Chief Executive Officer

May 13, 2026

THE ROLE

Post Title: Chief Executive Officer
Post Status: 5 Year Fixed Term Contract – Renewable by Agreement
Location: IPHA, 5-7 Clanwilliam Terrace Grand Canal Quay, Dublin
Reports to: IPHA Board of Directors
Direct Reports: Eight
Closing date for application: Friday 29th May 2026

Organisation and role

The Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) represents global pharmaceutical companies in Ireland investing and bringing forward innovative medicines to prevent, treat and, sometimes, cure diseases. We engage in deep dialogue with State bodies across a range of policies to deliver better outcomes for patients through faster access to new medicines and clinical trials, to sustain investment, competitiveness and life sciences innovation, and to support high ethical and self-regulatory standards.

We are seeking a Chief Executive Officer to lead the Association in strategy, operations and organisation and exemplify its culture, personality and engagement in key relationships with all stakeholders. These range from IPHA members and staff to Government, the Oireachtas, public bodies, patient organisations, international organisations, media and the public.

A key priority for the CEO will be to safeguard and enhance the robustness and sustainability of the industry’s self regulatory framework, ensuring continued confidence from regulators and stakeholders.

Strategic priorities for the incoming CEO

Ensure speed, predictable and sustainable patient access to innovation
Enhance Ireland’s competitiveness for investment
Deepen influence in European policy
Evolve member engagement model
Strengthen organisational capability
Strengthen public trust

Core responsibilities

Reporting to the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer is to bring proactive leadership to:

Strategy: to develop, propose and implement the Association’s strategy and culture with the IPHA Board and other key member groups.

Membership: to ensure the Association meets members’ changing needs and enables their full participation in the Association, expanding membership opportunities and services, and ensuring the governance of the Association at all levels meets Board policies.

Relationships: to ensure the Association continuously deepens and widens effective working relationships with all key stakeholders, taking personal responsibility for highest level relationships and ensuring a sustained, consistent approach across all.

Policy: to ensure IPHA public policy proposals are of the highest quality and best-positioned to be adopted, based on robust evidence, consistent with national and European priorities, and always supporting both patient benefits and commercial strategies;

Financial: to manage both short term efficiency and controls and the medium term financial health of the Association and to develop, lead and implement business services that meet IPHA members’ needs and the wider needs of the sector.

International: to participate proactively in international organisations that IPHA is part of with a principal focus on EFPIA (the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations), and also the AESGP and IFPMA, representing the industry in Ireland well and achieving peer group recognition among fellow national and international associations.

Essential requirements for the role-holder

Experience of working in, or interacting with, government at senior level on the development and successful adoption of significant policy proposals affecting commercial environments;
A track record of leadership with demonstrated results across organisational strategy, culture, relationships management, policy development and operations, ideally related to the life science sector in Ireland;
Knowledge drawn from experience of the Irish healthcare policy environment and Irish economic policy relating to foreign direct investment, plus, ideally, of the pharmaceutical sector within both;
Ability to motivate, lead and develop all IPHA staff in a high performance and collaborative culture, especially working with subject matter experts from member companies;
Financial management fluency and competence;
Legal and regulatory familiarity and high level governance capability and sensitivity;
Understanding of, and familiarity with, the European policy environment relevant to the health and pharmaceutical sectors. Competencies:
Strategic thinking, proactivity and ability to lead organisational development;
Sophisticated judgement and weighing of diverse perspectives to propose clear pathways forward;
Demonstrated ability to develop and manage a multi stakeholder environment, with consistency of approach and sensitive, proactive engagement to win support, achieve agreement and overcome challenges;
Excellent communications skills at all levels to represent a collective position, from internal lines of accountability at Board level to wide external audiences including conference presentation and media in live and written formats.
Ability to represent IPHA internationally and to take proactive part in such meetings, building credibility and relationships to the point of being elected to leadership roles by international peers. Personal attributes:
Strong team player internally and externally, working to build partnerships, drawing on external professional networks;
High ethical standards and cultural fit with the organisation;
A demonstrated personal commitment to high performance and results and, at times, exceptional high intensity and pace across diverse areas;
Commands respect internally and among external stakeholders and lead peers in collaborative projects;
Has a high degree of attention to detail and precision, a commitment to integrity and high standards, including the principles of the IPHA Codes;
A creative, resilient, solution-oriented mindset;
Persuasive and empathetic, and comfortable in public facing environments.

The job description is a guide to the work the post holder will initially be required to undertake. It may be amended from time to time to meet changing circumstances by mutual agreement. It is expected that the job description will be reviewed regularly by the post holder and his/her manager.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

IPHA has engaged Lansdowne Executive Search to manage the recruitment process for this position. Candidates for this role will be sought via three channels:

(a) Lansdowne Executive Search’s own search activities

(b) Online advertising on selected Industry websites and

All applicants to advertisements will receive an acknowledgement of their application and all will be assessed based on the criteria specified for the role. Applications will be via email only.

No original certificates or references should be submitted as any part of an application.

Following the completion of the advertising and search processes, a short-listing process will be done based on the information supplied on the CV and cover letter and, as appropriate, based on initial screening interviews by Lansdowne Executive Search.

Candidates selected from the short-listing process will be invited for an interview with IPHA. It is likely that a small number will be called for second interview, in which case they may be asked to prepare a presentation in response to a possible case study or proposed business scenario. As appropriate, shortlisted candidates may be required to undertake psychometric tests

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Application Closing Date: Friday 29th May 2026.

To pursue your interest please email a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae and supporting letter to:

Seán McDonagh, Partner
Lansdowne Executive Search Limited,
Email: sean.mcdonagh@lansdownesearch.ie
Or for a confidential discussion please call Seán on +353 87 796 1062.

PLEASE NOTE:

Candidates must submit ONE document in WORD format containing CV and Application Letter together.
The document must be TYPED. Handwritten forms will not be accepted.
Please read the job specification (Pages 7-8 of this Information Booklet) which provides relevant information about the requirements of this post.
The IPHA is an equal opportunities employer. Recruitment to posts within the IPHA is on the basis of merit as assessed during the recruitment process.
Please note that omission of any or part of the requested application documentation or incorrect formatting, as set out below, will render the application incomplete.
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS TIMETABLE

Application closing date: 29th May 2026

Competitive preliminary interviews commence (Lansdowne): Early June 2026

Qualified candidates presented to IPHA for short-listing: Mid-June 2026

First-Stage Interviews (IPHA) Late June 2026

Final-Stage Interviews (IPHA) Early July 2026

Offer extended to successful applicant Early July 2026

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