The Northern Ireland Office has kicked off the recruitment process to find a successor to veterans commissioner Danny Kinahan, who resigned from the role last month.
Kinahan, who is a former British Army officer, Ulster Unionist MP and member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, was the inaugural Northern Ireland veterans commissioner and served in post for four years.
However, in early September he announced that he had resigned from his position "following an open and frank conversation" with Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn.
"I have sadly concluded that I cannot provide the independent voice that veterans require," Kinahan said in a statement. “There is a feeling among some veterans in Northern Ireland that they have been forgotten and that they do not enjoy the same protections as their counterparts in Great Britain."
Kinahan added: "Veterans in Northern Ireland have particular needs and concerns which need to be addressed by the UK government, which I have made very clear in our discussions."
In March, the Northern Ireland Veterans Support Office announced it would close, following a joint Ministry of Defence and Office of Veterans Affairs review.
Greater resources for the Northern Ireland veterans commissioner and the continuation of Conservative plans to make the role full time and statutory have been ongoing demands made of the new Westminster government.
Nevertheless, the NIO's recruitment campaign for Kinahan's successor describes the role as part-time and non-statutory.
The successful applicant will be expected to work for 110 days a year, paid at £306 per day, according to the job description.
In an overview of the role, Benn said he was looking for someone with knowledge of the "wider public sector landscape" and an "understanding the veterans’ perspective", including knowing where problems exist and having the ability to work alongside partners to identify solutions.
While Benn acknowledged that the role does not come with legal powers or duties, he said it represents "a unique opportunity for a dynamic individual to deliver maximum impact for former members of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force in Northern Ireland".
The commissioner role is open to applications until 4pm on 1 November. The job advertisement describes the appointment as running until August 2026, but says there is potential for the term to be extended.