Assistant Chief Fire Officer

Clare County Council/ Comhairle Contae an Chláir is the authority responsible for Local Government in County Clare. The corporate headquarters are located at Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis and there are four Municipal Districts (Ennis, Shannon, Killaloe, and West Clare) which are supported through area offices in Ennis, Scarriff, Shannon, Ennistymon and Kilrush. There are 28 elected members, approximately 990 staff and an annual operating budget of €204 million in 2026.

Clare County Council provides a diverse range of services across a large geographic area. Key services areas include Planning, Placemaking & Economic Development, Rural & Community Development, Housing Services, Housing Activation & Delivery, Capital Infrastructure Delivery, Land Activation, Derelict Sites and Property, Transportation, Mobility and Health & Safety, Climate Action, Environment & Water Services, Fire Service, Building Control & Major Emergency Management, Tourism, Festivals & Events, Libraries, Arts & Cultural Services, Enterprise and Investment, along with and sports & amenities,. These operations are supported by internal services which include ICT & Digital Services, Corporate Services & Governance, Finance, People, Culture and Organisational Development functions.

There is a diverse demographic across urban and rural communities with tourism bringing seasonal changes in population and activity in the county. The Shannon estuary, Shannon Airport, industrial zones, and geographic location between larger urban areas, coupled with the unique landscape and heritage add to the diversity of activity in the County. Local democracy is strengthened through the Municipal Districts and changes in legislation and regulation have placed greater emphasis on the role of the Local Authority in driving economic activity, ensuring accountability, accessibility and innovation while placing the customer and the community to the fore of service delivery.

Clare County Council is currently inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the above competition. Clare County Council will, following the interview process, form a panel for the post of Assistant Chief Fire Officer from which future relevant vacancies may be filled subject to sanction approval from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Positions will be offered in order of merit as per the panel. This panel will exist for 12 months and may be extended for a further period of 6-12 months at the discretion of the Chief Executive.

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer works as part of a multi-disciplinary team within the Emergency Services Directorate to deliver key local authority services. Assistant Chief Fire Officers work under the direction of the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) or another officer designated by the Chief Executive. The Assistant Chief Fire Officer shall report to the Chief Fire Officer and undertake the duties as assigned to them by the Chief Fire Officer (or their nominee).

The role requires a clear knowledge and understanding of local authority services and its key stakeholders and relationships, local government structures and its democratic role and mandate, current local government issues, future trends and strategic direction of the sector, management and implementation of change.

The ideal candidate for the position shall have:

Excellent knowledge of local policies and plans

Leadership skills and experience particularly working with teams

People management skills

Understanding of the role and duties of managers in safety management in the workplace;

Good decision making and strong analytical skills

Experience working on design, supervision, document/record management or working in a project management role; Financial management skills including knowledge of procurement & other procedures

Excellent report writing skills

An ability to work to deadlines

Flexibility in terms of working hours

Excellent ICT skills

The duties shall be such as may be assigned to the officer by the local authority and shall include the duty of deputising for other employees of a higher grade as required. An ACFO must undertake any other duties of a similar level and responsibility as may be required, or assigned, from time to time. A non-exhaustive list of the Assistant Chief Fire officers’ duties and responsibilities are set out below:

Fire Prevention, may include:

• Processing of fire safety certificate applications and use of Building Control Management System/BCMS to assist this process.
• Providing advice to design teams, building owners and occupiers on fire safety matters
• Carrying out of inspections under the Fire Services Acts, Building Control Act and other relevant legislation (this may also include the carrying out of during performance inspections, as required) and using professional judgement to assist in resolving fire safety deficiencies for the safety of patrons within buildings
• Carrying out inspections and risk assessments under the Dangerous Substances Act, 1972.
• Delivering enforcement functions as an authorised officer under relevant legislation and representing the local authority appropriately in such activities, including within the Courts Service (and giving evidence in court, where required).
• Represent the Fire Authority in dealing with licence applications and before the Courts and providing professional expert opinion to the Courts if required.
• Special projects and work required to deliver on locally delivered objectives of national schemes and policies in the area of fire prevention/fire safety development/remediation.
• Educating the community on fire safety through Community Fire Safety campaigns 3
• Give advice and talks on fire safety to all members of our community and actively engage with the community to enhance fire safety awareness and reduce fire injuries and fatalities.
• Other work as directed some of which may necessitate working outside of normal working hours.

