Minister Lawless invites expressions of interest for Chairperson of the Skillnet Ireland Board of Directors

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD invites Expressions of Interest (EOI) from suitably qualified and experienced persons for nomination as Chairperson of the Skillnet Ireland Board of Directors.

This is the first occasion in which the Chairperson of the Board of Directors will be appointed by the Minister. The appointment will be for a period of three years.

Skillnet Ireland, established in 1999, is an aegis body of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) and is funded from the National Training Fund through DFHERIS and the European Union. Its mission is to support enterprise-led learning and workforce upskilling across Ireland.

Minister Lawless said

The appointment process is being managed by State Boards on behalf of the Department. A detailed Information Booklet and application guidance, including the role description, eligibility criteria, and application form, have been published by State Boards and can be found at the following link:

Appointment as Chairperson to the Skillnet Ireland Board of Directors | Minister of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science - publicjobs.ie

Expressions of Interest should be submitted to State Boards (in line with their standard template process). Applicants should include a curriculum vitae and a short cover letter (maximum one page) indicating their suitability for the role.

The closing date for receipt of EOIs is 3pm on Thursday, 6 November 2025. Submissions received after that time will not be considered.

Appointments will be made with regard to merit, transparency and equality of opportunity. In line with governance best practice, gender balance and diversity are important considerations.

Skillnet Ireland

Skillnet Ireland was established in 1999 and is an aegis body of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. It is funded from the National Training Fund. The primary aim of Skillnet Ireland is to increase participation in enterprise training by companies to upskill the workforce and provide greater access for workers to skills development.

Skillnet Ireland is a Company Limited by Guarantee under the Companies Act 2014.

Primary responsibilities of the Chairperson

The primary responsibilities of the Chairperson are to:

• Plan meetings and develop the agenda in conjunction with the Company Secretary and/or the Chief Executive
• Ensure that meetings are managed, and that the responsibility of the Board of Directors is discharged
• Provide leadership to the Board of Directors and, in particular, in the determination of its strategy and the achievement of its objectives, in alignment with government policy
• Ensure that decisions made at meetings are implemented
• Work closely with the Chief Executive, in particular to facilitate the conduct of good governance
• Provide the vision and leadership to drive the organisation towards achievement of its key strategic goals and associated operational objectives in a challenging and complex environment
• Have overall responsibility for ensuring that the organisation complies with best practice corporate governance standards and requirements, including those relating to budgetary and other financial matters as well as maintaining the necessary high level of ethical standards for an organisation of this nature
• Undertake the supervision and appraisal of the Chief Executive
• Sign and certify the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Company
• On behalf of the Board of Directors, sign the Statement of Internal Control
• On behalf of the Board of Directors, sign the Chairperson’s Report to the Minister

Fees payable to Chairperson

The remuneration for the position of Chairperson is €11,970 per annum.

It should be noted that in line with the ‘One Person One Salary’ principle, no public servant will be entitled to receive remuneration in the form of Board fees, save for situations that are statutorily provided for e.g. Worker Directors.

Travel and subsistence allowances will be paid in respect of journeys undertaken to attend meetings of the Board or to transact its business. Payments will be made in accordance with approved public sector rates.

Role and Function of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors act as stewards of Skillnet Ireland and have the authority and duty to manage the affairs and business of Skillnet Ireland and its subsidiary, Skillnets Services DAC. The Board of Directors is responsible for a system of internal financial control. It exercises this responsibility with the assistance of the Audit and Risk (ARC) Committee, the Finance and General Purpose (FGP) Committee and the Evaluation and Performance Monitoring (EPM) Committee of the Board. In discharging its obligations, the Board’s principal duties include:

• Providing leadership in setting Skillnet Ireland’s long-term strategic direction, and to approve and monitor Skillnet Ireland’s overall strategic plan, operating goals, operating budget, performance indicators and the business plans established to achieve them.
• Ensuring that the executive team consistently adheres to and implements policy and procedures as advised.
• Identifying the principal risks that need to be managed to achieve a proper balance between exposure to risks and potential returns and oversee the implementation of appropriate systems to manage these risks.
• Adopting policies and processes to enable effective communication with stakeholders, employees and the public.
• Developing practices to ensure that the Board functions independently of the Skillnet Ireland executive.
• Undertaking rigorous and formal evaluation of the Board’s own performance and that of individual directors at least every 18 months.