Project Assistant, Grade 10 - Apprenticeship ref no:655
SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority of Ireland, was established on 27 October 2013 and its mission is to fund, co-ordinate and monitor a range of Further Education and Training (FET) provisions that is responsive to the needs of learners and employers. It is an agency of the recently formed Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. SOLAS works in close collaboration with Education and Training Boards (ETBs) across Ireland on provision of high-quality further education and training, equipping learners with relevant skills and knowledge, and providing a pipeline of talent into employment and to the Irish economy and society.
At SOLAS, we put the learner, employers and communities, which FET serves, at the heart of everything we do. Working with sister agencies, SOLAS leads actions in key policy and strategy documents including the most recent Further Education and Training (FET) Strategy 2026 – 2030, the evaluation of the Green Skills Strategy , the National Skills Strategy 2025 and the People Strategy 2020-2024 and others.
The Project Assistant will support consortia at key stages in the ten-step critical path for developing apprenticeships, as well as assisting consortia and coordinating providers when programmes are underway. The current ten-step process has just been reviewed, and a new process to approve and develop new consortia-led apprenticeships will launch imminently. This will move to a time-bound call for proposals process, and approved programmes will proceed through to a five-step development process.
The Project Assistant role will be integral to providing administrative support at the appropriate level throughout the launch and implementation of this revised approach. The successful candidate will have a key role in engaging with apprenticeship consortia, coordinating providers, Authorised Officers, and other key stakeholders who are involved in apprenticeship development and delivery work. Each new national apprenticeship must become a formal apprenticeship activity, via statutory instrument, and the Project Assistant will help support this element of apprenticeship development and launch.
Apprenticeship consortia are eligible to receive funding for development as well as for delivery, and the Project Assistant will provide the administration support for funding arrangements, reporting and monitoring.
This is a Permanent position for which the salary scale ranges from €35,067 to €62,336 per annum (inclusive of two long service increments) for a 35-hour week. Starting pay will be at the minimum point of the scale as per Government Circular E100/8/82. Exceptional circumstances may apply for candidates with current service in the Civil/Public service.
SOLAS offers an excellent benefit package including a contributory pension scheme and the opportunity for further training and development.
Applications, using the SOLAS Application Form, quoting reference number 655, should be e-mailed to recruitment@solas.ie. Please complete the application form as specified. CVs will not be accepted.
The closing date is 12pm, Thursday, 05 November 2026 at 12:00pm (Noon)
SOLAS, Castleforbes Road, Dublin 1 D01 A8N0 is the base location for this post. A Blended Working policy is in place, and an arrangement is available to request with this role, a minimum requirement of 2 days per week in the office (Castleforbes House, Dublin 1). One of the days being the SOLAS Anchor Day - Wednesday.
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Please note that as a public sector employee, you must reside in the Irish jurisdiction to avail of blended working, and in accordance with Department Public Expenditure and Reform (DPENDR) requirements, you must be available to attend in person if and when required.
SOLAS is an equal opportunity employer. SOLAS welcomes people with diverse and underrepresented backgrounds to apply. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process, please reach out to us on recruitment@solas.ie. Canvassing will disqualify.