Assistant Arts Officer

The Position

The Council now invites applications from suitably qualified persons who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel from which permanent and fixed-term contract posts for the position of Assistant Arts Officer will be drawn.

The Assistant Arts Officer (analogous Staff Officer) is a key post within the Arts Office. The post holder will work with internal and external partners to create opportunities for all community members to engage in the arts throughout Westmeath, as creators, audiences, and participants. The role involves project management, communications, artist development, administration, and evaluation. The post holder will support the wider work of the Arts Office, report to the Arts Officer, and be expected to use initiative, work to a high standard, and demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Support Westmeath County Council in the ongoing development and delivery of arts services provided by the local authority.
• Assist with and contribute to the implementation of all elements of the Westmeath Arts Plan.
• Take an operational lead on any arts engagement programmes as specified under Westmeath County Council / Arts Council framework agreements.
• Manage the delivery of projects to a high artistic standard, within budget and within prescribed timeframes as determined by the local authority.
• Lead communications and marketing for Arts Office initiatives across digital and traditional media platforms.
• Support audience development and increase public awareness, participation, and engagement in the arts throughout County Westmeath.
• Develop opportunities for creative practitioners and for art form development through initiatives such as bursaries, production grants, mentoring, training, and networking.
• Assist with funding applications, partnership development, and bid writing.
• Have responsibility for the day-to-day management of the agreed arts budget.
• Have responsibility for the delivery of designated Arts Office programmes and projects.
• Support the delivery of public art projects.
• Assist with the management of the Westmeath County Council Annual Arts Grants, Bursaries, and Awards Schemes.
• In consultation with the Arts Officer, manage, evaluate, and assess the impact and delivery of programmes, including monitoring and evaluating projects to inform forward planning and decision making.
• Support the development and maintenance of partnerships within the local authority and external agencies, networks, and individuals to maximise opportunities for arts development across the county.
• Develop arts opportunities for children and young people, encouraging participation, audience development, and pathways for emerging creative practitioners.
• Promote equality, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility across all Arts Office initiatives, ensuring equality of opportunity for creative practitioners, audiences, and participants.
• Provide mentoring, information, advice, and guidance both internally and externally around the field of arts development, as appropriate.
• Prepare documentation and reports as appropriate.
• Represent the Arts Service and Westmeath County Council at internal and public meetings, events, and functions as required.
• Carry out all duties in compliance with appropriate procedures, including the maintenance of records and information.
• Work in a flexible manner in line with the organisation’s corporate objectives and role and be willing to perform such other appropriate duties in relation to the arts in the region as may from time to time be assigned by the Council.
• Take responsibility for tasks that will be assigned from time to time at the discretion of the Arts Officer or local authority.

The post holder may be required to perform duties appropriate to the post, other than those detailed above, and to take instructions from and report to an appropriate Officer, or carry out such duties as designated from time to time.

Qualifications for the Post1. Character

Candidates shall be of good character.

2. Health

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

3. 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

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.

4. Education, Training, Experience

Candidates must have, on the latest date of receipt of completed application forms:

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

(a) Have at least three years’ satisfactory relevant arts development and administration experience, including experience in programme development and budget management.

and

(b) Have satisfactory knowledge of a public service organisation.

and

(c) Hold a full clean Class B driving licence and have access to their own vehicle.

Non-Irish qualifications must be accompanied by a determination from Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to establish their comparability against the Irish National Framework of Qualifications. Overseas qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document.

5. The Ideal Candidate

• Shall have a good knowledge of current arts practice and the organisation of the arts in Ireland, especially as it applies to the professional development of artists, arts organisations, and festivals.
• Have a good knowledge base of local, national, and international policy relating to art and cultural development, as it applies to the Local Authority Arts Service.
• Have the creative and organisational ability to drive the development and delivery of professional development programmes in an arts context.
• Demonstrate evidence of devising and managing art projects and programmes.
• Have excellent organisational, administrative, and IT/multimedia skills.
• Have excellent communication, interpersonal, and team-building skills.
• Have experience of communications, marketing, audience development, or digital engagement in arts and culture.
• Demonstrate the ability to sustain a complex workload.
• Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary arts practice, artist development, audience engagement, and the professional and policy context of the arts and cultural sector.
• Have experience of working with artists and arts companies and producing professional development learning programmes.
• Have experience of supporting artist development, grants, bursaries, commissions, or professional development initiatives.
• Have experience in community co-ordination/engagement and in the delivery of community programming within an arts context.
• Have experience in developing partnerships and managing projects.
• Have an understanding of equality, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility principles and their application in arts programming, artist supports, and audience development.
• Have experience of developing programmes or initiatives that increase participation by diverse and seldom-heard artists, audiences, or communities.
• Have experience of documenting, monitoring, and evaluating arts programmes.
• Have a proven track record in financial management.
• Flexibility to attend after-hours functions as required.
• Have an understanding of the roles and duties of Arts staff relating to Health and Safety management in the workplace.