Building Control, may include:

• Assessment of Commencement Notices and other applications through the BCMS
• Assessment of Disability Access Certificates
• Inspection of buildings and works for compliance with the Building Regulations
• Represent the Fire Authority before the courts in relation to Enforcement proceedings
• Give advice on compliance with the Building Regulations and Building Control Regulations
• Dangerous Structure and Dangerous Place Inspections and Associated File Management
• Market Surveillance under the Construction Product Regulations
• BER surveillance and enforcement.

Fire Service Operations, may include:

• Management and support of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service operational staff.
• Effective communications with interested parties on staffing issues and industrial relations concerns and/or implementation of agreements and national policy.
• Management and development of Fire Stations as an asset including buildings/facilities, building systems, fire service equipment.
• Management of fire service fleet and equipment, including servicing and maintenance ensuring optimal operational performance and safety.
• Organising & attending training including on-station/drill training, local and national Fire Service Training Courses.
• Co-ordinating and assisting in managing the various elements of Clare County Council’s Safety Management system
• Developing & updating Pre-Incident Plans and planning for new or emerging risks in the County.
• Participation, if required, in the Senior Fire Officers Roster in accordance with the 1996 Rostering Agreement (or as amended). This includes attending incidents as a rostered senior fire officer, on-station training and exercises out of normal working hours.

Health, Safety and Welfare, may include:

• Managing and operating the Fire Service occupational health and safety management system (including maintaining ISO 45001:2018 accreditation with continuous improvement).
• Implementing a continuous improvement programme for occupational health, safety and welfare
• Carrying out risk assessments of equipment, training, work activities and implementing mitigation measures.
• Supporting staff welfare and ensuring compliance with policy and procedures to this end.

Emergency Preparedness, may include:

• Continuous improvement, review and implementation of Clare County Council Major Emergency Plan in line with National Framework for Major Emergency Management.
• Organising and participating in both local, regional, national MEM training, exercises and sharing of best practice.
• Active engagement with internal and external stakeholders for Emergency Planning including Principal Response Agencies.
• Work with affected industries on Control of Major Accident Hazards involving Dangerous Substances/COMAH (Seveso III) Regulations
• Assisting in emergency preparedness learning and development for staff and stakeholders both inside and outside of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service.
• Assist development of Emergency Communications Strategies and Plans appropriate to need.
• Climate change adaptation activities.

1. Character 

Each candidate must 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. Education, Training, Experience, etc.

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

(a) Hold, in the National Framework of Qualifications:

(i) A degree at Level 8 in engineering, architecture, or other building construction related discipline,

 Or

 (ii) A professional qualification equivalent to one of the foregoing awarded by the relevant professional body,

Or

(iii) A degree at Level 8 in a science or technology related discipline including, physics, chemistry, environmental or computer science, information communications technology, or a fire related discipline including fire safety, emergency management or emergency services,

Or

(iv) A degree at Level 8 together with a Level 9 qualification in a fire related discipline including fire safety, emergency management or emergency services.

And

(b) Have a satisfactory knowledge of one or more of the following:

• Principles and practices of fire safety;
• Fire service operations;
• Major emergency management;
• Technological and industrial processes;
• Telecommunications and information technology.

And

(c) Have at least five years satisfactory relevant experience, including adequate experience in at least one of the areas specified at (b) above;

And

(d) Have a high standard of training in one or more of the areas specified in (b) above and, in the case of a new entrant to the fire service, successfully complete basic fire-fighter training and Breathing Apparatus Initial Wearers Course before the expiry of the probationary period;

And

(e) Be competent to perform efficiently the duties of the office and possess the appropriate qualities

Failure to input and upload proof of essential educational qualifications in your application form will deem you ineligible for this competition.

*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.

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. Holders of the post will be paid at the appropriate point on the salary scale in accordance with the relevant Department Circular. Where the appointee has been serving elsewhere in the public service in an analogous grade and pay-scale and will be moving without break to another part of the public sector at an analogous grade, the appointment may be made at the appointee’s current point of scale. The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy. Starting pay for new entrants to the sector will be at the minimum of the scale.

The current salary scale applicable to the post (June 2026): €60,858, €63,071, €65,286, €67,505, €69,722, €71,938, €74,157, €76,362, €78,591, €80,801, €83,348 (LSI1), €84,596 (LSI2)