Moira Doherty has been appointed permanent head of The Executive Office, assuming one of the most senior civil service positions in Northern Ireland. The appointment, confirmed by Jayne Brady, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, completes Ms Doherty’s transition from interim leadership to the permanent role this week following an external recruitment competition held late last year.
Ms Doherty has led the department on an interim basis since February 2026. Her permanent appointment brings her onto the NICS Board, the governing body overseeing the Northern Ireland Civil Service, placing her at the centre of governmental decision-making during a critical period for the Executive.
Role and Remit
As Permanent Secretary, Ms Doherty becomes the principal adviser to ministers for all departmental activities and assumes responsibility for managing the department’s staff and resources. The position carries significant accountability, with the postholder serving as Accounting Officer to the Northern Ireland Assembly through the Public Accounts Committee for the sound management of public funds.
The salary scale for the position ranges from £146,469 to £163,267.
Career Spanning Two Decades
Ms Doherty brings extensive experience to the role, having joined the Northern Ireland Civil Service in 1999. She has held senior leadership roles across multiple departments, spanning strategic, operational and community-focused areas.
Beyond her civil service career, she maintains strong academic and community connections:
- Visiting Professor at Ulster University
- Member of the Steering Group for the Masters in Public Administration
- Parent Governor on the Board of Governors at Lagan College
Part of Broader Senior Reshuffle
The appointment completes a wider reorganisation of senior civil service leadership announced earlier this year. In February 2026, Jayne Brady confirmed four senior appointments following external recruitment competitions, including new Permanent Secretaries for the Department for Communities, Department of Education, and Department for Infrastructure, alongside a new Departmental Solicitor.
Ms Doherty’s move from interim to permanent status provides continuity for The Executive Office, which coordinates cross-cutting government priorities including good relations policy, race and equality work, and ending violence against women and girls.
Questions Remaining
While the appointment offers stability, several details remain unclear from the official announcement. The department has not outlined Ms Doherty’s specific priorities for her permanent tenure, nor has it detailed the scope of the external recruitment competition that selected her.
Key questions for stakeholders include:
- What immediate policy priorities will Ms Doherty establish now that she holds the permanent position?
- How will her background in skills and education policy influence The Executive Office’s cross-cutting work?
- Given her interim role began in February, what assessment has been made of departmental performance under her temporary leadership?
- How will the new NICS Board composition, with these recent appointments, address the strategic challenges facing the civil service?
Further details on the appointment are available from The Executive Office.