The Northern Ireland Civil Service has kicked off a recruitment campaign to find 120 deputy principals and is offering salaries starting at £47,304 to the successful applicants.
Deputy principals are middle managers described as playing an important role in developing and delivering key areas of government policy and supporting senior staff in the management of significant services and programmes.
The role is three grades below the senior civil service and positioned immediately below grade seven officers in the NICS hierarchy. The upper salary limit for the role is £49,515.
According to the Department of Finance, which has overall responsibility for NICS staffing, the current recruitment campaign aims to fill existing vacancies and is the first of its kind for four years.
Rising numbers of vacancies in the NICS were among the issues flagged by the Northern Ireland Audit Office in a report earlier this year. The NIAO said there were 5,486 vacant posts reported in the service in April 2025, well over three times the level in 2019.
The DoF said that the deputy principal roles currently being recruited for offered successful applicants a “great opportunity to build a rewarding career in public service” and would allow departments to reduce reliance on temporary promotions and agency staff.
It said that while the deputy principal roles are available across a range of departments and locations, the “vast majority” of positions are in the Greater Belfast area. However, candidates are warned that they must be prepared to work anywhere in Northern Ireland and will be a “mobile grade” that can be transferred to any civil service post.
The roles are open to applications until midday on 20 March.