Recruitment process commences to appoint next chief executive of Cork City Council

The recruitment process to appoint the next chief executive of Cork City Council has commenced.

The Public Appointments Service is currently seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified individuals for the role which has a salary of €182,280.

Once appointed, the chief executive will remain in office for a term of seven years with the option of a three-year extension, provided the person does not surpass the age of 70 in the role.

The maximum tenure period for a chief executive is 10 years in the same local authority.

Ann Doherty, the current chief executive of Cork City Council, finishes her term at the helm of the council in September.

Ms Doherty, who in 2014 became the first female chief executive of the city council, opted to extend her contract in 2021 for a further three years.

Her successor will lead the council through a significant period of growth for the city, with major residential, transport, and amenity projects expected to progress in the period ahead.

“Cork is emerging as an international centre of scale requiring significantly accelerated and urban focused growth to more fully achieve this role,” the Public Appointments Service said, advertising the role.

“Up to €2.5 billion is being invested in Cork over the next five years with significant investment in housing, sustainable transport, parks, public spaces and climate resilience.

“This forms part of a wider €10 billion investment pipeline over the next 10 years.” 

Among the key requirements for the post, candidates must have a “proven track record as a strategic leader and senior manager in a complex environment”; must have “proven experience in the management of teams and resources of significant scale” and demonstrate “excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills and the capacity to work effectively with a broad range of stakeholders in a constructive manner”.

The chief executive has responsibility for the day-to-day management of the local authority which currently employs over 1,600 people across over 40 locations within the city and also has 31 elected members representing five wards in the city.

The chief executive also has the responsibility to advise the elected members in the determination of policy and in relation to the exercise of reserved functions while, in turn, implementing decisions made by them.

For more on the post or to apply see www.publicjobs.ie/en.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 3pm on Thursday, May 23.