Careers in the Department of Social Protection

The Department of Social Protection's mission is to promote active participation and inclusion in society through the provision of income supports, employment services and other services.

The department is the largest payment organisation in the State. It also operates the public employment service and directly funds a wide range of employment programmes and citizen advisory services.

The department's main functions are to:

• advise government and formulate appropriate social protection and social inclusion policies
• design, develop and deliver effective and cost efficient income supports, activation and employment services, advice to customers and other related services
• work towards providing seamless delivery of services in conjunction with other government departments, agencies and bodies
• control fraud and abuse within the social protection system

The department plays a key role in two of the major government policy domains – the distribution and re-distribution of income to assure social cohesion and equity of economic outcomes, and the efficient operation of the supply side of the labour market.

You can read more about the department's goals in the Statement of Strategy.

Recruitment for the Department of Social Protection is generally conducted, through open competition, by the Public Appointments Service (PAS). PAS is the centralised provider of recruitment, assessment and selection services for the civil service and is the main access route for candidates interested in joining the public service.

All information for any current open positions and information relating to PAS is available on the Public Jobs website.

Legal Advisor: (Assistant Principal Level)

The Department of Social Protection Legal Affairs Division, is seeking to recruit a Legal Advisor at Assistant Principal Level.

Applications are open from Friday 10 April 2026 with a closing date of 3pm on Friday 01 May 2026.

More information about this position is available in the information booklet:

To apply, please register your profile on the DSP Careers Portal and submit your application for Legal Advisor: (Assistant Principal Level)

The above link will bring you straight to the job listing

State Boards allows applications to open positions.