Senior Leadership Development - Learning Architect

Download Senior Leadership Development Leanring Architect SPS 2026.06.11.docx

Download IPA Application Form Snr Leadership Development - Learning Architect.docx

The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) is seeking an experienced and strategic learning and development leader to join its Senior Public Service team as Senior Leadership Development – Learning Architect. This senior management position will play a pivotal role in shaping and evolving the IPA’s leadership development pathway across the Irish Public Service, ensuring leadership capability is developed consistently and effectively at all levels.

The successful candidate will lead the design, development, and curation of the Senior Public Service portfolio, creating impactful learning experiences that equip senior leaders with the strategic capabilities required to meet current and future public service challenges. They will drive innovation across programme design, delivery methodologies, and evaluation frameworks while ensuring the highest standards of quality and participant impact.

Working collaboratively across the Institute, the Learning Architect will also be responsible for aligning leadership development interventions across all grades and career stages, building a coherent and integrated leadership pathway that combines accredited programmes, professional development offerings, micro-credentials, and executive learning experiences.

This role requires a strong relationship-builder who can engage credibly with senior public service stakeholders, identify emerging leadership development needs, and translate these into high-quality learning solutions. The successful candidate will contribute to the IPA’s thought leadership agenda through research, publications, speaking engagements, and active participation in Institute-wide strategic initiatives.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Leading the design, development, and continuous improvement of the Senior Public Service leadership development portfolio.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with senior public service stakeholders to identify learning priorities and measures of success.
• Ensuring leadership programmes are informed by best practice, underpinned by robust evaluation methodologies, and aligned with IPA quality assurance standards.
• Developing and curating an integrated leadership development pathway across all levels of the public service.
• Collaborating with faculty, practitioners, associates, and partners to deliver innovative and impactful learning interventions.
• Contributing to budget planning, operational oversight, governance, and performance reporting.
• Supporting the IPA’s reputation for excellence and thought leadership through publications, events, and sector engagement.
• Participating as a member of the extended senior management team and contributing to organisation-wide strategic initiatives.

Essential Criteria:

• Degree qualified (Level 8+) in HR, Business, Leadership, or a related field.
• Minimum 7 years' management experience with accountability for delivering outcomes.
• Proven experience designing and delivering executive-level leadership and learning & development programmes.
• Strong understanding of leadership development frameworks, programme design, and evaluation methodologies.
• Excellent stakeholder management, influencing, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage credibly at senior level.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and report-writing skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple stakeholders and organisational levels.
• Highly organised, with strong planning and prioritisation skills.
• Demonstrated interest in the development needs of senior public service leaders.
• Commitment to continuous professional development, equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Desirable Criteria:

• Postgraduate qualification (Level 9+).
• Experience working within or alongside the Public Service.
• Understanding of the IPA's role, objectives, and operating environment.

How to Apply:

Download IPA Application Form Snr Leadership Development - Learning Architect.docx

Download Senior Leadership Development Leanring Architect SPS 2026.06.11.docx

Completed application forms must be uploaded via this portal no later than Monday 29th June 2026 at 1pm (Irish Time).

Applications will not be accepted by any other method, nor if received after the closing date. CV's will not be considered.

When outlining your application, accuracy is essential. The information you supply in your application will play a central part of the selection process.

If you do not receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your application within 24 hours, please check your junk/spam folders as email notifications may be filtered here.

The onus is on each applicant to ensure that they are in receipt of all communication from Conscia Limited. Conscia Limited accept no responsibility for communication not accessed or received by an applicant.

If you have any queries about the role, please contact us at ipa@consciatalent.com.