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Dr Malcolm McKibbin

Dr McKibbin took up his post as Head of the Civil Service on 17 October 2011, succeeding Sir Bruce Robinson KCB. He was previously Permanent Secretary in the Department for Regional Development.

Role and responsibilities of the Head of the Civil Service

Dr Malcolm McKibbin is Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) and leads 25,000 civil servants. He is also head of the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and Secretary to the Northern Ireland Executive. In these roles, he is the most senior adviser to the First and the deputy First Ministers.
As Head of the Civil Service Dr McKibbin has primary leadership responsibility for creating, developing and sustaining the NICS as an organisation which serves the devolved administration and the institutions of government and the people of Northern Ireland through the provision of high quality, cost effective services.
Portrait of Dr Malcolm McKibbin, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service
Dr McKibbin’s main duties and responsibilities are:
  • Guiding the strategic direction of the NICS as an organisation
  • Leading and facilitating the development and enhancement of the NICS as an organisation including good management practices
  • Representing NI at the highest level both in the UK and abroad
  • Chairman of the Permanent Secretary Group, which undertakes corporate personnel management of the Senior Civil Service
  • Secretary to the Executive
  • Principal policy adviser to the First and deputy First Ministers across the full range of government issues