The Child and Family Agency was established on 1^st January 2014 and is responsible for a range of statutory functions including provision of child protection, alternative care, specified regulatory services and a range of family support services.  The Agency has commenced a major improvement programme with significant focus on Practice, Culture and Structure.

The Agency currently has responsibility for a budget of circa €1.2billion and delivers its services through over 5,500 people in 259 locations across the Country.

The Child and Family Agency has responsibility for the following range of services:

• Child Protection and Welfare
• Parenting, Family Support and Early Help Services
• Alternative Care
• Birth Information & Tracing and Adoption
• Tusla Education Support Services (TESS)
• Children’s Service Regulation
• Counselling and Therapeutic Supports

Further information is available on www.tusla.ie

Tusla Estates develops and manages Tusla’s national building stock (currently approximately 350  buildings) in order to create and sustain a physical environment that enhances wellbeing in  clients and which enables and empowers staff.

The Estates function provides a range of professional, technical, project management, property and related services in respect of the procurement, development and operation of Tusla’s physical infrastructure – including buildings, plant and equipment.

These services include design, specification, project management, supervision and procurement associated with major and minor capital building and refurbishment works, risk and asset management, property services, fire, health and safety etc.  

The post will provide a range of estates management services in line with national policies and will play a key role for advancing Estates policies and strategies.

The following strategic objectives outline the key areas of focus for the delivery of the Tusla Estates Strategy 2026–2030:

1. Provide Residential Capacity for Alternative Care – expand and enhance Tusla’s statutory and step-down residential provision to meet national and regional demand, reduce reliance on private placements, and deliver high-quality, trauma-informed care.
2. Provide Appropriate Accommodation for All Service Users and Staff – modernise and consolidate Tusla’s offices, centres, and service locations to create safe, inclusive, and fit-for-purpose environments for both service users and staff.
3. Develop a Sustainable, Low Carbon Estate – implement energy-efficiency measures, sustainable design standards, and green technologies to reduce the Agency’s environmental impact and achieve national decarbonisation targets.

Strengthen Tusla’s Estates Function and Governance – build the systems, capacity, and governance structures required to manage Tusla’s estate strategically, ensuring transparency, accountability, and long-term value for money.

Together, these objectives define the structure of Tusla’s Capital Plan 2026–2030 and provide the framework for how the Strategy will be implemented.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To be the Estates Lead regionally (3no. New Regions), providing support and advice on the management of the estate including, capital planning and project management, estate maintenance, environment management and infrastructural risk management. Estates Manager North will cover the regions West North East, Dublin Mid Leinster and Dublin North East. Estates Manager South will cover the regions Mid West, South West and South East
• To manage the development and operation of a national Facilities Management function to support local management to meet its obligations in this regard.
• To interact with the different divisions/directorates on all Estates matters including Child Protection, Social Work, Adoption, Early Years Inspectorate, TESS, Workforce Learning & Development etc.
• To manage shared service arrangements regionally with the HSE and any other relevant body.
• To enable implementation of the Tusla Estates Strategy, as well as all relevant policies and procedures in managing the estate nationally, including support for service managers.
• To manage the delivery of the capital plan including the management of individual projects within the plan in the area designated and oversee the funding arrangements for individual projects.
• To audit and quality assure compliance with estate policies, procedures, and practices throughout the country.
• To lead out on the delivery of all functions in the area designated associated with Tusla Estates.
• To manage all Estates Staff in their designated area. Each Estates Manager will have 5 Direct reports.
• To manage Regional Estates Budgets, both Capital and Revenue
• To interface with the Regional and network Management teams, senior management and all Estates customers.
• To advise on all national strategies and issues relevant to Tusla Estates.
• To act as spokesperson for the organisation as required
• To demonstrate pro-active commitment to communicating with internal and external stakeholders.
• To support the Head of Estates in securing capital funding for estates projects through engagement with the DCDE/ DPER and any other relevant agency.
• To plan, promote and deliver targets in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to enable Tusla to meet government climate action targets.

Health & Safety

• Comply with and contribute to the development of policies, procedures, guidelines and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.
• Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the service for example National Standards for Child Protection and Care and comply with associated Tusla – Child and Family Agency protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the rolle.

The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office. 

Applicants must by the closing date of application have the following:

• Hold a Level 8 (or higher) Quality & Qualifications Ireland major academic award in Architecture, Engineering or Surveying.

Or

• Have Chartered Membership of one of the following professional associations:

• Society of Chartered Surveyors in Ireland
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
• Engineers Ireland
• Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland

Or

• Hold a qualification at least equivalent to one of these;

And

Have had at least eight years’ satisfactory and relevant experience in planning, design, project management or construction of buildings or in the installation or maintenance of the mechanical, electrical and heating services of such buildings.

And

• Possess a high standard of technical training and experience.

And

• Possess the requisite knowledge and people management skills (including a high standard of suitability and of administrative capacity) to discharge the duties of the office.

Health

A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Character

Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character.