Assistant Parks and Landscape Officer

Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel from which temporary or permanent vacancies for the position of Assistant Parks and Landscape Officer in Monaghan County Council shall be filled.

The Role

The Assistant Parks and Landscape Officer will work as part of a team responsible for the management of many of the county’s green assets, contributing to the design and development of new parks, green infrastructure, and public realm projects. The role involves overseeing the management, conservation, and enhancement of parks, woodlands, and residential open spaces. The Assistant Parks and Landscape Officer will work under the control of the Municipal District Coordinator or Executive Engineer, or other officers designated by the Director of Services or Chief Executive and will report directly to the Municipal District Coordinator.

The Ideal Candidate:

It is desirable that candidates demonstrate through their application form and at the interview that they have:

• A strong background in landscape design, together with a passion for plants, trees, communities, and biodiversity.

• Good administrative, report writing, and IT skills.

• The ability to achieve targets and deliver results both independently and as part of a team.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

• A good understanding and working knowledge of Health & Safety standards and requirements, including the preparation and implementation of risk assessments.

• A strong sense of ownership and accountability for their work and attention to detail.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Assistant Parks and Landscape Officer shall perform such duties as may from time to time be assigned in relation to employment and carry out such instructions as may be given in relation to the performance of their duties.

The actual duties will depend on placement of the post, but in general they will include but are not limited to the following:

• Assisting in the planning & management of open spaces and green infrastructure within the County, including arboriculture, and biodiversity conservation;

• Assisting & Certifying contract works involving horticultural & agronomy works;

• Providing essential inputs for Risk Assessments for Horticultural Works areas including Pesticide specification use, Horticultural Machinery, Soil & Fertiliser requirements (avoiding contamination);

• Providing Horticultural and Arboriculture expertise and responses to queries received from Residents Associations, Community Groups and Environmental Groups;

• Provide technical support and expertise to the relevant Engineers in areas covered by Horticultural, soil Sciences & Arboriculture fields;

• Provide technical inputs in the design and development of minor works contracts involving soft works and tree/hedge conservation;

• Manage and provide technical input where necessary on enforcement/legal matters regarding open spaces, green infrastructure and parks;

• Assisting with the development of open space and green infrastructure related policies for the County;

• Preparing designs and drafting proposals/plans/reports/studies for projects and services;

• Preparing documents for procurement of supplies, services and and management of landscape maintenance contracts;

• Assessing and reporting on planning applications, wayleave applications, land disposal requests and other related queries;

• Ensuring that correspondence is responded to in accordance with customer standards;

• Researching and drafting replies and reports to committee meetings;

• Co-ordinating with other Council Departments;

• Contributing to County-wide functions within the public realm section;

• Supervision of staff inclusive of outdoor staff;

• Participate in the design of a strategic framework of public realm and floral projects across the County and working with other departments as necessary;

• Working with local residents and representative groups on green space development;

• Responsible for the delivery of assigned actions in the Annual Service delivery plan and team development plans;

• Preparation of reports to management and relevant government departments;

• Such other duties as may from time to time be reasonably assigned.

These duties are indicative rather than exhaustive and outline the main functions and responsibilities of the post of the Assistant Parks and Landscape Officer and may be subject to change in the future. The post holder may therefore be required to perform duties appropriate to the post, other than those detailed above and to take instruction from and report to an appropriate officer or such designated officer as may be assigned from time to time by Monaghan County Council.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POST

1. Character

Candidates shall be of good character.

2. Health

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

3. Citizenship:

Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

(a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway; or

(b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or

(c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

(d) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa: or

(e) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015, or any family member entitled to remain in the State because of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa or

(f) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa.

4. Education, Training and Experience

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

(a) Candidates shall hold a qualification (Level 8 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications); in Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, Arboriculture, Natural or Environmental Science.

(b) Have not less than two years post graduate satisfactory experience of planning, design, development and management of one or more of the following: Parks, Heritage Landscapes and Gardens, Open Spaces, Green Infrastructure, Public Realm and Urban Design, Urban Forests, Sports Grounds, Recreation and Play facilities, Burial Grounds, Community Gardens and Allotments;

(c) Possess a high standard of professional competence and experience; and

(d) Have good communication skills, ability to work on their own initiative and as a team member.

5. Driver Licence

The holder of the post shall hold a current full clean driving licence in respect of category B vehicles or equivalent in the EU Model Driving License.

Desirable Requirements

The ideal candidate for the position shall have:

• Satisfactory professional knowledge and experience of public realm, landscape, and urban design.

• Satisfactory knowledge, ability and experience in the technical design and presentation of parks and open spaces and projects.

• Competence in landscape design and technical ability in terms of project design, description, drawings, and presentation.

• Knowledge of current recreational needs, interests, trends, and facilities.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices in the management of natural resources within parks and open spaces.

• Knowledge of public procurement processes.

