Major Infrastructure Project Manager

Football Association of Ireland•Dublin, OH

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is seeking a Major Infrastructure Project Manager to lead and coordinate the development of the FAI National High Performance Centre from the design stage through to project readiness and delivery. This strategic role within the Project Management Office team, reporting to the Head of Strategic Projects and PMO, will ensure the project aligns with the FAI's objectives, governance, budget, and stakeholder expectations. The successful candidate will work closely with the COO, Senior Leadership Team, Infrastructure Team, funding partners, consultants, and key football stakeholders to oversee planning, design, stakeholder engagement, procurement, and governance. The goal is to develop a world-class facility that supports Irish football's current and future needs, while effectively managing risks and driving decision-making across all project workstreams.

Requirements

Degree qualification in Project Management, Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Business Management, or a related discipline.
Professional project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, PMP, APM) or equivalent experience.
Minimum of 5 years’ experience managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
Experience in project planning, governance, budgeting, risk management, and reporting.
Experience managing external consultants, contractors, and professional service providers.
Demonstrated ability to deliver projects against agreed timelines and budgets.
Experience preparing reports, business cases, and presentations for senior management and governance groups.
Exceptional communicator with the ability to engage, influence and build trusted relationships across a diverse range of stakeholder groups.
Highly organised, solutions-focused and comfortable working in a fast-paced, multi-channel environment.
A positive, empathetic leader who inspires confidence and motivates teams.
Professional, resilient and able to handle sensitive or complex stakeholder issues with care.
Strong understanding of project management methodologies and best practice.
Knowledge of project governance, procurement, budgeting, and risk management principles.
Understanding of stakeholder engagement and consultation processes.
Strong change leadership and organisational influencing skills.
Strong understanding of GDPR and data protection compliance.

Nice To Haves

Qualification in procurement, construction, governance, or contract management.
Membership of a relevant professional body.
Experience managing capital, infrastructure, construction, property, or sports facility development projects.
Experience working with public sector bodies, grant funding programmes, or government agencies.
Experience operating within a highly regulated or governance-driven environment.
Knowledge of the Irish sporting landscape and the role of national sports infrastructure.
Knowledge of planning, statutory approval, construction processes and sports facility development.

Responsibilities

Progress the National High Performance Centre project through the design and development phase in line with agreed project milestones and timelines.
Manage and coordinate external consultants, advisors, and design teams to ensure the timely delivery of project outputs.
Develop and maintain a comprehensive project plan, including governance, risk management, budget oversight, and reporting frameworks.
Support the completion of planning, statutory, environmental, and regulatory requirements as required.
Lead stakeholder engagement and consultation processes with government agencies, funding partners, local authorities, football stakeholders, and community representatives.
Support the delivery of other FAI facilities, infrastructure and construction projects as required.
Support the development and implementation of procurement processes for key project workstreams.
Prepare high-quality reports, recommendations, and business cases for the Senior Leadership Team and the FAI Board.
Support funding applications, grant drawdowns, and funder reporting requirements where applicable.
Establish the foundations required for the successful transition from design and development into the construction and delivery phase of the project.
Ensure the project remains aligned with the FAI's strategic objectives and the long-term development needs of Irish football.