Agri-Food Regulator - Head of Corporate Services

Agri-Food Regulator - Head of Corporate Services Overview of the Agri-Food Regulator
An Rialálaí Agraibhia (Agri-Food Regulator) is an independent statutory Office established in December 2023 under the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act 2023. The Agri-Food Regulator is concerned with promoting fairness and transparency in the agri-food supply chain. It's statutory remit and focus is on business-to-business relationships within the supply chain.
The 2023 Act assigns two main areas of work to the Regulator:
a) the enforcement of unfair trading law in business-to-business relationships in the agri-food supply chain. Under the 2023 Act, the Agri-Food Regulator has been designated as the Enforcement Authority for the purposes of Directive (EU) 2019/633 of 17 April 2019 on unfair trading practices in business-to-business relationships in the agricultural and food supply chain . To coincide with the establishment of the new Office, the Unfair Trading Regulations (SI 625 of 2023) were introduced and, from that date, the provisions of SI 198 of 2021 introduced as part of the initial transposition of the Directive into Irish law were revoked. The Unfair Trading Regulations provide legal protection against 16 specific unfair practices for any supplier of agri-food products subject to their annual turnover being lower than the buyer's turnover once the buyer's annual turnover is greater than €2m.
b) the collection, analysis and publishing of reports on price and market data relating to the agricultural and food supply chain in the State and to publish regular analysis and reports on contingency issues regarding the agricultural and food supply chain. Following a request from the Board of the Agri-Food Regulator, new regulations granting the Agri-Food Regulator the power to compel the provision of price and market information from businesses were signed by Martin Heydon TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on 16th December 2025. The new Regulations (SI 629/2025) have been published and can be found here . Under these Regulations, the Regulator will have the ability to compel information impacting upon price and margins from a business within the agri-food supply chain in cases where that business has not complied with a request for information voluntarily.
Background to the Role
The Agri-Food Regulator has established a strong and well-functioning corporate services framework to support the delivery of its statutory mandate. As a relatively new public body responsible for promoting fairness and transparency in the agri-food supply chain, the organisation has developed robust governance, financial, people, ICT and operational support structures. The focus now is on maintaining and enhancing these arrangements, ensuring they continue to evolve in line with organisational needs, public sector best practice and regulatory requirements. Strong corporate services leadership will be essential in sustaining organisational effectiveness and supporting the Regulator's continued development.
The Head of Corporate Services is a key senior management role within the organisation, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer. The role is central to supporting the effective operation of the Regulator and ensuring that the organisation has the corporate infrastructure, systems and processes required to deliver on its strategic priorities.
The postholder will lead and oversee a broad range of corporate functions, including finance, human resources, procurement, ICT, facilities management, communications and engagement, audit, risk and corporate governance. Working collaboratively with internal stakeholders, the postholder will also engage with external advisers and subject matter experts, as required, to ensure the continued delivery of high-quality corporate services and compliance with relevant best practice and regulatory requirements.
They will also play an important role in supporting the CEO, Board and Audit and Risk Committee by ensuring that appropriate governance, reporting and assurance arrangements are in place.
The successful candidate will be a member of the Agri-Food Regulator's senior management team and provide leadership to support the Board and the Chief Executive Officer to deliver on the vision for the organisation as set out in the Strategy Statement.They will be accountable for the efficient and effective operational delivery of the Regulator's day-to-day functions as set out below.
This post will become vacant at the end of 2026 following a planned retirement. On that basis, the successful candidate will ideally be in a position to commence at the beginning of January 2027.
Role and Responsibilities
The person appointed will have a proven track record of management and leadership within a relevant organisational environment and will have experience working collaboratively with senior stakeholders to support the development and implementation of strategy.The Head of Corporate Services will have excellent understanding and knowledge of financial and governance requirements involved in managing a government agency. Responsibilities of the Head of Corporate Services post include but are not limited to:

• Finance:
  • Leading the annual budgeting process;
  • Managing the Regulator's annual pay and non-pay budget including drawdown of funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, preparation of quarterly management accounts and reports and preparation of annual reports and accounts;
  • Preparation of annual business plans and reports.
  • Monitoring and managing the Regulator's bank account including facilitating prompt payment of invoices to suppliers;
  • Overseeing compliance with tax laws and regulations including the submission of all tax and regulatory filings
  • Management and coordination of the programme of internal audits, including the annual Internal Financial Controls Audit.
  • Leading the annual audit with the Comptroller & Auditor General.
• Human Resources: Responsible for human resource management including workforce planning, developing and managing the administration of HR policies and procedures, recruitment, training and development, employee relations and overseeing payment of salaries and expenses by the NSSO through the Department.
• Communications and Engagement: Responsible for the proactive oversight and implementation of the Regulator's communication and engagement activities including event attendance.
• Procurement: Responsible for oversight of all procurement activities ensuring compliance with public procurement policy and Irish and EU regulations and management of the tendering process. Oversee effective contract management of all third-party contractors engaged by the Agri-Food Regulator
• Act as Secretary to the Audit and Risk Committee
• ICT: Liaising with the Department as the Regulator's third-party IT provider to ensure effective governance over all ICT systems and leading on the implementation of the Regulator's ICT Strategy.
• Facilities management: Ensure the effective operation of the Agri-Food Regulator's office space.
• Corporate Governance: Coordinating all corporate governance and regulatory requirements and obligations of the Regulator as set out in the 2016 Code of Practice for the Governance of State Boards and other legislation relevant to the Regulator.

Reporting and Working Relationships
The Head of Corporate Services is expected to develop and maintain key working relationships with the following:

• Senior management team, CEO and Board of the Agri-Food Regulator
• Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and other state agencies.
• Outsourced service providers for areas including HR, financial accounting, procurement and communications.

Note : The functions and responsibilities initially assigned to the position is based on the current organisational requirements and may be changed from time to time.
The post is located at the Government Campus, Backweston, Celbridge, Co. Kildare.
Essential Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements at the time of the competition closing:

• A minimum of 5 years management experience leading multi-disciplinary teams;
• Demonstrable experience leading and managing the financial management process in a medium size organisation including the annual budgeting process and liaising with internal and external auditors;
• Excellent communication skills, with a strong capacity for public engagement; and
• Demonstrable experience of interpersonal and influencing skills across a range of stakeholders at an appropriately senior level.

Desirable Criteria
Applicants may also have:

• A recognised professional accountancy qualification (e.g., ACA, ACCA) or an appropriate major award at Level 8 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications, in one of the areas covered by Corporate Services, such as finance, business administration, communications, HR.
• Demonstrable experience in at least one of the key areas of responsibility under Corporate Services being:
  • Risk management
  • Information technology
  • Human resources
  • Procurement
  • Facilities management and
  • Communication and engagement
• Demonstrated ability to quickly develop knowledge and capability across a broad and evolving range of Corporate Services functions.
• Experience operating in a similar type of public sector organisation.
• Experience of working with government agencies at a senior level.
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