Age Friendly Regional Programme Manager

The role of the Regional Programme Manager is allocated between supporting local Age Friendly Programmes in their region to ensure that all programmes are performing at optimal levels and meeting Key Performance Indicators, reporting to the shared service, leading on thematic areas of work and representing the shared service on national fora to progress objectives and initiatives. The Regional Programme Manager also takes a thematic lead and will deliver a national programme of work, to be specified, under the auspices of the shared service.

Responsibilities of the post are aligned to the four strategic objectives of the Age Friendly Ireland Shared Service as follows:

Strategic Objective 1: Strengthening and Embedding Local Programmes

• Support the National Programme Manager in the development and implementation of a national strategy and work plan for the programme by supporting a regional structure

• Work as part of the shared service team to support the development of the programme nationally in collaboration with other Age Friendly Regional Programme Managers and the National Programme Manager

• Support a team based framework of Age Friendly Programme Managers across the local government sector with a specific focus on supporting adjoining county and city Age Friendly programmes within the north region

• Facilitate the development and implementation of local strategies and infrastructure to support the participating county and city based programme managers and other stakeholders

• Advise the local Programme Manager in the specific region in building effective Alliances and constructive working relationships with local government, Health Service Executive and other programme stakeholders to support and build capacity for the implementation of the programme

• Support the local Programme Manager in the specific region in a coordinated approach to the implementation of Local Age Friendly Alliances, Older People’s Councils, local staff units and delivery of Age Friendly strategies

• Build relationships with the local authority Age Friendly Housing Technical Advisors in the region

• Support the establishment of Interdepartmental Teams within each local authority in the region as part of their core programme structure

• Deliver Age Friendly training modules as required, such as Age Friendly Business, Age Friendly Communications and Age Friendly Libraries

• Utilise Age Friendly Ireland’s technical resources and implement guidance documents within the region

Strategic Objective 2: Scaling Up and Replicating Best Practice

• Lead in the development and roll out of national guidelines to facilitate and support local city and county programme leaders in the delivery of high quality evidence based initiatives and the strengthening and embedding of the programme across all local authority areas

• Manage the effective delivery of specific initiatives that need to be further extended or replicated across all participating Age Friendly programme areas

• Support regional opportunities for local programmes to work jointly on programmes across a number of Age Friendly programme areas, particularly in the context of health initiatives, transportation, planning and other initiatives

• Support the collection of data on housing with regard to Age Friendly Housing provision, rightsizing and the overall implementation of the Housing for All policy

• Support the delivery of the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme in counties in the north region

• Take the lead role in coordinating the implementation of a limited number of specific projects or pilot initiatives under individual local Age Friendly Strategies

Strategic Objective 3: Measurement, Monitoring and Sharing Learning

• Collect data at regional level to inform overall Key Performance Programme Indicators based on the gathering of available evidence

• Support continuous improvement in the quality and long term operation and management of the Age Friendly Programme through the design and development of appropriate reporting templates and operational materials to further ensure effective implementation and mainstreaming

• Support the development of systems and processes to ensure appropriate data is available to inform effective decision making and drive continuous quality improvement

• Work with the Research Unit in the shared service to coordinate the research and dissemination of effective practices and initiatives adopted across the network of thirty one local programmes

• Attend and contribute to team meetings in the national shared service office to monitor progress and effective implementation and input to the overall delivery of the Age Friendly Ireland shared service

• Identify potential challenges and barriers to progress and communicate same through the National Programme Manager

• Advise and support local Age Friendly Programme Managers on the development of local annual reports and assist with strategy preparation and monitoring

• Support the National Communications and Operations Manager with communication of programme objectives and outputs and assist with national and regional communication campaigns and national events such as the Older People’s Councils Convention, National Age Friendly Awards and Age Friendly Ambassadors Day

Strategic Objective 4: National Policy

• Represent the National Age Friendly Ireland shared service at regional level by attending local Age Friendly Alliance meetings in the neighbouring local authority programme areas in the specific region, providing a catalyst to the National Shared Service and updating the local Alliances on key strategic developments at national level, particularly in the context of national policy

• Support the work of a small number of relevant expert working groups at national level when requested

• Support the Chief Officer at regional level by providing a network and support structure to produce deliverables in partnership with national stakeholder organisations, for example the Health Service Executive, An Garda Síochána, the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, government departments and Non Governmental Organisations

• Support the objectives of the Programme for Government 2025 with regard to its objectives for the ageing population, such as rightsizing supports, the representative function of Older People’s Councils and enhancing community supports for older people

• Any other duties as required

Qualifications for the Post

Character

Each candidate must be of good character.

