Assistant Communications Officer

Essential Criteria

Character

Candidates shall be of good character.

Health

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

Education, Experience etc.

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

• Have obtained at least Grade D (or a Pass), in Higher or Ordinary Level, in five subjects (or four subjects 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

• 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

• Have obtained a comparable standard in an equivalent examination.

or

• Hold a third-level qualification of at least degree standard.

and

• Have satisfactory experience in administrative procedures, including adequate practical experience in work of an executive nature, office organisation and control of staff.

and

• Hold a valid Irish/EU full driving licence for Class B vehicles or a licence acceptable to NDLS for exchange, free from endorsement and disqualification.

Desirable

• Hold a third-level qualification in the relevant area, journalism, communications, marketing, public relations or similar.

• At least 2 years of relevant satisfactory professional experience in communications, media or marketing.

• Experience in facilitation and/or event management skills.

• Experience in visual graphics, web editing and social media and all other forms of communication networks.

Candidates, if successful, will not be appointed to the post unless they:

• Agree to undertake the duties attached to the post and accept the conditions under which the duties are, or may be required to be, performed.

• Are fully competent, available to undertake, and fully capable of undertaking, the duties attached to the position.

• Hold a clean, current Class B driving licence, a copy of which must be submitted with the application form.

Role, Duties & Responsibilities

Louth County Council is seeking to improve communications and engagement with the public and to increase awareness and understanding of the work and services of the Council.

The overall aim of the Council is to ensure that there is clear, consistent and appropriate communication between the Council and relevant stakeholders both within and outside of the organisation.

The Assistant Communications Officer will perform such duties as may be assigned from time to time which will involve the promotion of the work of Louth County Council, dealing with the media and enhancing the communications work of the Council, internally and externally, generally.

The Assistant Communications Officer will report to the Communications Officer, Corporate Services or any other officer as designated by the Chief Executive.

Such duties include inter alia:

Roles and Responsibilities of the Assistant Communications Officer

• Support the Communications Officer to implement and drive the Council’s communications strategy and aligned communications plans.

• Assist in the development and implementation of internal communication plans to support the delivery of organisational objectives.

• Provide support to ensure high-quality communications, which adhere to the Council’s brand guidelines, are embedded across the organisation, and work with colleagues to identify and advance strategic priorities through PR and communications initiatives.

• Draft engaging written, visual and audio-visual content for press releases, internal channels and website.

• Support the co-ordination of national media campaigns including My Council Day and LGMA initiatives.

• Monitor communications/media performance across various platforms and use reports and insights to improve clarity, reach and impact of messaging.

• Monitor consistency of tone, language and visual identity across all communications.

• Assist with public relations, maintain positive relationships with local and national media and handle media queries in a timely fashion.

• Support the delivery of the Irish Language Scheme.

• Assist in the development of engagement strategies to successfully complete statutory and non-statutory consultation processes. This could include organising information sessions, focus groups, webinars and online content.

• Contribute to maximising the value of the Council’s digital and online communication e.g. assist in the creation of promotional videos relating to the work of the organisation or development of project visualisations to assist with public engagements.

• Assist with the moderation and audit of existing website content to ensure that it is accurate, up to date and presented in an appealing and interesting manner.

• Support in the development, application and maintenance of website standards, with particular reference to accessibility, language and data protection.

• Assist with the enhancement, organisation and delivery of high-quality digital content across all Council platforms, including website, social media and Customer Relationship Management systems.

Particulars of Post

Salary

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 Assistant Communications Officer – Grade V is:

€52,239 - €62,484 (LSI 2)

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

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.

Rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government policy.

Location of Post

Louth County Council reserves the right to assign the post holder to any council premises, now or in the future subject to reasonable notice.

Changes in location of employment will not result in payment of disturbance money or other 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.

Superannuation

Officers joining the Public Service after 1st January 2013 will be required to join the Single Public Service Pension Scheme.

A Class A rate of PRSI contribution will apply.

A rate of 3% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the rate of State Pension Contributory (SPC)) will apply.

This includes a contribution to a Spouse’s and Children’s Scheme.

OR

Officers who became pensionable officers of the Public Service prior to 1st January 2013 and who are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of the net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the rate of State Pension Contributory (SPC)).

You will be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% of your pensionable remuneration to the Spouses & Children’s Pension Scheme.

OR

Officers who became pensionable officers of the Public Service prior to 5th April 1995 and who are liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required to contribute at a rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration.

If an option to join a dependent scheme was made, you will be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% to a Dependents Pension Scheme.

Retirement

Retirement is dependent on the superannuation scheme you become a member of, and details will be made available to you upon appointment.