Assistant Business Advisor/Economic Development Officer

The Position

The Council is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates with relevant experience for the position of Assistant Business Advisor/EU Project Officer/Economic Development Officer.

It is proposed to form a panel of qualified candidates from which vacancies both permanent and temporary will be filled during the lifetime of the panel.

The Donegal Local Enterprise Office (LEO) is a first stop shop for any small business looking to start or grow across the country. The vision for the LEO is to develop and sustain a positive enterprise ecosystem at local level throughout the country that will drive new added-value start-ups, facilitate further growth of micro and small businesses and enhance local economies.

The position of Assistant Business Advisor is key core staff member within the LEO and drives the development and delivery of an integrated range of actions and programmes to promote entrepreneurship and increase the number of new business start-ups, grow existing small and micro firms through a range of supports aimed at assisting small businesses to innovate, embrace digital transformation and adopt more environmentally friendly practices, become first-time exporters and achieve ambitious development objectives. This is a key role that will require the successful candidate to work directly with core LEO clients to improve the management of business processes, introduce innovation that will impact results, enhance performance and assist start-ups and small businesses across the County to grow and create employment.

Donegal County Council’s Economic Development Division sits alongside the Donegal Local Enterprise Office and works to promote and enable economic development through a range of collaborative strategic interventions including property solutions, strategic funding, diaspora engagements and networking, placebranding and marketing initiatives, sectoral interventions e.g. blue economy, renewable energy, tourism and technology and strategic crossborder and interregional initiatives. The position of Economic Development Officer is a key core staff member within the Economic Development Division.

Roles Duties & Responsibilities

The Assistant Business Advisor/Economic Development Officer will perform such duties as may be assigned from time to time and which will involve the facilitation, implementation and promotion of the policies and objectives of Donegal County Council for the advancement of the Local Enterprise Office and the Economic Development Division and in particular the aims and objectives as set out in the LEO Local Enterprise Development Plan, the Donegal 2030 Strategic Enterprise Development Plan and the Donegal Local Economic and Community Plan.

The Assistant Business Advisor/Economic Development Officer will report to the Head of the Local Enterprise Office/Head of Economic Development, or any other officer as designated by or as directed by management of the Council.

Duties will include but are not limited to:

• The provision of one to one business advice and guidance to anyone thinking about starting a business or any existing business in Donegal. This will include making monthly presentations on the supports available through the Local Enterprise Office.

• Pro-actively engaging with local businesses, especially the Local Enterprise Office portfolio clients - providing advice, evaluating their plans and strategies, recommending actions and engaging in regular review meetings.

• Evaluating and processing applications for grant aid. This will include meeting clients, evaluating their applications, preparation of written appraisals, presentation of appraisals to the Evaluation Committee, and the oversight and management of the subsequent grant drawdown process for approved projects and client progress review.

• Development and assisting managing the delivery of new and existing training and management development programmes in response to the needs of small businesses including preparation of programme specifications, processing of tenders/quotes, client recruitment and engagement, ensuring the recording of all outputs and deliverables and managing the allocated budgets.

• Development and assisting the delivery of EU, sector and cohort specific programmes, e.g. food, creative industries, female entrepreneurship, youth entrepreneurship, EEN & GIFT.

• Assisting in the delivery of the Local Enterprise Office Mentoring programme – engage with clients, assess their need, liaise with mentors, manage the mentor panel, manage the budget and ensure the full recording of outputs and deliverables.

• Managing the delivery of the Second Level Schools Enterprise Programme on an annual basis, including the recording of all outputs and outcomes.

• Contributing to the content and delivery of events such as the Local Enterprise Week, Business Awards and other pilot events, both internal and external to the Local Enterprise Office.

• Assisting in the delivery of national programmes and supports such as Student Enterprise Programme, Trading Online Vouchers, LEAN for Micro, Green for Micro and Digital Start.

• Assisting with new initiatives designed to support microenterprises increase performance and competitiveness including programmes such as Digital Transformation and Green which will help to build resilience.

• Engage with portfolio companies who are growing, to support them to reach their potential and increase market share by maximising uptake of the full range of LEO supports.

• Develop and identify initiatives that will help LEO clients with their exporting activities and work in collaboration to ensure clients are directed and can have access to the most appropriate support as it pertains to their stage of export.

• Encourage and support LEO clients to invest in R&D and begin a process of incorporating RD&I into their commercial activities.

• Assist in the delivery of and providing executive support to the implementation of the 10 Year Strategic Enterprise Development Plan for Donegal and the delivery of the LEO Local Enterprise Development Plan.

• Contributing to the on-going awareness campaign of the Local Enterprise Office and working with any appointed delivery agent to achieve this aim.

• Assisting in the development, resourcing and delivery of new initiatives and programmes within the Local Enterprise Office in support of enterprise and economic development in Donegal.

• Engage on cross border and EU programmes as required by the Head of Enterprise.

• Promote and implement innovation and continuous improvement in the processes and programmes of the Local Enterprise Office.

• Contribute to the delivery of national initiatives within the Local Enterprise Network and participating on national committees.

• Representing the views of Donegal Local Enterprise Office and Donegal businesses at stakeholder meetings both regionally and nationally.

• Implement and evaluate the key objectives and associated actions emanating from the Annual Service Delivery Plan (ASDP) for the Service.

• Monitor and report on targets, budgets and other key performance indicators on a quarterly basis.

• Work collaboratively both internally across Council services and externally with partner organisations, including crossborder partners, to deliver a range of innovative economic development initiatives and opportunities.