Particulars of Office (Including Retirement)1. The Post

A panel will be formed for an initial period of one year and this may be extended for a further year at the discretion of the Chief Executive. The panel may be used to fill permanent and fixed-term positions that may arise during its duration. Vacancies will be offered in order of merit as per the panel. Vacancies may arise on a county-wide basis.

Westmeath County Council reserves the right to assign employees to any work location having regard to funding and/or operational circumstances.

2. Salary

The current salary for the post of Assistant Arts Officer is €52,761 - €63,109 per annum (including Long Service Increments), which is analogous to the Staff Officer salary scale as per Circular EL 04/2026. Payment of increments is dependent on satisfactory performance.

Entry point of this scale will be determined in accordance with the Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.

New entrants to the Local Authority Service commence on the first point of the scale in accordance with current Government policy as set out in Department of the Environment Circular Letter EL 02/2011 of 28 January 2011 and Circular EL 05/2016 dated 5 February 2016.

Remuneration is paid fortnightly by PayPath directly to the employee’s nominated bank account. The current pay cycle may be revised during the period of employment.

Remuneration is subject to all statutory deductions, e.g. PAYE and PRSI. Increments are paid annually subject to satisfactory attendance, conduct, performance, and national agreements. Increments may be withheld if performance, attendance, and/or conduct are not satisfactory.

You agree that, in the event of an overpayment of salary or other monies to you, the Council reserves the right to deduct monies from your "wages" (for the purposes of the Payment of Wages Act, 1991) for the purpose of reimbursing the Council for the amount of the overpayment(s), in keeping with Section 5(5) of the Payment of Wages Act 1991.

3. Superannuation and Retirement

Membership of the Local Government Superannuation Scheme or the Single Public Service Pension Scheme is compulsory for all employees. Details of the relevant scheme will be provided to the appointee prior to appointment.

A person who becomes a pensionable employee of a local authority who is liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required, in respect of superannuation, to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 1.5% of pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of Social Insurance Old Age Contributory Pension payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependent or qualified children).

A person paying the Class A rate of PRSI who becomes a pensionable employee of a local authority will be required, in respect of the Local Government (Spouses and Children's Contributory Pension) Scheme, to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 1.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of Social Insurance Old Age Contributory Pension payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependent or qualified children).

A person who becomes a pensionable officer of a local authority who is liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required, in respect of his/her superannuation, to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 5% of pensionable remuneration. A person paying the Class D rate of PRSI who becomes a pensionable officer of a local authority, depending on their existing scheme, may be a member of a dependent scheme, i.e. either the Local Government (Widows & Orphans Contributory Pension) Scheme or the Local Government (Spouses and Children’s Contributory Pension) Scheme, and if a member of either scheme will be required to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 1.5% of pensionable remuneration in accordance with the terms of the scheme.

Employees are admitted to the Superannuation Scheme in accordance with the terms of the Local Government Superannuation (Consolidation) Act, 1998 and the Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004, with effect from the date of appointment. This scheme is contributory and provides pension, retirement, and death gratuities.

In order for a new entrant to the scheme to qualify for a pension, the employee must have served a minimum of two years’ employment in a local authority.

For new entrants under the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, effective from 1 January 2013, superannuation contributions are as follows:

• 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration.
• 3% of pensionable remuneration.

Pension and retirement lump sum will be based on career-average pay. Pensions will be coordinated with the State Pension (Contributory).

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012

The compulsory retirement age for new entrants, as defined by the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, is 70 years.

Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004

There is no mandatory retirement age for "New Entrants" from 1 April 2004 to the public service as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004. Sixty-five years is the minimum age at which a person may be paid. As a new entrant to the public service, under the terms of this legislation, new entrants will not be required to retire on grounds of age.