Advertisements have been placed over the weekend and online to recruit the new CEO of Sport Ireland.
It was announced last week that John Treacy would be stepping down from the role which he has held, in a couple of different guises, since 1999.
The role is one of the most influential in Irish Sport and the five year fixed term will see through to the end of the current 10-year National Sports Policy, as well as the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Sport Ireland disburses €90 million per annum of Government funding to over 60 National Governing Bodies of Sport and 29 Local Sports Partnerships and has a crucial role to play in how sport is funded, how it is governed and how it is delivered.
The successful candidate to emerge from the open recruitment process will need to be a leader and a diplomat, a shrewd political operator and beyond reproach with regard to governance.
There will be many within the current sports environment that will likely throw their hat in the ring, as well as others from the world of business who would be attracted by the lustre of sport at the highest level.
The key requirements listed in the job advertisement are:
• Senior executive-level experience and strong business acumen which demonstrates the necessary vision, leadership and operational skills to deliver all aspects of Sport Ireland’s mandate and strategic remit.
• Demonstrable understanding of the Irish sporting landscape and the importance of sport in our society with a passion and ambition for what can be achieved.
• Sound judgement and integrity with an ability to make sound decisions in a complex and dynamic environment.
• The resilience, determination and diplomacy required to make an impact and to gain the respect and the support of the multiple stakeholder entities across sport in Ireland.
• The ability to promote and apply the necessary rigour to achieve the highest standards of corporate governance and financial oversight.
Backing up the process, being conducted through Lansdowne Executive Search is a 30-page booklet outlining the criteria that apply to working at a senior level in the public sector.
The role is at the equivalent level to an Assistant Secretary in a Department and carries an entry salary of €143,845.
The closing date for the initial application is 5 PM on Friday, November 19th after which a shortlisting and interview process will be undertaken. The role will become vacant at the end of the year so the hope is that the process will completed in order to allow for a short transition period.
It promises to be an exciting and nerve-wracking period for those who put themselves forward for the role, a number of whom we likely be readers of Sport for Business. We wish them every luck in landing such an important position.
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