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.
Skillnet Ireland invites applications for the position of IT Infrastructure Specialist. Reporting to the Operations Facilities Manager, the role is responsible for overseeing the design, implementation, maintenance, and security of Skillnet Ireland’s IT infrastructure as well as being the main point of contact for all external service providers.
Key Responsibilities
IT Infrastructure
Server, Directory Platform Administration
Manage and maintain Windows Server and/or Linux environments.
Administer Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD), including identity, access, and group policy management.
Support Microsoft 365 services including Exchange Online, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and related workloads.
Virtualisation, Storage Backup
Manage virtualisation platforms such as VMware or Hyper‑V.
Administer enterprise storage systems, backup solutions, and recovery processes.
Ensure data integrity, availability, and secure backup/restore operations.
Networking Security
Manage enterprise networking including LAN, WAN, Wi‑Fi, VPN, routing, and switching.
Support firewall administration, network security controls, and perimeter defence.
Monitor infrastructure performance, availability, and capacity.
Cloud Infrastructure
Manage cloud environments in Azure and/or AWS, including compute, storage, identity, networking, and security configurations.
Support cloud governance, cost optimisation, and secure cloud architecture.
Operational Excellence
Implement and maintain disaster recovery and business continuity plans.
Maintain technical documentation, architecture diagrams, and operational standards.
Support cybersecurity initiatives, patch management, and vulnerability remediation.
AI Governance Responsible AI Officer
Lead organisational AI governance, ensuring responsible, ethical, and compliant use of AI systems.
Develop and maintain the organisation’s AI governance framework aligned with EU AI Act requirements 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 used across the organisation.
Conduct AI assessments, including risk assessments, impact assessments, and compliance reviews.
Manage AI approval processes for new AI use cases and technologies.
AI Risk Compliance
Coordinate AI risk assessments and ensure appropriate governance controls are implemented.
Lead AI literacy and awareness initiatives across the organisation.
Support organisational readiness for the EU AI Act, including documentation, controls, and reporting.
Information Security Governance
Security Governance Oversight
Provide governance oversight for information security, cybersecurity, supplier assurance, and NIS2 readiness.
Support development and implementation of security policies, standards, and procedures.
Coordinate supplier assurance reviews, security due diligence, and third‑party risk management.
Cybersecurity Support
Work with IT and security teams to ensure secure configurations, patching, vulnerability management, and incident response readiness.
Support monitoring of security events, alerts, and infrastructure logs.
Compliance Risk
Contribute to enterprise risk management activities, including identification and mitigation of information security risks.
Support internal and external audits, ensuring evidence, documentation, and corrective actions are completed.
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 Microsoft Azure, VMware, CompTIA Security+,ISO 27001 or similar.
AI governance or Responsible AI training
Experience Expertise
Strong experience managing IT infrastructure, servers, networks, and cloud platforms.
Knowledge of cybersecurity principles, information governance, and regulatory frameworks.
Competencies
Strategic Thinking Problem Solving
Communication Stakeholder Engagement
Documentation Standards
Continuous Improvement
Decision‑Making Accountability
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., Monday, 10 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.
