Jobs at Skillnet Ireland (Now Hiring) — 2 open

Information Security & IT Operations Specialist

Skillnet Ireland is a business support agency of the Government of Ireland. Our mandate is to advance the competitiveness of Irish businesses through enterprise-led talent development. Skillnet Ireland partners with more than 57 enterprise bodies, providing talent development, upskilling and innovative business supports to 23,142 businesses and 84,515 workers throughout the country last year. The agency has been recognised as an international best-practice model by the European Commission, the OECD and the ILO, among others.

Our mission is to empower enterprises and individuals across every region and sector to build the skills, confidence, and innovation capacity to drive national competitiveness and to succeed in a changing world. We work in partnership with business, government, and education to deliver upskilling driven by enterprise needs, and aligned with Ireland’s national priorities in digital transformation, sustainability, and inclusive growth. Our mission is to create a connected learning ecosystem that accelerates innovation, supports lifelong learning, and supports Ireland’s workforce to be competitive, adaptable, and future-ready.

Skillnet Ireland is funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Skillnet Ireland is a member of the European Pact for Skills. The organisation actively participates in several skills development projects with European partners. These projects are co-funded by the European Union and support the development of digital and sustainability skills in Irish businesses and organisations. 

Role & Key Responsibilities

Skillnet Ireland invites applications for the position of Information Security IT Operations Specialist.  The position involves ensuring outsourced providers deliver secure, resilient IT services while also maintaining regulatory compliance.

The role is responsible for

• Information Security Management (ISO 27001)

• IT infrastructure oversight (working with outsourced MSPs)

• Cybersecurity Governance and Compliance

• Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

• AI governance and responsible AI compliance

• Supplier and vendor management

Key Responsibilities

1. Information Security Governance & Compliance

• Maintain, update, and manage the administrative life cycle of the Information Security Management System (ISMS) in alignment with ISO/IEC 27001 standard.

• Coordinate internal security audits, gather evidence for external audits, and track corrective action plans through to resolution.

• Maintain the Risk Register, Statement of Applicability (SoA), and Information Security policies/procedures, ensuring regular reviews with key stakeholders.

• Oversee mandatory security awareness training programs and track employee completion rates.

• Monitor key security control metrics (Cyber Fundamentals) and deliver regular compliance dashboards to the leadership team.

• Contribute to NIS2 readiness and cybersecurity governance.

2. Supplier & Outsourced Provider Management

• Serve as the primary operational relationship owner and escalation point for outsourced IT Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and external supplier partners.

• Monitor provider performance against Service Level Agreements (SLAs), Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and ISO 27001 Annex A supplier relationship controls.

• Lead monthly operational reviews and quarterly business reviews (QBRs) with key providers.

• Coordinate with the MSP to ensure timely patch management, system maintenance, incident management, and user onboarding/offboarding workflows.

• Ensure all third-party suppliers adhere to our information security standards through periodic third-party risk assessments.

3. Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery & Organisational Resilience

• Coordinate the design, maintenance, and updating of Business Continuity Plans (BCP) and Disaster Recovery (DR) plans.

• Conduct annual Business Impact Analyses (BIA) to determine critical functions and recovery objectives.

• Plan and facilitate tabletop exercises and live DR tests with internal teams and MSPs.

• Maintain response rosters, communication protocols, and escalation workflows.

• Document findings and drive continual improvement across resilience processes.

4. AI Governance & Responsible AI Officer

AI Governance Framework

• Lead organisational AI governance, ensuring responsible, ethical, and compliant use of AI systems.

• Develop and maintain the AI governance framework aligned with the EU AI Act and best practice.

• Chair the AI Working Group and coordinate cross‑functional governance activity.

AI Inventory & Assessment

• Maintain a comprehensive inventory of AI systems, tools, and models.

• Conduct AI risk assessments, impact assessments, and compliance reviews.

• Manage approval processes for new AI use cases and technologies.

AI Risk, Compliance & Literacy

• Ensure appropriate governance controls are implemented for AI systems.

• Lead AI literacy and awareness initiatives across the organisation.

• Support organisational readiness for the EU AI Act, including documentation, controls, and reporting.

The Individual

Qualifications

• A third‑level qualification in a relevant discipline (e.g., computer science, information technology, information systems, software engineering or related field).

• Certifications such as CompTIA Security+, ISO 27001, CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) or similar (desirable)

• AI governance or Responsible AI training

Experience & Expertise

• 5 years + previous, relevant experience

• Strong experience managing IT infrastructure, servers, networks, and cloud platforms.

• Previous experience of managing outsourced partnership relationships

• Knowledge of cybersecurity principles, information governance, and regulatory frameworks.

Competencies

• Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving

• Communication & Stakeholder Engagement

• Documentation & Standards

• Continuous Improvement

• Decision‑Making & Accountability

Application Details

Applicants are invited to submit their application through the Skillnet Ireland Careers page and should include:

• A comprehensive CV

• A short application letter (maximum two pages) outlining key achievements and demonstrating how their skills, experience, motivation, and values align with the requirements of the role

Closing Date: 5.00 p.m., Friday, 14 August 2026.

Selection Process

• Shortlisting based on application materials.

• Preliminary interview

• Final competency‑based interview, which may include a written exercise and strategic presentation.

• Comprehensive reference checks.

An attractive and competitive package will be offered to the successful candidate.

Skillnet Ireland operates a hybrid working model for roles that meet business and suitability criteria. Skillnet Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer and values equity, diversity and inclusion.

If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact us.