Expressions of interest for the position of Director National Tertiary Office

The HEA and SOLAS are seeking to fill on a secondment basis the position of Director National Tertiary Office which will be located in the HEA’s offices, 3 Shelbourne Buildings, Shelbourne Road, Dublin 4. Further details are below. The duration of the secondment will be three years after which the secondee will return to their current employer.

Candidates should be currently working in a Further or Higher Education setting and have their employer’s support before submitting an expression of interest.

Other pay and conditions shall be by reference to the post of Principal Officer.

For all other purposes, the secondee will be treated as an employee of the HEA and the HEA will be responsible for any other agreed costs associated with this secondment.

The HEA operates a hybrid working model.

Expressions of interest to be submitted to mculliton@hea.ie by 4 p.m. on the 16th December 2022, should include a current CV and a statement outlining how they meet the essential criteria in the role profile.

Secondment Opportunity - Director National Tertiary Office

Background

The Department’s Statement of Strategy 2021 to 2023 outlines six strategic goals, one of which centres around developing talent and skills. Crucial to the achievement of this goal is the provision of diverse and progressive pathways for learners, enabling progression across and between different institutions.

The publication of the funding and reform framework for higher education, Funding the Future highlighted the creation of a unified, balanced and integrated knowledge and skills system as one of its five priority strands of work. The system will be characterised by clear and extensive pathways for learners, and an expansive qualifications frameworks aligned to current and future knowledge and skills needs.

The vision for ‘Progressing a More Unified Tertiary System for Learning, Skills and Knowledge’ was set out in the policy platform paper published in May 2022. The paper outlines how the creation of more diverse and better aligned learning and development opportunities as well as more extensive pathways will enable students’ personal growth, the development of talents, and the promotion of lifelong learning. In this context, the Department recognises that pathways and transitions between sectors require further development and expansion.

This scope for change is supported by policy initiatives that already exist or are planned for the sector –

  • OECD Skills Strategy Project Ireland is currently examining how responsive the Irish higher education and further education and training systems are to current and future labour market needs, how best to promote a culture of lifelong learning, and how skills can drive innovation.

  • This work is supported by the Minister’s intention to promote a national dialogue on skills under a “Pact for Skills,” which would focus on agreeing joint actions, with key stakeholders around raising awareness, understanding, interest and participation in reskilling and upskilling across the workforce and working age population.

  • The Department has undertaken work to build upon and progress the recommendations arising from the HE-FE Transitions Group Report of June 2020 to develop an approach to be adopted by the Department to increase, promote and support the development of increased pathways and transitions opportunities and to remove artificial barriers to learner progression.

  • Furthermore, the national further education and training strategy, Future FET: Transforming Learning, highlights the creation of pathways as one of its three strategic priorities. The strategy specifically highlights the considerable potential for dual provision models beginning in further education and culminating in higher education.

The Role

The purpose of this role is to specifically support the development of arrangements between FE and HE institutions which will allow learners to progress in a clear, seamless manner between FE and HE pathways.  The role is intended to support the development of regional partnership strategies in key areas of delivery to result in the learner having the best opportunity to avail of pathways that are clearly defined and easily accessed. 

The role will be required to operate in the FET and HE sectors to facilitate engagement between FE and HE institutions; to facilitate the work of regional partnerships to result in co-designed delivery of programmes. The role will focus on working with programme co-ordinators at organizational level, to embed the required structured approach to addressing all matters that may arise in the course of local discussions around progressing this work.     

There will also be a strong monitoring and reporting relationship with the HEA and SOLAS, facilitated by the submission and subsequent approval of annual plan in line with national templates, guidelines and strategic objectives. It is the intention to second the successful candidate to the HEA for a period of three years.

Key Tasks/Responsibilities

This role requires strong leadership and management responsibilities. The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate excellent project management experience in planning, reform, innovation collaboration and co-design of delivery. The ability to engage with both internal and external stakeholders at all levels; drive and manage change; and lead and develop projects are also key aspects of the role.

Key tasks and responsibilities include (but will not be limited to):

  • Document all regional arrangements through consultation with stakeholders and play a part in addressing specific areas for potential collaboration in each of the phases of this project

  • Establish a strong relationship within existing regional collaborations involving all relevant key stakeholders

  • Coordinate the roll-out of specific targeted programmes in a pilot approach to commence in Sept 23

  • Following wide consultation develop and submit an annual pathways Plan for FET to HE which is endorsed by all and includes a documented commitment to the progression of the plan

  • Monitor the delivery of the FET-HE pathways plan, and submit quarterly progress reports to the HEA and SOLAS, and identify any risks, barriers, or opportunities which impact implementation

  • Contribute to national networks to share ideas and innovation and mainstream good practice in ensuring an increase in numbers in FET to HE Transitions in line with the targets set for each ETB in their Strategic Performance Agreements

  • Participate in local and regional networks which will facilitate a collaborative approach in addressing pathways in general

  • Develop a mechanism for capturing current good practice and produce regular reports outlining the good practice

  • Convene an annual workshop to showcase examples of good practice across the tertiary sector and ensure sharing of examples of good practice for wider implementation

  • Conduct a review of all the groups that have been established to consider the access/pathways/transitions journey and produce a report with recommendations for consolidation into one overall group

  • Be part of the any national groups as deemed appropriate

Requirements:

Essential

  • Hold a relevant qualification and post-qualification experience in a senior management role

  • Demonstrate a high level of ICT literacy including a proven ability to apply technology in the workplace

  • Have a proven track record of project management and organisational skills to co-ordinate work plans, prioritise work, manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines

  • Have a detailed understanding of the current programme development and approval system in FET and HE

  • Be a self-starter capable of working on his/her own initiative, with strong multitasking capability and flexibility

  • Good planning and organisational skills with the ability to prioritise tasks effectively in a dynamic and pressurised environment

  • Excellent leadership skills with the ability to manage staff and other resources effectively to deliver high quality output within tight time frames

  • Proven record as a team-player with a flexible approach

  • Highly developed oral and written communication skills, including negotiation, report writing and presentation skills.

Desirable

  • Has a breadth and depth of knowledge of relevant Government Strategy and Policy, along an awareness of wider political and organisational priorities

  • Similar experience of implementing a systemic change initiative