Assistant Arts Officer

SECTION 1: THE ROLE

The Assistant Arts Officer will have a key role in Cork County Council’s Arts Office. The Arts Office is a unit of the County Library and Arts Service within the Directorate of Climate Action and Emergency Services. The Assistant Arts Officer will report to the Council’s Arts Officer and County Librarian.

The role will support strategic planning for the development and delivery of arts services, delivery of socially engaged, community focused arts programmes at a divisional and municipal level.

The Arts Office team is responsible for the delivery of arts services and development of arts initiatives that contribute to the quality of life and environment for the citizens of the county. We work to make the county a culturally and artistically vibrant place where the arts are valued, supported and integrated.

Our work aims to:

• Support development of the arts at local level.

• Support emerging and established artists in Cork County.

• Work collaboratively and strategically to promote equitable access and participation in the arts.

• Develop new and diverse audiences for the arts.

• Foster and encourage excellence in the arts.

• Advocate for the local arts sector on a local and national level.

• Support the arts through provision of resources, services and communication of funding opportunities.

SECTION 2: DUTIES

The duties may include but are not limited to the following and the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office:

To support Cork County Council in the ongoing development and delivery of arts services provided by the local authority;

To have responsibility for the delivery of arts projects, programmes and tasks that will be assigned from time to time at the discretion of the local authority;

To manage the delivery of projects to a high artistic standard within budget and within prescribed timeframes as determined by the local authority;

To provide technical and administrative reports relating to the arts as may be required by Council Management or designated committees of the local authority;

Work with the Library and Culture and Creativity teams to support the integrated design and delivery of shared programmes and other initiatives arising from the County Creative Ireland Programme;

Carry out all duties in compliance with appropriate procedures including procurement of services, management of budgets, health and safety and the maintenance of records and information;

Represent the Arts Office and Cork County Council at public functions, meetings, internally across the organisation and with external agencies, where required;

To engage with the public, artists and members of the community in a professional manner at all times;

To support engagement between the local authority and other national and local agencies in the development of arts provision for the county;

To assist in the preparation of plans for the development of the arts as may be required by the local authority;

Any other duties that may be required by the local authority in the delivery of its arts service remit;

Organising and managing events held by the Arts Office in accordance with appropriate Health & Safety guidelines and event plan management;

Work with the Arts Office team to compliment and support the design and delivery of a new Arts Office led programmes and policy initiatives;

To carry out any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

The above specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

SECTION 3: ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA / QUALIFICATIONS

Character

Each candidate must be of good character and the successful applicant will be subject to Garda Vetting prior to any appointment being confirmed.

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, Training, Experience etc.

On the latest date for receipt of completed application forms for the office:

a) Have a Level 8 qualification in Fine Art, Arts and Humanities, Arts Administration or related discipline.

And/Or

b) Have a minimum of 2 years experience and achievement in arts management/development or other relevant field.

Required Skillset

In the context of the key duties and responsibilities for the post of Assistant Arts Officer listed above, the ideal candidate should demonstrate through their application form and at the interview that they have the following knowledge, experience, skills and competencies:

• Have an understanding of the structures and functions of local government, in general, and the strategic policies and objectives supporting the development and delivery of local arts services in particular, and the role which the Asst. Arts Officer will play in this context.

• Have a record of working for three years or more at a relatively senior level of responsibility, with proven experience of at least one of the following: socially engaged arts practice, youth arts practice, arts programming, public art management or other relevant area.

• Demonstrate an understanding of artistic best practice.

• Have experience of working with artists in a variety of contexts.

• Have experience of community engagement in, and delivery of effective community orientated programming within an arts context.

• Have strong project and budget management skills.

• Possess excellent communications and interpersonal skills, demonstrating an ability to manage and develop positive relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.

• Be highly motivated with an ability to think strategically, manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, to work alone and as part of a team.

• Be able to gather, analyse and evaluate information and data and prepare and present reports and strategies effectively.

• Proven ability to achieve successful delivery of multiple tasks within prescribed deadlines and budgets.

• Flexibility to work outside standard working hours as may be required.

Age

Age restrictions shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not classified as a new entrant within the meaning of the Public Services Superannuation Act, 2004. A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 70 years of age.

Transport

This post will involve travel within the county and elsewhere. Holders of the office shall hold a full driving licence for Class B Vehicles and shall 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.

SECTION 4: COMPETENCIES

A Competency Based Application form requires you to describe some of your personal achievements to date that demonstrate certain competencies (necessary skills and qualities) required for the position for which you are applying. For each competency, you are given a description of a skill or quality. You are then asked to describe a situation, from your own experience, which you think is the best example of what YOU have done which demonstrates this skill or quality.

It is essential that you describe how you demonstrated the skill or quality in question. Therefore, compose your replies carefully in this section and try to structure what you write so that you give specific information about what you have done - for example, do not simply say that “X was successful”, describe exactly what you did and how you demonstrated the skill or quality in question.

For each example please include the following:

a) the nature of the task, problem or objective;

b) what you actually did and how you demonstrated the skill or quality (and, where appropriate, the date you demonstrated it);

c) the outcome or result of the situation and your estimate of the proportion of credit you can claim for the outcome.

SECTION 5: TENURE

The position is permanent and fulltime. The post is pensionable. A panel may be formed to fill permanent and temporary vacancies for Assistant Arts Officer which may arise during the lifetime of the panel.

SECTION 6: SALARY

The salary scale for the post is: €51,722 - €61,865 basic per year.

€51,722 - €53,266 - €54,844 - €56,454 - €58,076 (Maximum), €59,967 (1st LSI) (after 3 years satisfactory service on the Maximum), €61,865 (2nd LSI) (after 3 years satisfactory service on the 1st LSI).

Entry point to this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. In accordance with Departmental Circular letter EL 02/2011, a person who is not a serving local authority employee on or after 1st January 2011, will enter the scale for the position at a minimum point.

Rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government Policy. Where there is an increment entitlement, increments are paid subject to satisfactory attendance, conduct and performance.

SECTION 7: LOCATION OF POST

The base for working purposes will be the Arts Office based in the County Library Building. Cork County Council reserves the right to assign you to any department, premises or district in use by the Council, now or in the future. Changes in location of employment will not result in payment of disturbance money or compensation.

SECTION 8: WORKING HOURS

The working hours at present provide for a five-day, thirty-five hour working week. A flexible working hours’ system is in operation and may be availed of subject to the terms and conditions of the FlexiTime Policy.

All hours worked will be subject to the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 and the Organisation of Working Time Act (Regulations) 2001. The successful candidate may be required to work hours outside of normal working hours as required by his/her immediate Supervisor.

SECTION 9: ANNUAL LEAVE

The current annual leave entitlement is 30 days per annum. Cork County Council’s leave year runs from 1st January to 31st December. 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 (as amended).