The Northern Ireland Government is advertising for a new head of the Public Service just weeks before the incumbent, David Sterling (pictured), is due to retire.
This is despite Mr Sterling letting his employers know before Christmas that he intended to stand down in August.
The job comes with a starting salary of more than £160,000 ($A284,000), rising to more than £188,000 ($A333,700) — more than is earned by First Minister, Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, who are both paid £123,000 ($A218,300) a year.
Mr Sterling (62), who was appointed in 2017, immediately faced the unenviable task of keeping the Public Service operating for almost three years in the absence of a functioning Executive.
In his pre-Christmas announcement he said he was making his decision known then “so that a competition for my successor can be launched at the earliest opportunity”.
Yet it is only now that the search for a new Public Service head has been launched.
Having approached the issue sluggishly, the Government is now in sudden haste, with just 13 days given for applicants to apply.
The wording of the advertisement points to a substantial salary rise for whoever gets the job.
At present, according to the most recent set of accounts published, Mr Sterling receives a salary of between £155,000 ($A275,000) and £160,000.
Candidates are also told of an “attractive pension package” and will receive a total of 42 days’ holiday every year.
The process of recruitment will include candidates who pass the first stage having to undertake a “psychological personality assessment” with a psychologist, and a series of interviews.
The process will culminate in an unusually politicised final interview because it will be conducted by Mrs Foster and Ms O’Neill, who will then decide on who to appoint.
That final interview will not be until mid-September, meaning that there will be no head of the Public Service for at least a month.
Curiously, despite the expectation that such a senior role would automatically require enormous experience, the job advertisement states that applications from those under 35 “would be particularly welcomed”.
Belfast, 20 July 2020