• Work to develop key sectoral areas and clusters in the county such as Tech, Blue Economy and Tourism in collaboration with all key stakeholders.

• Convene and support Council Committees including the relevant Strategic Policy Committee, Agriculture and Fisheries Committees and, when required from time to time, contribute to other Council Committees including the Municipal Districts and the Plenary Council.

• Work to develop the Council’s portfolio of property solutions with a view to supporting economic development and job creation.

• Collaborate with key development agencies and partners, including crossborder partners, to effectively promote Donegal and the North West Region as an ideal location for investment and business development.

• Activate the Donegal place brand including implementing an integrated marketing and communications strategy to build the reputation of Donegal as a great place to live, work, invest and visit.

• Work with the Donegal global community to deepen and strengthen ties with the diaspora to enhance social, cultural and economic development opportunities.

• Work with key partners to implement and continuously review existing and emerging strategies.

• Inform relevant policy and strategy ensuring alignment with EU, national, regional and local government policy and strategy to maximise economic development and job creation opportunities for the county and region.

• Administer funds and grants ensuring full compliance with all necessary regulations and obligations.

• Assist with preparing and developing funding bids to external funding bodies including EU and national funding programmes to secure funds for the delivery of priority projects and initiatives.

• Undertake other duties as Head of the Local Enterprise Office/Head of Economic Development may assign.

• Ensure compliance with all required Local Authority and Local Enterprise Office financial, management and governance reporting requirements.

• Collect, maintain and update relevant data.

Qualifications & Requirement of the Post

The post of Assistant Business Advisor/Economic Development Officer is analogous to the grade of Staff Officer. The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government has declared that the qualifications for the position of Staff Officer shall be as set out hereunder.

(a) Character: Candidates shall be of good character.

(b) 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.

(c) Education, Training, Experience etc. Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed applications:

(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.

(d) Desirable Skills

• Experience of working with or in the business sector and having a strong understanding of the issues, challenges and opportunities facing the sector.

• Strong organisational and project management skills and experience and proven ability to manage a range of multiple projects and competing priorities at one time to meet demanding and tight deadlines is essential.

• Have the ability to influence, collaborate and connect across internal and external stakeholders to the benefit of clients is essential.

• Financial literacy skills to undertake evaluation and assessment of project proposals for financial assistance and other supports, including carrying out due diligence on funding requests.

• Excellent communications and business report writing skills with demonstrated evidence of robust IT literacy (i.e. MS Office skills including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint) is essential.

• Excellent research capability, analytical skills, writing and presentation skills.

• Knowledge, understanding and comprehension of the key business growth sectors and client categories in which the LEOs operate and an ability to translate this knowledge and understanding into developing supports and initiatives to achieve effective business impacts and results.

• Understanding of compliance and governance requirements as they relate to funding through the LEO.

• An ability to demonstrate, to an appropriate standard, their understanding of the principles of economic development generally, and, specifically, the role of Local Government in advancing economic development.

• An ability to demonstrate an understanding of the challenges and opportunities (International, National and Local) facing businesses in Donegal.

• An ability to demonstrate a good developmental approach and mindset with satisfactory experience of developing and maintaining effective partnerships and of engaging and influencing various stakeholders.

• Satisfactory experience of delivering tasks in an innovative and creative manner.

• Good experience of marketing, communications and brand building.

• Satisfactory experience of informing policy and strategy.

• Good organisational skills, an ability to prioritise tasks and work to demanding schedules.

• Good interpersonal and communication skills including good report writing and presentation skills.

• An understanding of financial systems and procedures, including budget management, as well as funding opportunities.

• Good administrative experience.

• An understanding of the roles and duties of managers in safety management in the workplace.

• Good knowledge and awareness of Health & Safety Legislation and Regulations, their implications for the organisation and the employee, and their applications in the workplace.

• Experience in supervising and managing staff.

Particulars of the Post

(a) General

Donegal County Council proposes to create one panel of qualified candidates for the position of Assistant Business Advisor/Economic Development Officer from which it will fill any vacancy that may arise.

(b) 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.

(c) Remuneration

The current annual pay-scale is €51,722 minimum to max LSI2 €61,865 (as per Circular EL 07/2025). Holders of the post will be paid at the appropriate point on the salary scale in accordance with the relevant Department Circular. New entrants will commence on the minimum point of the scale.

(d) Base

The base for the post of Assistant Business Advisor/Economic Development Officer shall be Local Enterprise Office Donegal, Enterprise Fund Business Centre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. The role may involve some travel, with some trips involving overnight stays and associated costs covered by the appropriate allowances.

(e) Residence

Holders of the post shall reside in the district in which their duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof.

(f) Working Hours / Annual Leave

The normal hours of work will be 35 hours per week. The Council reserves the right to alter the hours of work from time to time. Annual leave allowance will be a maximum 30 days for all applicants.

(g) Requirement to Drive (not always a requirement)

Candidates shall be required:

(a) to possess a full current category B Driving Licence.

(b) to have their own vehicle available for use while performing their duties and the associated costs will be covered by the appropriate allowances.

(h) Citizenship Requirements

Eligible candidates must be, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms; (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 or 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 or the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa.

(i) Conflicts of Interest

The post holder shall not engage in any gainful occupation, other than as an employee of a local authority, to such an extent as to impair the performance of his or her duties as an employee of a local authority or in any occupation which might conflict with the interests of the local authority or which might be inconsistent with the discharge of his duties as a local authority employee.