any mandatory or professional competency requirements

• Maintain confidentiality and a professional approach

• Raise any concerns in relation to workplace health and safety

• Actively identify learning needs and development opportunities

• Actively contribute as a team member

• Follow direction and take on new and different tasks

• Set and achieve performance goals that contribute to HIQA strategy

• Regularly seek feedback to meet performance expectations and goals

Role Specific Tasks

The key tasks and activities associated with the role:

The nature of the tasks and activities associated with the role will vary accordingly. It will involve:

• Support the planning and delivery of activities required of the CER Directive, which include health sector risk assessment and identification of critical entities within the health service, aligned to nationally determined thresholds

• Once entities are identified, manage and deliver a caseload of regulatory activities across a range of critical entities to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and to safeguard operational resilience through business continuity and emergency planning

• Support the development of guidance documentation to inform and assist the Critical Entities

• Undertake all regulatory activities in accordance with the Authority’s policies, processes and procedures

• Work effectively as part of a team, contributing to and supporting others in achievement of the team’s goals

• Provide support and assistance to colleagues, as appropriate, in carrying out regulatory activities

• Participate in the orientation and induction of new members of staff joining the team

• Be responsible for the gathering, analysis and synthesis of the data and information required to make risk-based judgements

• Analyse documentation and other data, conduct interviews, observe practice and be responsible for making outcome-based decisions that are consistent with evidence collected

• Take appropriate action and identify requirements when service providers are non-compliant with regulations and standards

• Be accountable for writing reports that reflect clear and consistent judgements

• Ensure that all monitoring activities are comprehensively documented and meet internal audit requirements and standards

• Take appropriate responsibility, as required, for other elements of the regulatory framework including registration, investigation, enforcement and quality assurance

• Be responsible for projects as required to contribute to the delivery of the healthcare team and the Authority’s objectives

• Proactively engage in performance development reviews and actively seek out learning and development opportunities

• Be required to travel for regulatory activities including inspections. Overnight stays and out of hours working will also be required due to the nature of this role, having regard to the business needs of the organization

• Undertake other duties and responsibilities as may be determined by the Authority and provide support to work colleagues as required

The contents of any role description are not exhaustive and are intended to be indicative of the scope of the role.

QualificationsEssential Qualifications

In determining your eligibility, the following essential qualifications will be assessed as part of the shortlisting stage of the selection process:

• Degree qualification (Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications or equivalent) in a healthcare related discipline, risk management, operational resilience, business continuity and emergency planning, or another discipline as deemed relevant by the Authority for the post of Specialist Inspector – Critical Entities Resilience as advertised

and

• Full and current driving licence and access to your own transport

Desirable Qualifications

• A relevant qualification at Level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications or equivalent, equivalent to a third level Master’s degree, for example Infection Prevention and Control, Health Services Management, Health Sciences, Business Management, Quality Management, or equivalent

ExperienceEssential Experience

In determining your eligibility, the following essential knowledge and experience will be assessed as part of the shortlisting stage of the selection process:

• At least three years’ experience working in the area of operational resilience, operational recovery, business continuity, emergency planning or risk management in a health or social care service, regulatory, or other setting deemed relevant by the Authority for the post of inspector as advertised

Other Required Knowledge and Experience

• Demonstrate an understanding of best practice, current developments, emerging issues and legislation in the provision of operational resilience relevant to the post as advertised

• An understanding of appropriate and effective governance arrangements required to ensure a safe and effective service

• Experience of using risk management frameworks

• A knowledge and understanding of monitoring, inspection and regulatory processes

• Experience in report writing and presentation of information in a confident, logical and convincing manner, including excellent report writing, editing, proofreading and formatting skills

• Demonstrate strong computer skills with advanced skills in Word and Outlook and a working knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite

Desirable Experience

• Relevant experience of quality assessment, regulatory compliance, monitoring and inspection, ideally in a regulatory, audit or quality assurance environment

• Experience of carrying out reviews and or investigations, with associated preparation for and presentation of evidence

• Experience in communicating with and presenting to external stakeholders and relevant agencies

Principal Conditions of ServiceProbation

A probationary period of six months applies to this position.

Pay

Candidates will be appointed on the minimum point of the salary scale (€74,701) and in accordance with the Department of Finance guidelines. The rate of remuneration will not be subject to negotiation.

The incremental progression for this scale is in line with Government pay policy. The salary scale for this position is as follows:

Engineer Grade II (PPC) €74,701 €76,408 €78,110 €79,821 €81,527 €81,981 €83,662 €85,408 €88,250¹ €91,100²

After three years’ satisfactory service at the maximum

After six years’ satisfactory service at the maximum

Entry will be at the first point of the scale. An exception may occur where an appointee has been serving elsewhere in the public service in an analogous grade and pay scale. In this case, the appointment may be assimilated to the nearest point of the advertised salary scale, with their incremental date adjusted accordingly.

Please note the rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.

Superannuation

Pensionable public servants (new joiners) recruited on or after 1 January 2013 will be members of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme.

The Single Public Service Pension Scheme applies to all pensionable first-time entrants to the public service, as well as to former public servants returning to the public service after a break of more than 26 weeks. In certain circumstances, for example where the public servant was on secondment or approved leave or remains on the same contract of employment, the 26-week rule does not apply.

The legislation giving effect to the Scheme is the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012.

For those who are not subject to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, for example those transferring from other public service employment where the break in service is less than 26 weeks, the terms of the Health Information and Quality Authority Superannuation Scheme will apply.

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 27 days per annum, rising to 30 days after five years’ service.

Hours of Attendance

Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time but will amount to not less than 35 hours per week. The appointee may be required to work additional hours from time to time as may be reasonable and necessary for the proper performance of his or her duties, subject to the limits set down under working time regulations.

Blended Working Arrangements

HIQA has introduced blended working to offer more flexible working arrangements to all employees. The aim is to strike a balance between being flexible, efficient and resilient by facilitating blended working where practical, while enabling onsite interaction, collaboration and support as required.

All roles in HIQA have been assessed under the criteria of business needs and role suitability for blended working. This has determined the proportion of time that employees will spend working in HIQA offices and working from home, depending on their role.

Depending on the role, there may be a requirement to attend the office for more than the allocated number of days for training and onboarding purposes at the start of employment and during the probation period.

A review of the blended working model confirmed that the model is working well in HIQA. As a result, HIQA is moving from Interim Blended Working to a long term Blended Working Model. Existing policy and documentation will be revised and updated once the framework for the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act is published. The model is in line with the Civil Service Framework for Blended Working in Ireland.

Further guidance on HIQA’s Blended Working Policy, including eligibility criteria, will be issued to successful candidates. This is an opt in policy, and details on how to apply will be issued before commencement.