Rebecca tells us about her role as a Higher Executive Officer with publicjobs.
Where do you work & what is your role?
publicjobs - I am currently the Executive Search Manager.
Can you briefly describe what you enjoy most about being a Higher Executive Officer?
What I enjoy most about being a HEO is the balance between leading people and having the autonomy to make a difference. I enjoy being able to identify where something could work better, bring forward ideas and see those ideas genuinely considered and put into practice. I particularly value supporting and developing colleagues, whether they want to progress their careers or simply grow and stay engaged in the role they are in. I also love the variety of the role and the opportunity to work with people across different teams, grades and areas of the organisation and the wider sector.
Can you outline your career journey to date?
I joined publicjobs as a Clerical Officer, where I spent two years working in Client Relationship Management before progressing directly from CO to HEO. Since becoming a HEO, I have worked in Professional & Technical Clearance, where I managed a team supporting specialist recruitment and clearance, and more recently moved into Senior Executive Search, supporting senior and executive-level appointments. Alongside my career, I returned to education through the Recruitment Executive Apprenticeship offered through work and am now entering the final year of my BA (Hons) in Recruitment Practice. I have also continued my professional development, supported by the business in areas including AI, business innovation and digital transformation. My career journey since joining the Civil Service has shown me that progression does not always have to follow a traditional route and that there are real opportunities to learn, develop and take your career in unexpected directions.
What initially attracted you to your role?
I have always been interested in people – what motivates them, where their strengths lie and what helps them to succeed. Having held previous management roles prior to a ten-year career break, returning to something that offered me the opportunity to combine that with leadership and problem-solving was very important to me. I love looking at how something works and asking whether there is a better way of doing it. The role gives me the opportunity to lead people, improve services and processes, and contribute to decisions beyond my own immediate area, while remaining connected to the people ultimately affected by the work we do.
How would you describe your role day to day?
My current role in Senior Executive Search focuses on identifying and attracting high-calibre talent for senior and specialist appointments across the public service, including State Boards and senior Civil Service roles. Day-to-day, this involves developing search strategies, market research and candidate outreach, working with internal and external stakeholders, and supporting recruitment teams to reach the strongest and most diverse possible candidate pools.
Since recently moving into the department, a key focus for me has been reviewing how we work, including how we capture and analyse data, identify trends and develop our approach to talent attraction to further strengthen and elevate the Executive Search function within publicjobs. This builds on work in my previous HEO role, where I also had the opportunity to review existing processes, identify more efficient ways of working and lead improvements that ultimately enhanced service delivery.
What skills are required for your role?
My role requires strong communication and interpersonal skills, leadership, sound judgement, adaptability and the ability to manage competing priorities. Relationship and stakeholder management are particularly important in Executive Search, as is the ability to research, analyse information and communicate effectively with people at all levels.
Have you gained any new skills since starting your career?
Rather than gaining an entirely new set of skills, I feel my career in publicjobs has allowed me to continually strengthen and build on my existing skills. The organisation provides significant ongoing opportunities for professional development, but also for learning through exposure to different people, perspectives and areas of work. Most recently for example, I have further developed my interpersonal skills and gained a deeper understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion, including how we can adapt the way we communicate and work to recognise individual needs and create a more inclusive workplace.
Did you request any reasonable accommodations, or additional supports related to a disability or impairment when taking on your role?
I did not initially request reasonable accommodations when I applied for my previous or current role, as I had not yet been diagnosed with AuDHD. I received my diagnosis two-years ago at age 48, which was quite life changing. I disclosed this to the organisation and have since been supported in both my day-to-day working environment and my return to education. The support available has been particularly valuable in enabling me to balance the demands of work and study successfully. As part of my apprenticeship, I have an internal workplace mentor at Principal Officer level who provides guidance and support throughout my studies.
Having access to appropriate accommodations, alongside practical support and mentoring, has enabled me to continue developing academically while remaining fully committed to my role. So-much-so, I was recently invited to speak on a panel with two neurodivergent AP’s at the Town Hall where we had the opportunity to enlighten our colleagues on common misconceptions, ways to support staff and colleagues and importantly, to show-case for career progression for all staff regardless of RA’s.
Would you recommend a career in the public service?
Absolutely. I am a huge advocate for a career in the Public Sector and genuinely believe there is a role to suit almost every interest, skill set and stage of life. It’s something I wish I had pursued sooner and would recommend to people of all ages and backgrounds. In particular, I think it offers an incredible foundation for young people leaving school or college who are looking to build a meaningful, long-term career.
Alongside the opportunities for progression, development and work-life balance, there is a real sense of purpose in knowing that the work you do ultimately contributes to serving the people of Ireland and shaping a better future for our country.
We’re committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. Do you identify as a member of an under-represented group? If so, would you feel comfortable speaking about how this has shaped your experience?
In addition to identifying as neurodivergent, I am also a survivor of domestic violence, both of which have shaped my personal and professional journey. My circumstances meant having to rebuild my life and re-establish myself professionally as a single parent in my mid-40s, so I understand what it can feel like to believe you may be starting over again, later than others. I have been fortunate to work in an organisation where I have felt supported and have been given opportunities to use my lived experience positively, including sharing my journey to support awareness of our Domestic Violence Leave Policy and advocating for greater understanding of what it means to live and work as someone experiencing domestic violence and how best to support someone during and after. I believe there is real value in showing that neither your circumstances, age nor starting point need to define where your career can take you.
What are your interests outside of work?
Outside of work, most importantly, I enjoy spending time with my daughter and sharing her interests and activities, as well as keeping active myself. I also help run a Dublin-based homeless outreach group, which at times can feel like another job but is extremely rewarding and an important part of my life outside work.! We have been active for a number of years, coordinating outreach, volunteers and food/clothing donations to support people experiencing homelessness and sleeping rough. I also continue to advocate around domestic violence, and I am often approached to offer support and encouragement to others who may be navigating their own journey.
What are your career aspirations?
I feel my next focus is to progress to Assistant Principal, continue developing as a leader and have a wider impact on the organisation and the people I work with where possible.
Longer term, I hope to continue progressing into more senior leadership roles. A huge part of what drives me is setting an example for my daughter and other young women in my life, namely that circumstances or setbacks do not have to place boundaries on what you can achieve. My own journey has taught me not to place limits on myself, to keep moving forward and to show that it is never too late to set new goals.
Is there anything you would like to add?
One of the things I have learned is the importance of embracing opportunities as they’re offered, even when they initially feel outside your comfort zone. I have been fortunate to represent publicjobs at events, contribute to wider organisational initiatives and conversations, and take on opportunities that have helped me grow both personally and professionally, and helped me regain my voice after a journey of being silenced. My career has taken me in directions I could never have predicted when I first joined, and I hope that by sharing my experience, someone else might see that there is no single route to success – sometimes you simply have to take the opportunity and see where it leads.