Assistant Economic Development Officer/Tourism Officer/Project Officer

The Position

The Council is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates with relevant experience to form a panel for appointment to the following roles within the Economic Development Directorate:

A. Assistant Economic Development Officer

The Assistant Economic Development Officer supports the delivery of economic development initiatives, sectoral strategies, and job creation programmes across the county.

Key focus areas may include:

• Economic development policy and strategy
• Sectoral development
• Inward investment initiatives
• Donegal place brand marketing and development
• Programme monitoring and reporting
• Funding and grant administration

The post holder will report to the Senior Economic Development Officer or other designated line manager.

B. Tourism Officer

The Tourism Officer supports the development, promotion, and management of the tourism sector in Donegal, working closely with internal teams and external partners.

Key focus areas may include:

• Tourism strategy implementation
• Go Visit Donegal brand marketing and promotion
• Tourism public relations and communications
• Funding and grant administration
• Stakeholder and industry engagement
• Cross-border and agency collaboration

The post holder will report to the Tourism Manager or other designated line manager.

C. Project Officer

The Project Officer supports the delivery of specific economic development, tourism, or other related projects.

Key focus areas may include:

• Project coordination and delivery
• Funding compliance and reporting
• Stakeholder engagement
• Study visits both locally and internationally
• Monitoring milestones, outputs, and outcomes
• Supporting funding applications and claims

The post holder will report to a designated line manager.

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

Donegal County Council, as the primary statutory development organisation, works closely with its development partners and the private sector to collectively maximise the economic development opportunities of the county, contributing to the economic and social fabric of towns and villages throughout Donegal.

Donegal County Council’s Economic Development Division plays a central role in driving sustainable economic growth, strengthening enterprise, and enhancing Donegal’s competitiveness at regional, national, and international levels.

The Division supports:

• Job creation
• Innovation
• Investment attraction
• Tourism promotion
• Realisation of Donegal’s economic potential

Working collaboratively with elected members, strategic partners, government agencies, and industry, the Division advances key priorities including:

• Enterprise development
• Regional collaboration
• Tourism growth
• The blue economy
• Offshore renewable energy
• Diaspora engagement
• Strategic funding

All three roles operate within the Economic Development Division and contribute to:

• Job creation and enterprise development
• Tourism destination marketing and development
• Programme and project delivery
• Place-based and sectoral economic initiatives
• Funding, partnership, and stakeholder engagement
• Donegal place brand promotion and awareness initiatives

Appointments may be made to specific functional roles depending on organisational priorities.

While duties will vary depending on assignment, post holders may be required to:

• Assist in the implementation of Annual Service Delivery Plans
• Support innovative economic development and tourism initiatives
• Monitor and report on targets, budgets, and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Work collaboratively with internal teams and external stakeholders
• Support Council committees and working groups as required
• Assist in administering grants and funding programmes
• Contribute to funding applications and project proposals
• Undertake other duties as assigned by management
• Provide general administrative support as required

Official Languages (Amendment) Acts, 2021

To enable the Local Authority to meet its statutory obligations, satisfactory competence in the Irish language is deemed essential for appointment, assignment, or reassignment to Gaeltacht-based offices and offices serving Gaeltacht areas.

Competence must be at a level where the individual can operate through the medium of Irish and provide services to the public in Irish, in accordance with the Official Languages (Amendment) Acts, 2021.

An assessment of this competence may form part of the recruitment and selection process.

The posts of Assistant Economic Development Officer, Tourism Officer, and Project Officer are analogous to the grade of Assistant Staff Officer.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has declared that the qualifications for Assistant Staff Officer shall be as follows:

(a) Character

Candidates must be of good character.

(b) Health

Candidates must be in a state of health indicating a reasonable prospect of being able 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), at 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
• One of the following:

and

(b) Have obtained at least Grade C (or Honours) in Higher Level papers in three subjects in that examination (or two subjects if Irish and/or one of the following is included):

• Mathematics
• Accounting
• Business Organisation
• 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

• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams
• Understanding of economic development and/or tourism development and local government
• A developmental mindset and approach to project delivery
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Good organisational and administrative skills
• Ability to prioritise tasks and work to demanding schedules
• Capacity to work on own initiative and manage competing priorities
• Understanding of good practice relating to marketing, communications, and stakeholder engagement
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365
• A developmental approach and mindset with satisfactory experience engaging with stakeholders
• Good report writing and presentation skills
• Understanding of financial systems and procedures, including:
• Data analysis and reporting skills
• Appreciation of workplace safety management and Health & Safety legislation and regulations, including their implications and practical application in the workplace

(a) General

Donegal County Council proposes to create one panel of qualified candidates for the positions of Assistant Economic Development Officer, Tourism Officer, and Project Officer, from which any vacancies arising may be filled.

(b) Probation

The successful candidate will be required to complete a probationary period as determined by the Council. This period may be extended at the discretion of the Council.

(c) Remuneration

The current annual salary scale is:

€36,113 minimum to €55,460 maximum (LSI 2)

(as per Circular EL 02/2026)

Post holders 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 posts of Assistant Economic Development Officer, Tourism Officer, and Project Officer will be determined by the Council depending on the area and service assignment.

The roles may involve travel, including overnight stays, with associated costs covered by the appropriate allowances.

(e) Residence

Post holders must reside within the district in which their duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof.

(f) Working Hours / Annual Leave

• Normal working hours: 35 hours per week
• The Council reserves the right to alter working hours from time to time
• Maximum annual leave entitlement: 30 days

(g) Requirement to Drive

Candidates may be required:

(a) To possess a full current Category B Driving Licence

(b) To have access to their own vehicle while performing duties, with associated costs covered by the appropriate allowances

(h) Citizenship Requirements

Eligible candidates must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms, be:

(a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA), consisting of:

• European Union member states
• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• Norway

OR

(b) A citizen of the United Kingdom

OR

(c) A citizen of Switzerland under the agreement between the European Union and Switzerland on the free movement of persons

OR

(d) A non-EEA citizen who is:

• A spouse or child of an EEA, UK, or Swiss citizen
• Holder of a Stamp 4 visa

OR

(e) A person granted international protection under the International Protection Act 2015, or a family member entitled to remain in the State through family reunification, and holding a Stamp 4 visa

OR

(f) A non-EEA citizen who is:

• The parent of a dependent child
• The child is a citizen and resident of an EEA member state, the UK, or Switzerland
• Holder of a Stamp 4 visa