Assistant Manager - Construction Training Programme

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 2020 2024, the evaluation of the Greenskills Strategy , the National Skills Strategy 2025 and the People Strategy 2020-2024 and others. The Construction Licensing Authority (CLA) is being established by SOLAS to support the implementation of the Construction Safety Licensing Bill. When enacted, the Construction Safety Licensing Bill will provide a new and comprehensive framework for the licensing of construction, quarrying and related activities in Ireland. SOLAS is now seeking to recruit an Assistant Manager to lead the Construction Training Programme Unit. The Construction Training Programme Assistant Manager is responsible for designing, delivering, and overseeing the development of high-quality construction training programmes which support the requirements of the Construction Safety Licensing Bill. Key Tasks/Responsibilities: Programme Management & Delivery Plan and execute the end-to-end implementation of new construction training programmes, to include commissioning of pilot programmes, programme evaluation, and cost analysis. Lead the decommissioning of legacy construction training programmes. Develop and own delivery plans, roadmaps, and implementation plans with milestones, resources, and risk controls. Coordinate cross-functional functions (Policy, Standards / Assessment, Digital / IT, Comms, Legal and Procurement) to ensure operational readiness. Manage training provider onboarding, delivery readiness checks, delivery schedules, and operational changes. Ensure programmes align with industry standards, accreditation requirements, and employer needs. Monitor learner progress, outcomes, and completion rates, implementing improvements as needed. Quality Assurance & Compliance Develop, implement, and maintain a robust Quality Management System (QMS) aligned with recognised standards. Maintain compliance with awarding organisations, regulatory bodies, and health & safety standards. Conduct regular quality audits, assessments, and evaluations. Ensure training delivery meets internal quality assurance processes. Manage documentation, reporting, and record-keeping in line with regulatory requirements. Stakeholder & Employer Engagement Build strong working relationships with training providers, awarding bodies, employers \ industry bodies, unions, and local authorities. Lead delivery forums, provider briefings, and change-control processes, resolve issues quickly and escalate where required. Negotiate delivery adjustments to meet construction skills needs and market capacity. Identify emerging skills needs and collaborate with stakeholders to adapt training construction training provision. Represent SOLAS and the proposed Construction Licensing Authority at industry meetings, events, and networking forums. Risk & Change Management Maintain programme risk, issue, dependency and change registers, implement mitigations and contingency plans. Lead post-implementation project reviews. Audit, Monitoring Plan, coordinate, and conduct internal audits and quality reviews. Support external audits, inspections, and regulatory reviews, including preparation of documentation and coordination of responses. Operational & Financial Management Develop and manage budgets for training programmes. Produce written reports \status updates for internal \ external stakeholders. Respond to Parliamentary Questions relating to role. Represent SOLAS on committees \ groups as appropriate. Other duties appropriate to this role which may be assigned by the Director. Requirements Essential: NFQ level 7 degree in relevant field, or significant level of work equivalent experience. 3+ years management experience in a construction, training, or an apprenticeship focused environment. Extensive proven experience in training programme design and implementation within the construction or a regulated industry. Evidence of strong understanding of construction trades, qualifications, and industry standards. Experience working closely with awarding bodies (e.g. QQI, Industry Bodies) Evidence of excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder-engagement skills. Track record in working effectively with a broad base of project stakeholders. Desirable: Knowledge of the Irish construction ecosystem (contractor operations, safety, standards). Experience in public sector bodies, regulatory bodies, and court-facing case preparation. Process improvement certifications (e.g., Lean \ Six Sigma) and \ or project management experience. This is a permanent position for which the salary scale ranges from €74,437 to €94,199 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. To apply for this position please use the SOLAS Application Form which can be found on the SOLAS Careers page. You must download and complete the application form. This application form must be submitted via email quoting reference number 615, by 12.00pm, noon, Monday, 27April 2026. CVs will not be accepted. 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. 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 when required. The use of AI throughout your recruitment process is limited. To understand more, see the SOLAS Careers page for details. 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 via the SOLAS website. Benefits: Paid Holidays Work Life Balance Employee Assistance Programme Travel Pass Scheme Cycle To Work Scheme Health And Wellbeing Initiatives