• Knowledge and awareness of Health and Safety Legislation and Regulations, their implications for the organisation and the employee, and their application in the workplace.

• Good organisation skills.

• The capacity to work on own initiative.

• Competency in the area of information technology with well-developed skills including presentation work.

• An understanding of Local Authority services and structures or have the ability to quickly acquire same.

Candidates must also:

• have the knowledge and ability to discharge the duties of the post concerned.

• be suitable on the grounds of character.

• be suitable in all other relevant respects for appointment to the post concerned.

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

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. Oversees qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document.

Each candidate must include on the application form details of all qualifications obtained by them. The invitation to attend for Interview is not to be regarded as an admission that you possess the prescribed qualifications and/or requirements for this post or are you qualified by law to hold the post. Documentary proof will be required before appointment where you claim credit for qualification, experience, etc.

COMPETENCIES FOR THE POST

Key Competencies for the post are outlined in the table below. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate sufficient evidence within their application form and at interview of competence under each of these headings.

Essential Requirements:

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Demonstrates a knowledge and understanding of the structure and functions of Local Government.

• Understands the role of an Assistant Parks and Landscape Officer.

• Demonstrate knowledge of landscape design, the management of open spaces and green infrastructure.

• Demonstrates the required specialist knowledge, understanding and training for the role.

• Have a range and depth of experience relevant to the post.

• Have an understanding of health and safety.

• Have experience of compiling, preparing, reports, presentations, correspondence etc.

• Have knowledge and experience of operating ICT systems.

• Understands key challenges facing Monaghan County Council.

Competencies:

Delivering Results

• Contributes to operational plans and develops team plans in line with priorities and actions for their area of operations.

• Take responsibility for the delivery of results and for bringing projects and tasks to completion in area of responsibility.

• Establish high-quality service and customer care standards.

• Make timely, informed, and effective decisions and show good judgement and balance in making decisions or recommendations.

• Manages the allocation, use and evaluation of resources to ensure they are used effectively to deliver on operational plans.

• Evaluates the outcomes achieved, identifies learning and implements improvements required.

Communicating Effectively

• Have excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

• Recognises the value of communicating effectively with all stakeholders.

• Actively listens to others.

• Presents ideas clearly and effectively to individuals and groups.

• Develops and maintains positive and beneficial relationships with a range of stakeholders.

• Demonstrates ability to work in a multi-discipline team environment.

Personal Effectiveness

• Take initiative and seek opportunities to exceed goals in service delivery.

• Manage time and workload effectively.

• Is positive and enthusiastic about the role and is motivated in the face of difficulties and obstacles.

• Keeps up to date with current developments, trends, and best practice in their area of responsibility.

• Demonstrates appropriate and positive self-confidence.

• Remains calm under pressure and operates effectively in an environment with significant complexity and pace.

• Behaves in an honest, trustworthy, and respectful manner and is transparent, fair, and consistent in dealing with others.

• Is enthusiastic about the role and sets challenging goals to achieve high-quality outcomes.

• Is self-motivated and persistent when faced with difficulties.

PRINCIPAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The Competition

Monaghan County Council invites applications from suitably qualified persons, who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel form which permanent and temporary vacancies for the post of Assistant Parks and Landscape Officer shall be filled. The post(s) shall be wholetime, temporary/permanent and pensionable.

The post holder shall not engage in any gainful occupation, other than as an employee of a local authority, to such an extent as to impair the performance of his or her duties as an employee of a local authority or in any occupation which might conflict with the interests of the local authority, or which might be inconsistent with the discharge of his/her duties as a local authority employee.

Salary:

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. Starting pay for new entrants will be at the minimum of the scale. Holders of the post shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than their inclusive salary) payable to or received by them by virtue of their office or in respect of services which they are required by or under any enactment to perform. An allowance may also be payable in respect of travel expenses and subsistence.

The salary scale for the post is:

€48,248 - €50,942 - €52,949 - €55,032 - €57,166 - €59,335 - €61,524 - €63,714 - €65,903 - €68,095 - €70,299 - €72,552 (1st LSI) - €74,809 (2nd LSI)

Entry point to this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage. Appointees who are not existing public servants will enter at the minimum point of the scale.

Probation:

Where a person who is not already a permanent employee of a local authority is appointed, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) there shall be a period after such appointment takes effect, during which such person shall hold such position on probation.

(b) such period shall be twelve months, but the Chief Executive may, at his discretion, extend such period.

(c) such person shall cease to hold such office at the end of the period of probation, unless during such period, the Chief Executive has certified that the service of such person is satisfactory.

Hours of Duty:

The successful candidate’s normal hours of work will be 35 hours per week. Flexible working arrangements apply. The Council reserves the right to alter the hours of work from time to time. The role requires flexibility in terms of working hours as the duties may involve working outside of normal office hours.