Health

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

Education and Experience

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

a) Have a good standard of education

and

b) Have not less than five years satisfactory experience in a managerial or developmental role

and

c) Possess an excellent standard of administrative, communications, facilitation and leadership experience

Desirable Experience and Knowledge

It would be desirable that each candidate would possess:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work with people. Experience in consultation and facilitation is critical. Experience of working with senior management and engaging with national or international fora

• A track record in delivering results

• Experience in innovation and problem solving

• Experience in local government and or public service provision

• Experience of working in a multi agency or multi stakeholder environment

• A knowledge of and understanding of the World Health Organization’s Age Friendly Global Framework, health, housing and other relevant policy

• Excellent project management skills

• Well developed skills and aptitudes in forging partnerships, relationship building and influencing

• Excellent report writing skills and data collection and analytical skills for monitoring purposes

• Experience of budget management and the ability to plan the use of resources effectively and identify potential funding streams for Age Friendly initiatives

• Ability to work collaboratively, achieve results and contribute positively to the National Age Friendly Ireland shared service team

• Previous knowledge or experience of working within the ageing sector

• An understanding of the local authority’s purpose and priorities

• An awareness of Equality, Human Rights, Health and Safety legislation and regulations, the implications for the organisation and the employee and their application in the workplace

• A background in community development, ideally with experience of managing consultation processes

• Technical Information Technology skills including a knowledge of online working, delivering presentations through various platforms and data collection software

• Access to own car and driving licence, as the role requires travel within the region and to Dublin, Meath or other national meeting locations on occasion

• A highly functioning individual with the ability to work on their own initiative and manage competing demands within a complex environment

• Performance management experience

This role, while located in a host local authority, will require travel both within the region and nationally on occasion. Therefore flexibility is required in hours and location of work.

Miscellaneous Provisions

Salary

Salary scale: €60,011 – €78,015 per annum, EL 07/25, analogous to the Administrative Officer grade.

Payment of increments is dependent on satisfactory performance. Entry point of this scale will be determined in accordance with the appropriate Department Circulars.

Hours of Work

The normal working hours will be thirty five hours per week. Duties may require the successful applicant to work outside of normal working hours, for example attendance at evening or weekend events and training duties, as part of normal working hours without additional remuneration. All hours worked will be subject to the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, as amended.

You may be required to complete a time sheet in accordance with the Organisation of Working Time Regulations 2001.

Start Date

Meath County Council shall require a person to whom an offer of employment is made to take up an appointment within a reasonable period of time, usually two months from the date of offer, to meet the organisational requirements of the Council. Meath County Council reserves the right to withdraw its offer in the event that an appointment is not taken up within such a period.

Leave

Thirty days per annum.

Sick Leave

The terms of the Public Service Sick Pay Scheme will prevail.

Probation

The following provisions will apply:

(a) There shall be a period after such appointments take effect during which such persons shall hold the position on probation

(b) Such period shall be nine months, but the Chief Executive may at his or her discretion extend such period

(c) Such persons shall cease to hold the position at the end of the period of probation unless during such period the Chief Executive has certified that the service of such persons is satisfactory

Travel

It is essential that holders of the post hold a full driving licence for Class B vehicles and shall be required to drive a motor car in the course of their duties and for this purpose provide and maintain a car to the satisfaction of the local authority. Travelling expenses and subsistence expenses necessarily incurred in the course of official duties will be refunded in accordance with appropriate rates in line with the relevant Department Circulars and Local Authority Travel and Subsistence Policy.

Meath County Council, as employer, must be indemnified on your insurance policy. If during your employment your licence is revoked, even temporarily, or if you receive endorsements on your licence which may affect your duties, you are obliged to notify the Council immediately.

Residence

The person holding the office must reside in, or at an address convenient to performing the role or function as approved by the Chief Executive.

Citizenship

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

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

or

b) A citizen of the United Kingdom

or

c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the European Union and Switzerland on the free movement of persons

or

d) A non European Economic Area citizen who is a spouse or child of a European Economic Area, United Kingdom 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 European Economic Area citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, a European Economic Area Member State, the United Kingdom or Switzerland and has a Stamp 4 visa

Safety and Welfare

The holder of the post shall cooperate with the terms of Meath County Council’s Safety Statement and Major Emergency Plan. He or she shall familiarise himself or herself with the safety rules and procedures and make proper use of all safety clothing and equipment.