Business Advisor

The Position & Role

The Local Enterprise Office Kildare was established in April 2014 and involved the amalgamation of the business support unit of Kildare County Council and Kildare County Enterprise Board. Its offices are currently located in The Merits Building, Devoy Park, Naas Co. Kildare.

The Office is responsible for:

• The delivery of the Local Enterprise Office Programme in partnership with Enterprise Ireland

• The delivery of a variety of Economic Development Projects including Economic Promotion

• The development and delivery of Special Projects including European Funding, URDF, RRDF, REDF

The Business Advisor will report to the Head of Enterprise, Economic Development & Tourism or any other officer as designated by the Chief Executive.

The Competition

The purpose of this recruitment campaign is to form a panel for Kildare County Council from which temporary posts may be filled at Business Advisor Grade as vacancies arise.

The Candidate

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

• Have an excellent understanding of commercial business and significant experience in working with the business community

• Have an excellent understanding of project development and delivery (specialisation in any of the below sectors while not essential may be an advantage):

▪ EU project management

▪ Food enterprise development

▪ Craft & textile enterprise development

▪ Tourism enterprise development

▪ Circular economy, social enterprise development

• Have excellent communications skills and experience in client/customer engagement and management

• Have significant experience in event management and/or delivery of projects

• Be experienced in the use of financial management systems both from an administrative and reporting perspective

• Have experience in the management and utilisation of new communications technologies in particular digital marketing

• Have a strong capability to multitask and work to deadlines

• Be self-motivated with an ability to work on own initiative but within a dynamic small team environment

• Have a strong understanding of the needs of small and micro businesses and the role of the Local Enterprise Office, including knowledge of its supports, services and processes

• Have the ability to motivate, empower and encourage staff under his/her control to achieve maximum performance

• Possess a strong business acumen with experience that demonstrates an understanding of the phases of business development including a demonstrated ability to analyse and interpret business proposals from various perspectives, e.g., finance, marketing, process/operations, etc.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Business Advisor will report to the Head of the Enterprise, Economic Development & Tourism or any other officer as designated by the Chief Executive. Roles and responsibilities encompass the following key areas and will depend on assignment:

• Financial management, accounting, budgeting and reporting. This includes financial and other reporting to Council bodies, Enterprise Ireland, The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and to various other government departments in addition to European Union

• Delivery of a variety of projects in Business Support and Economic Development

• The provision of one-to-one business advice and guidance to new and existing businesses

• Proactively identify opportunities for Kildare County Council to improve the local economic environment and/or the LEO’s offering of services to its client businesses

• Develop and lead initiatives designed to support microenterprises to increase performance and competitiveness, to support them to increase market share, assist with their exporting activities and to invest in R&D

• Act as a liaison between local organisations, businesses and individuals and representatives of government, business and industry concerning economic/enterprise development

• Secure funding for economic development programmes and activities and support the development of funding proposals

• Represent the council at economic conferences at local, regional, national and international levels. The nature of the role may necessitate overnight travel nationally or internationally

• Provide advice regarding market analysis and economic opportunities

• Identify opportunities for joint ventures and assist with any negotiations

• Research private and public sector economic development funding opportunities and develop cross functional proposals and projects

• Engaging on collaborative initiatives and EU programmes as required by the Head of Enterprise, Economic Development & Tourism

• Promoting and implementing innovation and continuous improvement in the processes and programmes of the Local Enterprise Office

• Other duties required to contribute to the successful management of the Local Enterprise Office services as may be assigned from time to time by the Head of the Local Enterprise, Economic and/or other nominated members of the Local Enterprise Office management team

Qualifications

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, Training and Experience etc.:

It is desirable that each candidate should, on the latest date for receipt of completed applications:

• Have a relevant third level business qualification (Level 7 or greater)

• Have at least 3 years’ relevant business experience

• Have significant experience of working in or working with small and micro businesses and be familiar with the broad range of supports and agencies available to support local businesses

• Have significant experience of working with a variety of different levels of stakeholders

• Demonstrate significant experience in the development of projects from concept to development to delivery stage

• Have financial literacy skills to undertake evaluation and assessment of project proposals for financial assistance and other supports

• Have excellent communications and business report writing skills with demonstrated evidence of robust IT literacy (i.e., MS Office skills including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint)

• Have excellent research capability, analytical skills and presentation skills

Please supply copies of any certificates, diplomas or degrees you may have with the application form. 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. Overseas qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document.

