Standards and Accreditation Officer (Permanent)

The Heritage Council is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates with relevant experience for the position of Standards and Accreditation Officer.

Reporting to the Head of Research, Learning and Cultural Heritage, the post-holder will lead the day-to-day coordination, delivery and future development of the Heritage Council's Museum Standards Programme for Ireland (MSPI), the development and future introduction of Archive Service Accreditation, and the ongoing review of accreditation standards across the cultural heritage sector.

The role requires someone who can manage multiple workstreams, work effectively across teams, and deliver practical outputs to agreed timelines. It combines programme coordination and project management with applied knowledge of collections management in cultural heritage settings. The successful candidate will be comfortable working with colleagues across the cultural heritage sector and will bring an evidence-based, collaborative approach to developing accreditation standards.

This is a permanent position based at the Heritage Council headquarters, Áras na hOidhreachta, Church Lane, Kilkenny.

Place of Work

The place of work will be The Heritage Council headquarters, Áras na hOidhreachta, Church Lane, Kilkenny.

Blended Working

The Heritage Council is pleased to offer a blended working policy that supports both collaboration and flexibility.

Flexible Working

The Heritage Council is committed to providing a supportive and modern working environment and is pleased to offer flexible working arrangements as part of this recruitment campaign. Recognising the importance of work-life balance, the organisation supports a range of flexible options, including blended working, flexible start and finish times under our flexible working policy.

Hours of Attendance

The standard working week is 35 hours.

How to Apply

To apply, please email a cover letter (no more than two pages) to Cathy Connelly at cconnelly@heritagecouncil.ie, with the role title in the subject line, outlining why you are interested in the opportunity and where you believe your skills, knowledge and experience meet the requirements of the role. Additionally, please attach a comprehensive curriculum vitae (C.V.) clearly showing the relevant achievements and experience in your career to date.

Please note the latest receipt for applications is the 13th of August 2026 at 5pm. Any applications received after the closing date and time will not be considered. 

Full details about the position can be found in the booklet below.