Assistant Staff Officer

THE ROLE

The Assistant Staff Officer is a key support position within the Council and is assigned to a service delivery area or to support a functional area as required. The Assistant Staff Officer will work under the direction and management of the Staff Officer or analogous grade, or other employee designated by the Administrative Officer, Senior Executive Officer or Director of Services as appropriate.

The role involves supporting managers and colleagues and working as part of a team in meeting work goals and objectives and delivering quality services to internal and external customers.

As an Assistant Staff Officer, you will be working as a part of a multidisciplinary team in the achievement of a common goal. You will be required to deal in a courteous, helpful and professional manner with a variety of people. You will need to be able to manage your work in an organised way and be open and flexible to new ways of doing things. There will be opportunities to use your own initiative and work to a high standard in a modern Local Authority.

DUTIES

The key duties and responsibilities of the post of Assistant Staff Officer include but are not limited to:

• To support the line manager to communicate, implement and manage all change management initiatives within the relevant area of responsibility.

• To support the line manager to ensure the section or department work programmes are implemented to deliver on the Council’s Corporate Plan and operational plans.

• To ensure high levels of customer service, responding to queries and requests for information in a professional and courteous and timely manner.

• To communicate and liaise effectively with employee, supervisors and line managers in other sections and customers in relation to operational matters for their section or work area.

• To prepare reports, correspondence, and other documents as necessary.

• To provide assistance and support in the delivery of projects as required.

• To supervise employees within their team or programmes of work within their area of responsibility, providing support to team members or colleagues as required.

• To identify opportunities for improvements in the service delivery within the relevant area of responsibility and to use key performance indicators or other performance indicators effectively as appropriate.

• To compile, prepare and present reports as necessary, including the preparation of reports or letters which may be sensitive and/or confidential in nature.

• To support the implementation of good practices with transparent reporting and communications to deliver accountable services in the department or section.

• To provide assistance in the understanding and interpretation of the Council’s policies and procedures to employees in their area of responsibility and to customers as appropriate.

• To carry out duties in a manner that enhances public trust and confidence and ensures impartial decision making.

• To organise and facilitate internal and external meetings and participate and engage in discussions as appropriate.

• To support the Council and Municipal District operations.

• To carry out duties in a politically neutral manner, with a clear understanding of the political reality and context of the local authority.

• To provide specialist administrative assistance and support in the delivery of projects as required.

• Deputise for line manager when required.

• To support the Staff Officer in the management and implementation of Health and Safety for the section or department.

• Undertake any other duties of a similar level and responsibilities as may be required from time to time.

• Ensuring that healthy and safe systems of work are maintained and that all possible steps are taken to prevent accidents and minimise hazards to occupational health, in accordance with the Corporate Health and Safety Statement.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Character

Each candidate must be of good character.

2. Health

Each candidate must 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 as a result 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, experience, etc.

Applicants for Panel B - Open Competition

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

(i) (a) have obtained at least a grade D (or a pass), in Higher or Ordinary Level, in five subjects (or 4 subjects if Irish is included) from the approved list of subjects in the Departments of Educations established Leaving Cert Examination or Leaving Cert Vocational Programme including Irish and/or English and one of the following: Mathematics, Accounting, Business Organisation or Economics, and

(b) 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 an equivalent examination; or

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

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

Applicants for Panel A - Confined Competition

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

(i) be a serving employee in a local authority or a regional assembly and have at least two years satisfactory experience in a post of Clerical Officer or analogous post; and

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

Applicants for Panel C - Confined Competition

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

(i) be a serving employee in Longford County Council and have at least two years satisfactory experience in a post of Clerical Officer or analogous post; and

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

PARTICULARS OF EMPLOYMENT

1. The Post

The post is wholetime (i.e. 35 hours per week) and appointment may be permanent or temporary.

2. Location

Longford County Council reserves the right to assign the successful candidates to any premises in use by the Council, now or in the future. The person appointed will be required to report to their place of work by their own means of transport and at their own expense.

3. Commencement

Longford County Council shall require a person to whom an appointment is offered to take up such appointment within a period of not more than one month and if they fail to take up the appointment within such period, or such other longer period as the Council in its absolute discretion may determine, Longford County Council shall not appoint them.

4. Working Hours

The current working hours are 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday. A flexible working system is in operation. Longford County Council reserves the right to alter the hours of work from time to time.

All hours worked are subject to and recorded in accordance with the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997, and the Organisation of Working Time Regulations, 2001.

Longford County Council requires employees to record their hours using a Clocking system.

5. Reporting Arrangements

The Assistant Staff Officer will report directly to the appropriate supervisor in the Section or to any other employee of Longford County Council as designated for this purpose.

A system of regular appraisal will be operated during employment, which will involve discussions between the employee and the line manager regarding performance and conduct.

6. Probationary Period of Employment

There shall be a period after appointment during which the appointee will hold the position on probation. The period of probation will be prescribed by the Chief Executive.

Employment may be terminated during the probationary period should service be deemed by the Chief Executive to be unsatisfactory. Employment may be terminated at the end of the probationary period unless the Chief Executive has certified that the employee had satisfactory service.

Tenure of employment following probation will be subject to satisfactory service.

7. Remuneration

The current scale for the post of Assistant Staff Officer is €36,474 - €56,015 (LSI2) gross per annum (Circular EL 04/2026), the rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government Circulars.

On appointment successful candidates will be placed on the first point of the point of the salary scale. Appointment to a higher point of the salary scale may apply to candidates employed elsewhere in the public service, subject to verification of service history.

Remuneration is paid fortnightly by PayPath directly to the employees nominated bank account. The current wage pay cycle may be revised during the period of employment.

Remuneration is subject to all statutory deductions, e.g. P.A.Y.E. and P.R.S.I.

Increments are paid annually subject to satisfactory attendance, conduct and performance and national agreements. Increments may be withheld if performance, attendance and/or conduct are not satisfactory.