Assistant Swimming Pool Manager

The Position:

Westmeath County Council employs over 570 staff across eight service divisions: Housing & Building; Road, Transport & Safety; Rural Water; Development Management; Environmental Protection; Recreation & Amenity; Climate Action, Agriculture & Education; and Miscellaneous Services. It consists of 20 democratically elected members. The Council is mandated to deliver a diverse range of functions and services which can be broadly described under the headings of economic development, community development, provision of physical and social infrastructure, recreation and amenity services, and the enforcement of the planning and environmental regulatory framework. The Council now invites applications from suitably qualified persons who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel from which permanent and fixed term contracts for the position of Assistant Swimming Pool Manager will be drawn.

The Assistant Swimming Pool Manager Post

The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated person, with drive and commitment to delivering quality public services and continual professional development who can demonstrate clear knowledge and understanding of:

• Local authority services, its key stakeholders and relationships

• Local government structures and its democratic role and mandate

• Health and safety regulations, swimming pool management standards and best practices for the provision of swimming pool facilities.

The ideal candidate shall:

• Show strong judgement and capacity to innovate, particularly in managing pool facilities and programs

• Be able to work effectively within a team to achieve common goals while maintaining high standards and safety measures

• Be capable of working independently and taking initiative in managing day-to-day pool operations

• Demonstrate leadership and supervisory management skills

• Have the ability to manage the administration of pool facilities

• Be familiar with Health and Safety legislation, including those specific to swimming pool environments, and apply this legislation effectively

• Manage a team of lifeguards and support staff

• Plan and organise workloads effectively, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations

• Foster and maintain productive relationships with the public, local schools, community groups, and other stakeholders

• Have the ability to motivate, empower and encourage staff under his/her control to achieve maximum performance by supporting the current Performance Management and Development Systems (PMDS)

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

The Assistant Swimming Pool Manager will perform duties as assigned by the Chief Executive or relevant authority, including managing pool operations and ensuring the safety and satisfaction of pool users.

The following duties are expected, but not limited to:

• Assume full management responsibilities of the pool facility in the absence of the pool manager

• Manage, promote and develop swimming pool facilities, ensuring they meet health, safety and operational standards

• Oversee and deliver excellent customer service, ensuring a welcoming and safe environment for pool users

• Manage staff, including lifeguards and support personnel, and promote their professional development

• Assist the pool manager in creating and managing staff rosters to ensure efficient coverage, flexibility, and adherence to safety and operational standards during all opening hours, including weekends and holidays

• Maintain safety equipment and pool facilities, including monitoring water quality, cleanliness in all pool areas including changing facilities and public spaces

• Develop and deliver community engagement activities, such as swimming lessons, fitness programs and aquatic events

• Promote and implement local authority health and fitness initiatives, ensuring accessibility for all community members

• Coordinate and deliver swimming programs for all ages and abilities, fostering inclusivity in the pool environment

• Use digital systems for bookings, scheduling and reporting on pool activities and performance

• Manage health and safety compliance, including emergency response planning and child protection protocols

• Oversee administrative tasks such as data collection, report writing and financial management related to pool operations

• Any other duties assigned by the line manager

The above specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POST

Character

Each candidate must be of good character.

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.

Education and Experience

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

(a) have a good general standard of education;

(b) possess a good standard of administrative experience and adequate experience in office organisation and in the control of staff;

(c) be IT literate and familiar with packages such as MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Financial Management Systems and Pool Management Systems etc.;

(d) have excellent motivational and communicative skills;

(e) have a current Level 2 Pool Lifeguard Certificate of the Irish Water Safety or an equivalent recognised qualification;

(f) hold the advanced Resuscitation Award, Swimming Instructors Certificate and Water Safety Instructors Certificate of the Irish Water Safety or undertake to obtain same within the probationary period. Equivalent qualifications will be accepted;

(g) be qualified in Pool Plant Operation;

(h) have relevant experience in a supervisory or management capacity.

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.

PARTICULARS OF OFFICE

The Post

The post is whole-time and pensionable. A panel will be formed for an initial period of one year and this may be extended for a further year at the discretion of the Chief Executive. The panel will be used to fill both permanent and temporary positions that may arise for its duration. Vacancies will be offered in order of merit as per the panel.

Salary

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. Holders of the post will be paid at the appropriate point on the salary scale in accordance with the relevant Department Circular. The scale is analogous to the post of Staff Officer.

The current salary scale applicable to the post is:

€51,722 to €61,865 including LSI’s

New Entrants to the Local Authority Service commence on the 1st point of the scale in accordance with current Government Policy as set out in Department of the Environment Circular Letter EL 02/2011 of 28th January 2011 and Circular EL 05/2016 dated 5th February 2016.

Work Base

The position will be based at Mullingar Swimming Pool, Town Park, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. Westmeath County Council reserves the right to assign the successful candidate 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.

Working Hours

Normal hours of work will be 35 hours per week over a five-day period on a rota basis. They shall vary from early morning to late evening within the hours during which the Swimming Pool is open. The Council reserves the right to alter your hours of work from time to time. You may be required to work overtime (to be approved) on occasion. Remuneration for such overtime will be taken as Time in Lieu.

Annual Leave

The current annual leave entitlement is 30 days. Granting of annual leave, payment for annual leave and arrangement for public holidays will be governed by the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 (as amended).

Sick Leave

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

Superannuation

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012:

New members joining the Public Sector on or after 1st January, 2013 will be required to join the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. The Single Scheme applies to all pensionable first-time entrants to the Public Service as well as to former public servants returning to the public service after a break of more than 26 weeks. A rate of PRSI contribution will be required of their superannuation to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 3% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration. This includes a contribution to a Spouse’s and Children’s Scheme. Pension and retirement lump sum based on career-average pay pensions will be co-ordinated with the State Pension Contributory (SPC).

For persons who commenced public sector employment prior to 1st January 2013:

Persons who become pensionable employees of a local authority who are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration.

Persons who become pensionable employees of a local authority who are liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration.

All persons who become pensionable employees of a local authority will be required in respect of the Local Government (Spouses and Children’s Contributory Pension) Scheme to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration in accordance with the terms of the scheme.

Employee Benefits

Examples of some of the current Employee Benefits include:

• Allocation of 30 Days Annual Leave per annum (pro-rata)

• Access to Flexi Time Scheme

• A range of Family Friendly Policies

• Availability of an Optical Benefit Scheme

• Availability of a Cycle to Work Scheme

• A range of Learning and Developmental Opportunities

• Paid Maternity and Paternity Leave

• Option to become a member of Westmeath County Council’s Social Club

• Automatically entered into a pension scheme

• Access to the services provided under Westmeath County Council’s Employee Assistance Programme