Administrative Officer

Cavan County Council leads and collaborates with all to drive and shape a better future for our County and it is a progressive, dynamic and innovative local authority in Ireland.

Cavan County Council employs over 500 employees across service divisions including housing and building, roads, transport and safety, water supply and sewerage, development management, environmental protection, recreation and amenity, agriculture and education and miscellaneous services.

A dynamic and ever evolving place to work with a stimulating and challenging work environment, Cavan County Council offers excellent career opportunities in a wide range of administrative, professional, creative, technical, and general services roles. Supported by continuous learning and development, a highly skilled workforce is central to delivering these objectives.

In the heart of the scenic lakelands, Cavan is located less than two hours’ drive from Dublin, Belfast, and Galway and boasts an unrivalled quality of life.

The Competition

The Council is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates with relevant experience for the position of Administrative Officer (Grade VII).

Recruitment arrangements to this grade will now be on the following basis:

The Council will form three separate panels of suitably qualified candidates to meet the requirements agreed nationally of the ratio of posts to be confined to the local government sector, open and those confined to Cavan County Council staff. The order of candidates placed on each of the three panels is determined by where they were placed on the overall Order of Merit List.

Panel A (Confined to Local Authority Sector)

Will comprise successful applicants in order of merit from within the Local Authority Sector only, that is, candidates serving in a Local Authority or Regional Assembly where applicable.

Panel B (Open)

Will comprise all successful applicants in order of merit and may include candidates serving in a Local Authority, Regional Assembly and external applicants.

Panel C (Confined to the Recruiting Local Authority)

Will comprise all successful applicants in order of merit from within the recruiting Local Authority, that is, candidates serving in Cavan County Council.

For the purposes of the above, the sector Panel A is comprehended to include all Local Authorities and the three Regional Assemblies only.

Staff who are not existing employees of Local Authorities or Regional Assemblies are not eligible to apply for competitions confined to the sector (Panel A) or to the local authority (Panel C).

Qualifications for the PostCharacter

Each candidate must be of good character.

Citizenship

Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or

b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or

c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

d) A non EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA, UK or Swiss citizen and has a Stamp 4 visa; or

e) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a Stamp 4 visa; or

f) A non EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state, the UK or Switzerland and has a Stamp 4 visa.

Health

Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Successful candidates will be required to undergo a medical examination carried out by the Council’s Occupational Medical Advisor prior to appointment.

Education, Training, Experience, etc.

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:

Applicants to Panel B (Open)

(i)

(a) Have obtained at least Grade D, or a Pass, in Higher or Ordinary Level, in five subjects, or four if Irish is included, from the approved list of subjects in the Department of Education Established Leaving Certificate Examination or Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, including Irish and/or English and one of the following: Mathematics, Accounting, Business Organisation or Economics; and

(b) Have obtained at least Grade C, or Honours, in Higher Level or Honours papers in three subjects in that examination, or two subjects if Irish and/or one of the following is included: Mathematics, Accounting, Business Organisation or Economics; or

(ii) Have obtained a comparable standard in an equivalent examination; or

(iii) Hold a third level qualification of at least degree standard; and

(iv) Have satisfactory experience in administrative procedures, including adequate practical experience in work of an executive nature, office organisation and control of staff.

Confined Competition (Panels A and C as appropriate)

(v)

(a) Be a serving employee of a Local Authority or a Regional Assembly and have not less than two years’ satisfactory experience in a post of Clerical Officer or analogous post; and

(b) Have satisfactory experience in administrative procedures, including adequate practical experience in work of an executive nature, office organisation and control of staff.

The Position

The Administrative Officer is a middle management position within Cavan County Council and is responsible for the administration and management of one or more sections or departments handling specific areas of the Council’s activities, including the management of staff.

The Administrative Officer contributes to and implements the strategic and policy decisions of the Council through ensuring the implementation of operational plans.

The post holder will be expected to work closely with senior managers and elected representatives in delivering services to the highest standard and to contribute to the development and implementation of strategies and policies.

The Administrative Officer is the primary point of contact and liaison with other departments or directorates in relation to all operational matters for the service delivery section or sections for which they are responsible.

The Administrative Officer is expected to carry out their duties with an understanding of the political context of local government and in such a manner that enhances public trust and confidence and ensures impartial decision making.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Administrative Officer responsibilities are set out below:

• To be responsible for the management and administration of one or more sections or departments within the Council, including the management of staff and the planning and prioritising of work programmes.
• To contribute to and implement the strategic and policy decisions of the Council by ensuring that work programmes within their area of responsibility are implemented to deliver on the Council’s corporate and operational plans.
• To develop and maintain productive working relationships with all external agencies, bodies, elected representatives, committee members and other stakeholders, including providing information and assistance when required.
• To communicate and liaise effectively with employees, managers in other sections, senior managers, customers, elected representatives and other stakeholders in relation to operational matters for their section.
• To research, analyse and communicate information on specific issues and policies as appropriate, including compiling, preparing and presenting reports, presentations and correspondence.
• To represent the local authority on committees and at meetings and to report on progress in his or her respective section or department as required.
• To provide support and administrative assistance in the delivery of projects as required.
• To be responsible for the day to day financial management of capital and operational expenditure in the department or section, including preparation of budgets and maximising funding opportunities where appropriate.
• To identify opportunities for improvements in service delivery, value for money and other efficiencies within the relevant area of responsibility and to use performance indicators effectively as appropriate.
• To communicate, implement and manage change management initiatives within the relevant area of responsibility.
• To manage and supervise employees in supporting roles, including assigning duties and workload, providing ongoing support, handling day to day issues and identifying training and development requirements as appropriate.
• To ensure that department or section operations are in compliance with all Council policies, procedures, practices and standards and in compliance with the principles of good governance, legislative requirements and Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government circulars and guidance.
• To provide assistance in the understanding and interpretation of the Council’s policies and procedures to employees in their area of responsibility and to customers and other stakeholders as appropriate.
• To participate in corporate management activities and responsibilities appropriate to the grade.
• To be in compliance with Health and Safety legislative requirements, policies and procedures and safe systems of work.
• To deputise for the line manager or equivalent as required.
• To undertake any other duties of a similar level and responsibility as may be required from time to time.

Probation

The successful candidate shall be required to be on probation for an initial period, as determined by the Council. This period may be extended at the discretion of the Council.

Salary

Remuneration will be at the Administrative Officer national wage scale.

The present minimum scale is €60,611 increasing to €78,795 per annum, including LSIs, with annual increments subject to satisfactory performance via PMDS.

The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.

Garda Vetting and Child Protection

This post may come within scope of the Local Authorities Garda Vetting Scheme.

Accordingly, candidates may be requested to complete and sign a Consent Form to permit the required vetting to be completed in respect of candidates to whom the position will be offered prior to taking up duty.

Annual Leave

The annual leave entitlement for this post will be 30 days per annum.

Granting of annual leave, payment for annual leave and arrangements for public holidays will be governed by the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.

Working Hours

The post entails a wide range of duties which require maximum flexibility and will be based on a 35 hour week.

The Council reserves the right to alter the hours of work from time to time.

Pension

The Local Government Superannuation Scheme applies.

Acceptance of Offer of Employment

Cavan County Council shall require persons to whom appointments are offered to take up such appointments within a period of not more than one month and if they fail to take up the appointment within such period, or such longer period as the local authority in its absolute discretion may determine, Cavan County Council shall not appoint them.