Grainia Long joined the Department for Communities as Permanent Secretary in April 2026. DfC is the largest of the nine Executive departments with a particular remit to improve the lives of people and households by enabling housing supply, providing excellent welfare and social security services, boosting employability, investing in community infrastructure and supporting the arts, culture, heritage and libraries.  With a budget of £1.2 billion and employing 11,018 staff people, the Department works with its Arms Length Bodies and other partners to enable communities to thrive. 

Prior to her appointment Grainia was the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the strategic housing authority for Northern Ireland and one of the largest public landlords in Europe.

Previously, Grainia was the Commissioner for Resilience for the City of Belfast, and co-chaired the Belfast Climate Commission. Grainia was also the Chief Executive of the National Child Protection Charity in the Republic of Ireland, ISPCC Childline. This position followed several years working in housing, including as Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), and previously National Director of the CIH in Northern Ireland. She has served two terms as a member of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, was a member of the Lyons Commission on Housing Supply and Advisor to the Best Commission on the Future of Housing in Northern Ireland.