Northern and Western Regional Assembly Director 2026: application guide

The Director is the Assembly’s chief officer. The role combines organisational leadership with regional policy, European programmes and advice to an elected Assembly. An applicant needs to show that they can move between those levels without losing control of delivery.

The Northern and Western Regional Assembly serves a population of more than 900,000 across a wide region. Its headquarters are in Ballaghaderreen.

What the job carries

The Director develops and oversees the structures and resources needed to run the Assembly. The post supports, advises and informs the Assembly on its statutory functions, manages the administration and represents it at regional, national and EU level.

The Director works closely with the designated Chief Executive and reports to the Assembly. That arrangement requires clear accountability and sound advice in an environment where several legitimate public interests meet.

The essential evidence mix

The booklet asks for a senior career record in leading and motivating a multidisciplinary team. It also seeks understanding of regional development from spatial-planning and economic-development perspectives, plus Irish public administration.

European policy, programmes and decision-making are central. Candidates should understand the management of European funding and be able to show policy analysis, development and the transition from policy to active change. Complex programme management and change experience are named.

Political awareness matters, but it should be expressed as professional conduct. Give an example where you understood the elected context, provided candid advice and maintained impartial delivery.

An application should show a chain of delivery

For each major example, connect five points:

1. the regional or organisational problem;
2. the policy or funding boundary;
3. the decision you owned;
4. how you aligned people and stakeholders;
5. the public or programme result.

That chain stops the application becoming a tour of meetings and strategies. It also gives you material to reuse if you reach interview.

The publicjobs application process guide is useful for checking that the role of the team has not swallowed your own contribution.

Assessment possibilities, stated carefully

The process may include application shortlisting, a preliminary interview, online questionnaires, an Executive Assessment Centre, case study, work sample, role play or media exercise. A competitive interview may include a presentation.

The booklet does not name an aptitude test. The possible assessment-centre wording should be taken seriously, but it is not a reason to assume a test supplier, question type or timing.

Prepare judgement rather than theatre. Practise reading a short regional brief, identifying the decision, explaining the governance and funding risks, and setting a credible first course of action.

Contract points

The office is whole-time and pensionable. The initial tenure is seven years. It may be extended, with the required approval, to no more than ten years in total or until age 70, whichever comes first.

Booklet pages to use

Pages 4 to 6 cover the Assembly, role and essential requirements. Page 9 explains tenure and reporting. Pages 13 to 15 cover the application and possible selection methods.

This independent guide reflects official material checked on 14 August 2026. Verify the current listing before applying.