Assistant Communications Officer

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:

(a) 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

(b)

(i) 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 equivalent examination,

or

(iii) hold a third level qualification of at least degree standard,

and

(iv) have satisfactory experience in administrative procedures, including adequate practical experience in work of an executive nature, office organisation and control of staff.

and

(v) 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.

• 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 communications 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.

• Drafting of 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 handling 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, 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.

Candidates will have to demonstrate from their application form to the satisfaction of a short-listing board that they possess sufficient skills and experience in the competencies listed below in order to be called for interview.

Candidates short-listed for interview will then be assessed at the interview under the three competencies listed above using some/all of the following indicators within each competency, in addition to the competency of: Local Government Knowledge and Understanding.

Understanding Purpose & Change

• Understands the Council’s purpose, goals and priorities.

• Shows commitment to these goals and ensures that the team understands how their work contributes to meeting the Council’s objectives.

• Understands the Role of the Elected Council and the Representational Role of the Elected Members.

• Understands and adheres to the Code of Conduct for all employees and complies with all Council rules, regulations and procedures.

• Ensures that there is full understanding of and compliance with all Council rules, regulations and procedures for employees within designated area of responsibility.

• Supports diversity.

• Understands and supports Workplace Partnership.

• Represents the Council positively when dealing with the public or other agencies.

• Creates a positive image of the Council both within the team and through interaction with the public and other stakeholders.

• Understands the need for change and gets this across persuasively to others.

• Makes a positive case for change and elicits commitment from others.

• Implements change in an orderly and determined manner.

• Co-operates fully in implementing safe systems of work in accordance with the Corporate Safety Statement and relevant Ancillary Safety Statement for their area of work.

Delivering Results

• Evaluates issues and situations in a logical and objective manner in order to arrive at effective solutions.

• Makes decisions in a timely, clear and well informed way.

• Helps translates the business/team plan objectives into clear priorities and actions for their area of operation.

• Helps establish high quality service and customer care standards.

• Allocates resources (staff and equipment) across jobs to ensure that priorities are met and that work is executed in the most efficient manner possible to deliver quality work and services.

• Takes initiatives to control and reduce the cost of activities and minimise waste in the services provided.

• Abides by the laws, regulations and policies and procedures affecting your employment and the discharge of your duties.

• Sets and implements high standards of service delivery in accordance with the established parameters of the operational plans.

• Closely monitors quality of activities and takes initiatives to improve work processes over time.

Performance through People

• Leads the team/service area in a manner that provides clarity of purpose and a focus on delivery.

• Engages with individual staff and the team in a motivational and supportive way.

• Leads and develops the team and its members to achieve corporate objectives through the effective management of performance, using the PMDS process.

• Builds and maintains positive working relationships and constructively addresses conflict or employee dissatisfaction.

• Recognises the value of and requirement to communicate effectively.

• Have good written and verbal skills.

• Have good interpersonal skills.

Local Government Knowledge and Understanding

• Demonstrates knowledge of the structure and functions of local government.

• Demonstrates knowledge of current local government issues and advocates practical approaches to addressing them.

• Demonstrates a clear and realistic view of future trends and strategic direction of local government.

• Demonstrates an understanding of the role of a Staff Officer in this context.

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

A. Officers joining the Public Service after the 1st January 2013 will be required to join the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. A Class 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). This includes a contribution to a Spouse’s and Children’s Scheme.

OR

B. 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

C. Officers who become pensionable officers of a 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.

Health

For the purpose of satisfying the requirements as to health, it may be necessary for the successful candidate, before he/she is appointed, to undergo at his/her expense a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by the local authority. On taking up appointment, the expense of the medical examination will be refunded to the candidate.

Residence

The holder of the office shall reside in the district in which his/her duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof.

References

Applicants are required to advise the names of two responsible persons to whom they are well known but not related (at least one of the referees should be an existing or former employer).

In advance of any offer of employment, Louth County Council reserves the right to seek both written and verbal references from current and previous employers, educational institutions or any other organisations with which the candidate has been associated.

The Council reserves the right to determine the merit, appropriateness and relevance of such references and referees.

Hours of work

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

Due to the nature of the role, the holder is expected to be flexible about evening and weekend work for which overtime will not be paid but time-off-in-lieu will be available.

Sick Leave

The terms of the Public Service Sick Pay Scheme will prevail.

Annual Leave

Annual leave entitlement for the position will be 30 days. Louth County Council’s leave year runs from 1st January to 31st December.

Granting of annual leave, payment for annual leave and arrangements for public holidays will be governed by the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1977 (as amended).

Start Date

The successful candidate will commence on direction from Directors of Service and/or Chief Executive.

Should they fail to take up the appointment on direction, the council at its discretion may not appoint them.