Assistant Chief Fire Officer

SECTION 1: THE ROLE

Cork County Council Fire & Building Control Department performs the Council’s functions as Fire Authority and Building Control Authority. These functions are managed and delivered through four divisional offices which are located in Mallow, Midleton, Bantry and a headquarter office which is located at County Hall Campus, Cork.

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer works as part of a multi-disciplinary team within a division of the Fire & Building Control Department to deliver key local authority services such as; building inspections, fire prevention, fire safety engineering, building control, community fire safety, fire service operations, major emergency management and coordination of Civil Defence.

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer will operate under the direction of and report to the Senior Assistant Chief Fire Officer of the division to which they are assigned. They must undertake those duties as assigned to them by their supervisor.

As a key part of the technical Fire team, you will use your fire safety engineering knowledge to help safeguard the lives of Cork County’s residents by ensuring buildings meet essential fire safety standards. Your work will have a direct impact on public safety across a range of settings, from newly constructed developments to large-scale public events.

Working alongside a dedicated team of fire safety professionals, you will be responsible for assessing Fire Safety Certificate applications and conducting building inspections to ensure compliance with fire regulations. You will apply your technical expertise to evaluate complex building designs, including for high-risk or large-scale projects, ensuring they meet fire safety requirements.

From assessing state-of-the-art building designs to inspecting public events like festivals and concerts, no two days are the same in this dynamic role. You will balance office-based technical analysis with hands-on fire safety inspections in various public and commercial settings.

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer will have the option to begin or continue operational fire service training.

SECTION 2: DUTIES:

The duties of the Assistant Chief Fire Officer shall include, but are not limited to:

SECTION 3: ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA / QUALIFICATIONS

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

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

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.

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

a. Principles and practices of fire safety,b. Fire service operations,c. Major emergency management,d. Building design and construction,e. Technological and industrial processes,f. Telecommunications and information technology.

c) Have at least 5 years satisfactory relevant experience, including adequate experience in at least one of the areas specified in (b) above.

d) Be competent to perform efficiently the duties of the office and possess the appropriate qualities.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

Full Driving Licence, recognised in the Republic of Ireland, and access to transport as the role may require some travel.

Required Skillset

In the context of the key duties and responsibilities for the post of Assistant Chief Fire Officer listed above, the ideal candidate will demonstrate the following knowledge, experience, skills and competencies;

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; People management skills;
• Budgetary Management skills;
• Negotiation and leadership skills;
• Understanding of Health and Safety legislation and regulations and their application in the workplace;
• An ability to prepare and present technical reports;

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.

The information you present in your application may form part of a shortlisting process and may also be used to help structure your interview, should you be invited to one.

A shortlisting process may be applied based on TWO or more of the competencies and on other information you provide in your application form.

Please note that, should you be called to interview, the board may look for additional examples of where you demonstrated the Knowledge, Experience, Skills and Competencies required for this post, so you should think of a number of examples of where you demonstrated each of the skills.

SECTION 5: TENURE

The position is permanent and fulltime. The post is pensionable.

A panel may be formed to fill vacancies for Assistant Chief Fire Officer which may arise during the lifetime of the panel.

SECTION 6: SALARY

The Salary scale for the post is: €60,858 - €84,596 per annum.

€60,858 – €63,071 – €65,286 – €67,505 – €69,722 – €71,938 – €74,157 – €76,362 – €78,591 – €80,801 - (Maximum); €83,348 (1st LSI) (after 3 years satisfactory service on the Maximum); €84,596 (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.

SECTION 7: ASSIGNMENT / LOCATION OF POST

The base for working purposes shall be the location as determined by Cork County Council.

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.

The person appointed will be required to provide him/herself at his/her own expense with the necessary mode of travel to and from work.

SECTION 8: WORKING HOURS

The working hours at present provide for a five day, 35 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.

The post requires flexibility in working outside of normal hours. Duties will require the successful candidate to work outside of normal hours i.e. attendance at evening/weekend training, duties etc. as part of normal working hours without additional remuneration.

All hours worked will be subject to the provision of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 as amended.