Driving Licence

Applicants should at the date of appointment hold a full valid Irish/EU licence for Class B vehicles, or a licence acceptable to NDLS for transfer to full Irish licence. They must be a competent driver and shall drive a car in the course of their duties and for this purpose provide and maintain a car to the satisfaction of the local authority. The council must be indemnified on their insurance.

Particulars of Employment

The Post

The post is whole-time (i.e., 35 hours per week) temporary appointment.

Location

Kildare County Council reserves the right to assign the successful candidates to any premises in use by the Council, now or in the future. Staff will be based at Kildare Local Enterprise Office, The Merits Building, Áras Chill Dara, or other council facilities within the county.

The person appointed will be required to report to their place of work by their own means of transport and at their own expense.

Commencement

Kildare 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, Kildare County Council shall not appoint them.

Working Hours

The current working hours are 35 hours per week. The hours of work are 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Mondays to Fridays (rotas operate for lunchtime opening). Kildare County Council also has a flexi time system in operation, details of which are available from the Human Resources Section.

The Council reserves the right to alter the hours of work from time to time in line with Government Circulars.

You may be required to work overtime on various occasions.

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. Kildare County Council requires employees to record their hours using a clocking system.

Reporting Arrangements

The Business Advisor reports directly to the appropriate supervisor in the section or to any other employee of Kildare County Council as the Director of Services or other appropriate employee may designate 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.

Probationary Period of Employment

Where a person is permanently appointed to Kildare County Council, the following provisions shall apply:

a) There shall be a period after appointment takes effect during which such a person shall hold the position on probation

b) Such period shall be twelve months, but the Chief Executive may, at their discretion, extend such period

c) Such a person shall cease to hold the position at the end of the period of probation, unless during this period the Chief Executive has certified that the service is satisfactory

d) The period at (a) above may be terminated on giving one week’s notice as per the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts

e) There will be assessments during the probationary period

Remuneration

€57,895 per annum to €66,017 per annum (maximum)

€68,367 per annum (LSI 1) (after 3 years satisfactory service at maximum)

€70,730 per annum (LSI 2) (after 6 years satisfactory service at maximum)

On appointment successful candidates will be placed on the first 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 employee’s 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.

Superannuation & Retirement

A person who becomes a pensionable employee of the County Council will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute to the Local Authority at the appropriate rate.

The terms of the Local Government Superannuation (Consolidation) Scheme 1998 as amended or the Public Services Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 or the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme & Other Provisions) Act 2012 will apply as appropriate on appointment.

Retirement age for employees is dependent on their relevant contract of employment, with due consideration being given to the rules of the superannuation scheme to which they belong.

• For appointees who are deemed not to be “new entrants” as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, retirement is compulsory on reaching 65 years of age

• The minimum retirement age for “new entrants” to the public service as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 is 65. There is no mandatory retirement age

• Effective from 1st January 2013, the Single Public Service Scheme applies to all first-time new 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:

Retirement age is set, initially, at 66 years; this will rise in step with statutory changes in the State Pension Contributory (SPC) age to 67 years in 2021 and 68 years in 2028

Compulsory retirement age will be 70

Annual Leave

Granting of annual leave, payment for annual leave and arrangements for public holidays will be governed by the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 and the nationally agreed annual leave scheme for the sector. The annual leave year runs from 1st January to 31st December. The current leave entitlement for this post is 30 days.

The Chief Executive of Kildare County Council retains autonomy regarding office closures (e.g., Christmas office closure). Any days arising from such closure will be reserved from the employee’s annual leave entitlement. Proposed office closure days will be reviewed and advised to all employees each year.

Residence

The person holding the office must reside in, or at an address convenient to the Local Authority, as approved by the Chief Executive.

Outside Employment

The position is whole-time, and the officer may not engage in private practice or be connected with any outside business which would interfere with the performance of official duties.

Code of Conduct/Organisation Policies

Employees are required to adhere to all current and future Kildare County Council codes of practice including Code of Conduct of Employees and all current and future organisational policies including, but not limited to Health and Safety, Communications, Data Protection, Equality, Staff Mobility, Attendance Management and Use of Electronic Equipment.

Training

Employees are required to attend and participate fully in training programmes as may be decided by the Council from time to time and to apply their learning in the course of their daily working activities.