Assistant Arts Officer

The Assistant Arts Officer will be a key post within the Louth County Council Arts Service and will report to the County Arts Officer under the Directorate of Social Development.

The Assistant Arts Officer will support the strategic planning for the development and delivery of all arts services. The role involves developing and implementing programmes and initiatives that increase participation and learning in the arts, paying special attention to social and cultural diversity. The role will work with internal and external partners to create opportunities to engage in the arts across the county.

This will include working on the development of programmes and initiatives that:

• Cultivate artistic excellence for artists, arts organisations and the wider arts sector.

• Acknowledge the value of amateur and volunteer participation in the arts.

• Recognise the role of the arts in celebrating and interrogating a wide range of social and cultural traditions and values.

The ideal candidate shall have:

• Have knowledge of the structure and functions of the local government, of current issues and strategic direction of Arts Services and an understanding of the role of the Assistant Arts Officer in this context.

• Good knowledge of current arts practice and the organisation of the arts in Ireland.

• Good knowledge base of local, national and international policy relating to Culture and Arts Development and Public Art as it applies to Local Authority Arts Service.

• Evidence of arts and cultural project management.

• Experience of working with artists, arts organisations and various communities of place and interest.

• Have effective project and budget management skills.

• Have a strong sense of commitment to delivering quality public services and be willing to take on a challenge.

• Have experience of planning and prioritising to meet targets and deadlines.

• Have experience of problem solving and decision making.

• Demonstrate openness and willingness to adopt to new ways of working.

• Flexibility to work after hours and at weekends as and when required.

The ideal candidate will also:

• Be self motivated with ability to work on his or her own initiative.

• Have strong interpersonal communication skills and be capable of representing the Council in a professional and credible manner with all stakeholders.

• Have an awareness of Health and Safety Legislation and Regulations, the implications for the organisation and the employee, and their application in the workplace.

Louth County Council is currently inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the above competition.

Louth County Council will, following the interview process, form a panel for the post, from which future relevant vacancies may be filled subject to sanction approval from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This panel will exist for 12 months and may only be extended at the discretion of the Chief Executive.

Character

Each candidate shall 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, Training, Experience

• Must hold an ordinary degree (level 7 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications) in an Arts or Cultural discipline.

• Have at least 3 years’ satisfactory relevant arts development and administration experience including experience in the area of programme development and budget management.

• Hold a full clean, Class B driving license and have access to their own vehicle.

Candidates will have to demonstrate from their application form to the satisfaction of a short-listing board that they possess sufficient skills and experience in the competencies listed below in order to be called for interview.

Understanding Purpose and Change

Delivering Results

Performance through People

Candidates short-listed for interview will then be assessed at the interview stage under the three competencies listed above in addition to Local Government Knowledge and Understanding.

Understanding Purpose and Change

• Understands the Council’s purpose, goals and priorities.

• Shows commitment to these goals and ensures that the team understands how their work contributes to meeting the Council’s objectives.

• Understands the Role of the Elected Council and the Representational Role of the Elected Members.

• Understands and adheres to the Code of Conduct for all employees and complies with all Council rules, regulations and procedures.

• Ensures that there is full understanding of and compliance with all Council rules, regulations and procedures for employees within designated area of responsibility.

• Supports diversity.

• Understands and supports Workplace Partnership.

• Represents the Council positively when dealing with the public or other agencies.

• Creates a positive image of the Council both within the team and through interaction with the public and other stakeholders.

• Understands the need for change and gets this across persuasively to others.

• Makes a positive case for change and elicits commitment from others.

• Implements change in an orderly and determined manner.

• Co-operates fully in implementing safe systems of work in accordance with the Corporate Safety Statement and relevant Ancillary Safety Statement for their area of work.

Delivering Results

• Evaluates issues and situations in a logical and objective manner in order to arrive at effective solutions.

• Makes decisions in a timely, clear and well-informed way.

• Helps translates the business and team plan objectives into clear priorities and actions for their area of operation.

• Helps establish high quality service and customer care standards.

• Allocates resources (staff and equipment) across jobs to ensure that priorities are met and that work is executed in the most efficient manner possible to deliver quality work and services.

• Takes initiatives to control and reduce the cost of activities and minimise waste in the services provided.

• Abides by the laws, regulations and policies and procedures affecting your employment and the discharge of your duties.

• Sets and implements high standards of service delivery in accordance with the established parameters of the operational plans.

• Closely monitors quality of activities and takes initiatives to improve work processes over time.

Performance through People

• Leads the team and service area in a manner that provides clarity of purpose and a focus on delivery.

• Engages with individual staff and the team in a motivational and supportive way.

• Leads and develops the team and its members to achieve corporate objectives through the effective management of performance, using the PMDS process.

• Builds and maintains positive working relationships and constructively addresses conflict or employee dissatisfaction.

• Recognises the value of and requirement to communicate effectively.

• Have good written and verbal skills.

• Have good interpersonal skills.

Local Government Knowledge and Understanding

• Demonstrates knowledge of the structure and functions of local government.

• Demonstrates knowledge of current local government issues and advocates practical approaches to addressing them.

• Demonstrates a clear and realistic view of future trends and strategic direction of local government.

• Demonstrates an understanding of the role of an Assistant Arts Officer in this context.

Duties

The duties may include, but not be limited to, the following and the post holder will contribute to the development of the post while in office and may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned from time to time.

• Work with County Arts Officer in the management, development, delivery and evaluation of new and existing programmes to a high standard, in line with the Louth County Council Arts Strategy 2022 to 2026 and to inform forward planning and decision making.

• Assist with the administering and coordination of the Louth County Council Arts Grants, Bursaries, Awards and Commission Schemes.

• Manage the delivery of projects to a high artistic standard within budget and within prescribed timeframes as determined by the local authority.

• Support Arts Officer in the day to day management of arts budgets.

• In consultation with the Arts Officer, take the lead responsibility for the implementation of specified programmes and projects which enhance public participation in and access to the arts in the county.

• Further develop and maintain partnerships within the local authority, and with external agencies such as the Arts Council, Government Departments and other strategic partners, ensuring clarity over respective aims, roles and responsibilities to grow resources for the sector.

• Take a lead role in the social media and online presence of the Louth County Council Arts Department in consultation with the councils corporate and communications team.

• In collaboration with the Arts Officer, source and provide specialist advice and information and mentoring both internally and externally in the area of arts development.

• Assist in the promotion, programming and participation of national and local annual events such as Culture Night, Bealtaine, Cruinniú na nÓg, and other events as advised.

• Assist with funding applications and sourcing additional funding where appropriate.

• Travel throughout the county as required by the role.

• Carry out duties in compliance with appropriate procedures including the maintenance of records and information.

• Preparing documents and reports as appropriate and providing reliable quantitative data and accurate evaluation in relation to participation and demographics.

Salary The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. The holder of the office shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than his/her inclusive salary) payable to and received by him/her by virtue of his/her office or in respect of services which he/she is required by or under any enactment to perform. The salary scale for the position of the Assistant Arts Officer (Grade V) is: €51,722 – €61,865 (LSI 2) gross per annum.

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 the minimum point.