Assistant Staff Officer

Nature of Post As specified on advertisement. Salary Scale €35,229 - €51,101 (including long service increment). Rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy. As per DES guidelines, new appointees who are entering this grade for the first time will start at the minimum point of the scale, however incremental credit may apply, if, immediately prior to appointment the appointee is already a serving Civil or Public Servant. Rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.

Annual Leave 23 working days per annum (full time equivalent).

Location Appointment is to the Louth and Meath Education and Training Board Scheme.

Reporting/Accountability Relationship The Assistant Staff Officer reports to the Grade V/VI Officer/Head of Section/School Principal as applicable.

Post Summary/Purpose The role of the successful applicant will include supervision of small groups of staff, usually of one level, on routine clearly defined tasks where the post holder’s duties include the organization of work and staff to achieve specific, usually cyclical targets.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Health and Character Those under consideration for a position may at the discretion of the employer be required to complete a health and character declaration and a Garda Vetting Form. References will be sought.

Citizenship Requirement Eligible candidates must 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. To qualify candidates must meet one of the citizenship criteria above by the date of any job offer. Per Circular Letter 0046/2017, candidates for an Assistant Staff Officer Grade IV post by open competition must: • have the requisite knowledge, skills and competencies to carry out the role. Competencies required are set out below and are informed by best practice Public Appointment Service competency frameworks for the Irish Public Service; • be capable and competent of fulfilling the role to a high standard; • have obtained at least Grade D3 in five subjects in the Leaving Certificate Examination (higher, ordinary, applied or vocational programmes) or equivalent or have passed an examination at the appropriate level within the QQI qualifications framework which can be assessed as being of a comparable to Leaving Certificate standard or equivalent or higher or have appropriate relevant experience which encompasses equivalent skills and expertise;

Desirable criteria • Excellent administrative and IT skills • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills • Excellent customer service skills • Good knowledge of record keeping • Ability to process work with a high level of attention to detail

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED The appointee to the Assistant Staff Officer Grade IV post will be required to show evidence of the following competencies:

People Management • Leads others, monitoring performance and trying to get the best out of people. • Allocates work fairly and appropriately and ensures that everybody does their fair share. • Addresses any performance issues in a timely, appropriate, and constructive manner. • Involves others in decisions that affect them, allocating work fairly and appropriately. • Demonstrates trust in others to deal with important tasks and acknowledges a job well done. • Helps team members to identify their own and their team’s learning and development needs in line with objectives. • Helps build effective relationships and resolve disagreements between team members. • Acts as an effective link between staff and other managers.

Information Management & Decision Making • Follows procedures and ensures they are implemented in own area, understanding the rationale behind them. • Reviews completed work regularly and acts on learning points. • Evaluates current work practices to identify changes that could be made to improve efficiencies. • Can work effectively on a number of tasks at the same time. • Is comfortable working with and manipulating a range of data, e.g. numerical, written etc. • Makes sound appropriate decisions in a confident manner and can justify and stand by them.

Delivery of Results • Delivers results on time and to a high standard. • Takes responsibility for own work and the work of the team. • Plans and prioritizes the work schedule, ensuing the efficient use of all of the resources available and delivering on objectives even with multiple or conflicting demands. • Evaluates the current work practices to identify changes that could be made to help them run more effectively. • Maintains accurate records and monitors work, ensuring any errors are identified and rectified. • Appreciates the need to delegate work appropriately rather than doing everything oneself.

Interpersonal & Communication Skills • Shows respect, tact and maintains composure when dealing with customers or staff members. • Demonstrates the ability to be assertive and negotiate when necessary, communicating in a clear and confident manner whilst remaining approachable and polite. • Listens to others and invites feedback, dealing with information in a constructive way. • Influences others by actively listening and clearly expressing their position. • Produces written letters /reports in a clear and concise manner.

Specialist Knowledge, Expertise and Self Development • Develops and maintains the skills and expertise required to perform in the role effectively, e.g. relevant technologies, IT systems, relevant policies etc. • Has a clear understanding of the role, objectives and targets and how they fit into the work of the unit and Department/Organization and communicates this to the team. • Leads by example, being committed to self-development and enhancing the knowledge and skills required to improve performance.

Drive & Commitment to Public Service Values • Consistently strives to perform at a high level, demonstrating flexibility and finding solutions to overcome obstacles. • Serves the Government and people of Ireland. • Can work independently without excessive guidance or support. • Demonstrates resilience in the face of significant demands and challenges. • Ensures that the customer is at the heart of all services provided. • Is personally honest and trustworthy. • Acts with integrity and supports this in others.