Roles in the diplomatic service
The mission of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is to serve the Irish people, promote their values and advance their prosperity and interests abroad, and to provide the Government with the capabilities, analysis and influence to ensure that Ireland derives the maximum benefit from all areas of its external engagement.
High level goals of the Department
- To serve our people at home and abroad and to promote reconciliation and cooperation
- To advance Ireland's interests, influence and values in our shared Europe
- To work for a fairer, just, secure and sustainable world
- To advance Ireland’s prosperity by extending our influence and promoting our interests internationally
- To strengthen our effectiveness and capacity to deliver on our goals
Role of the Third Secretary
Third Secretary is the recruitment level for the Irish diplomatic service and is the first step towards more senior and responsible posts in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
A role as a Third Secretary within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade includes responsibilities across a number of areas, particularly public policy. This includes preparation of analysis and research papers, preparing briefing material for Ministers and senior officials, liaison with Irish Embassies, Consulates and other diplomatic offices abroad as well as Government departments and organisations.
Working abroad
This role includes work abroad so there will be a requirement to serve for extended periods of time in a representative capacity in different countries. Successful candidates must therefore, have a high degree of adaptability, resilience and a commitment to work in foreign languages.
The day-to-day challenges of working in a mission abroad could range from organising high-level Irish Government visits, promoting trade, assisting Irish citizens in difficulties and managing mission budgets and development programmes.
Varied responsibilities
The Department seeks graduates who have the necessary personal qualities, skills and attributes to undertake the demanding and varying responsibilities of the position, including representing Ireland abroad, and to progress to the most senior positions in the diplomatic service.
Summary conditions of service
Personal qualities
In order to be effective in the role, Third Secretaries should be able to demonstrate:
- a high degree of adaptability, and resilience
- highly-developed interpersonal and communications skills
- a keen interest in, and understanding of, Irish public affairs, foreign policy and international relations
- an ability to project key messages abroad about Ireland’s economic and trade capacity, performance and business potential, and to deliver on economic, trade and cultural promotion opportunities
- an ability to contribute to the management and delivery of Ireland’s programme of development cooperation
- a high degree of resilience and resourcefulness in dealing with particularly challenging situations, often involving Irish citizens in difficulty abroad
- a knowledge and/or aptitude for foreign languages
Discover our people
Meet some of the Third Secretaries currently working across the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, at home and abroad.
Third Secretary, Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations
Karl Redmond
"I studied International Relations at DCU, and did a Masters in International Development at UCD before starting as a Third Secretary.
I previously worked as a Clerical Officer and Executive Officer in other government departments, giving me great insight into the varied work of the Civil Service.
I am currently on my first posting, based in New York working at our Mission to the United Nations, leading on General Assembly Affairs, Digital and AI, UN Elections, and Mission Administration, among other files. It has been hugely interesting and rewarding – a great privilege to get to represent Ireland abroad, and an opportunity that I have relished.
Before being posted abroad I was placed in the Global Ireland Unit, working on the administration and management of largescale funding programmes, the preparation of briefing material for senior officials, the development of memos to Government."
Third Secretary, Embassy of Ireland, Japan
Maureen Ryan
"I studied Portuguese and East Asian Studies with Chinese at the University of Manchester, followed by a Master's Degree in International Politics.
My career in DFAT began in the Asia Pacific Unit as Desk Officer for Southeast Asia and ASEAN, covering eleven countries and supporting our six embassies in the region.
I was then posted to the Embassy of Ireland in Beijing as Political Officer and Head of Education. The work was fascinating given China’s importance on the global stage.
Now I am the Head of Administration and Consul at the Embassy of Ireland in Tokyo. It has been an exciting period since we moved into our state-of-the-art Ireland House building. Together with our state agencies, we are maximising all opportunities in a Team Ireland approach to deepen the strong bilateral ties between Ireland and Japan."
Third Secretary, Cultural Attaché, Embassy of Ireland, United States of America
Ahmed Baky
"I have a Master's degree in International Relations of the Middle East from the University of Edinburgh and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and History from UCD.
My first assignment as a Third Secretary was within the Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Unit.
I am currently posted to our Embassy in Washington D.C. where I am the Cultural Attaché working as part of the Public Diplomacy team. My role is focused on delivering the Embassy’s public facing events (around 100 per year), engaging with the Irish-American community, and supporting the Embassy’s broader communications efforts including on high-level visits and special initiatives.”
Third Secretary, Consulate General of Ireland, Munich
Kate Hall
"I hold a BA in Applied Languages from the University of Limerick and an MA in EU International Relations and Diplomacy from the College of Europe. I started as a Third Secretary in DFAT’s Protocol Division in early 2023 and spent a year and a half there working on State Visits and Official Hospitality. In summer 2024 I took up my first posting abroad as Deputy Consul General in Ireland’s new Consulate General in Munich.
Opening a new mission has been an exciting challenge. We’re a small team here – two diplomats and two local staff – meaning that my work cuts across all areas of Irish diplomacy and no two days are ever the same. From political engagements to consular assistance to cultural events, there is always something happening. Munich is a wonderful first posting to have and I will be very sad to leave in summer 2027."
Third Secretary, Embassy of Ireland, Brazil
Sophie McGuirk
"I completed a Bachelors in European Studies at Trinity, followed by a Masters in EU Security and Defence Policies at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Before joining the department I spent several years in Brussels, working for a trade association, and later the European Commission.
I began in DFA in Consular Division, in an incredibly busy but interesting role. My time there coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine, and I was able to assist Irish citizens in difficulty during these crises. I then moved to Peace and Stability Unit, focusing on Ireland’s peacebuilding efforts worldwide. I also had the opportunity to work on President Biden’s visit to Ireland and to do a temporary posting to Embassy Cairo.
I am currently posted to Embassy Brasilia, where I lead on public diplomacy, consular, and admin amongst many other areas. The work is fascinating, Brazil is beautiful, and no two days are the same."
Third Secretary, Embassy of Ireland, Pakistan
Ben Headon
"I studied International Commerce and a Masters in International Business in UCD and following a long period working in Financial Services in Ireland I joined the Department in the Third Secretary role in 2023.
I worked on the US & Canada desk in Dublin for a year, supporting high-level visits including the opportunity to work on President Biden’s visit to Ireland. That role also included preparing multiple Ministerial visit briefings to the US and Canada and supporting the Division’s work across Trade, Cultural and Political priorities.
I am currently posted to Embassy Islamabad, where Ireland opened its first resident Embassy in 2024. Our work to establish Ireland's first Embassy and our resident presence in Pakistan has been fascinating and rewarding in equal measure."
Third Secretary, Peace and Stability Unit
Kate Collins
"I studied History and Politics at TCD and completed a Masters focusing on modern Irish history at Cambridge. Before starting as a Third Secretary, I also worked as a policy and data analyst at a British social policy analytics and software company.
As a Third Secretary in the Peace and Stability Unit, I work across a number of files, with the central one being the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. This involves the coordination of Ireland’s engagement on the agenda across our mission network and Irish Aid partners, as well as making contributions on WPS to policy briefings and speeches for senior officials. I also manage the relationships with a number of Irish Aid partners who mainly engage on peacebuilding and mediation."
How to apply
The Public Appointments Service (PAS) recruits high calibre graduates for the Irish diplomatic service who will contribute to the development and implementation of Ireland’s foreign policy and in representing, promoting and protecting the interests, values and economic well-being of Ireland and its citizens.
The application date for the 2026 competition has now passed - future competitions will be advertised on this page and on publicjobs.ie.