Civil Defence Officer

The Role

Civil Defence is a statutory volunteer-based organisation that supports the front-line emergency services dealing with severe weather, flooding, major accidents and searching for missing people. Civil Defence also supports community events throughout the year including large events such as air shows, concerts and festivals, sports events as well as smaller local events such as parades. There are currently approximately 3,500 volunteer members throughout Ireland of which 28 are in Leitrim.

There is a Civil Defence Unit in each local authority area and the Department of Defence, through its Civil Defence Branch, is responsible for the overall policy direction of Civil Defence.

The Civil Defence Officer is a full-time employee of the Local Authority and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Civil Defence Unit and will work under the direction and management of the officer as designated by the Chief Executive and will, from time to time, be required to deputise for senior personnel and must be willing to take on this challenge.

The Qualifications:

Each candidate shall be of good character.

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

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

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

ii. A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or

iii. A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

iv. 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

v. 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

vi. 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

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

(a) Possess a good standard of administrative experience including the use of IT

(b) Possess a good general standard of education

(c) Possess a full, clean, Class B Manual Driving Licence, and

(d) Have satisfactory experience in the supervision and development of staff / volunteers.

It is desirable that candidates have experience in Civil Defence or in other volunteer-based emergency organisations or in emergency response services.

The Ideal Candidate Shall Have:

• Excellent knowledge and understanding of the role of the Civil Defence Officer and Civil Defence in a Local Authority.

• Understanding of the structures and environment within which the local authority sector operates and the role of the Civil Defence Officer in this context.

• Experience of managing and supervising staff and/or volunteers including the development of staff and/or volunteers.

• Have the ability to integrate well with existing Civil Defence Volunteers.

• Be able to work on his/her own initiative as required.

• Strong interpersonal and written and verbal communication skills and the ability to prepare and present reports and to represent Leitrim Civil Defence and Leitrim County Council in a professional and credible manner.

• Strong administrative and ICT skills.

• Understanding of financial planning, budget monitoring, procurement procedures and the effective management of resources to support operational objectives.

• Be willing to work outside of normal working hours as required.

• Have the ability and understanding to follow policy and procedures.

• Have a good working knowledge, or demonstrate an ability to acquire a good working knowledge, of the legal, regulatory and governance framework within which Leitrim County Council operates and adheres to corporate policies, protocols and procedures.

• Previous experience in an emergency response volunteer management role is desirable.

Competencies for the Post:

Key Competencies for the post include the following and candidates will be expected to demonstrate sufficient evidence within their application form of competence under each of these. Please take particular note of these when completing the application form as any short-listing or interview processes will be based on the information provided by candidates:

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Knowledge and understanding of Civil Defence in a Local Authority and the Civil Defence Officer role.

• Experience of managing and supervising staff and/or volunteers.

• Proficiency in administration and ICT.

• Strong organisational and leadership skills

• Experience in an emergency response and volunteer management role.

Management and Change:

• Clear understanding of political reality and context of the local authority.

• Knowledge and understanding of the structure and functions of local government.

• Ability to translate policies and objectives into operational plans and outputs.

• Develops and maintains positive, productive and beneficial working relationships with relevant interests.

• Effectively manages the introduction of change and demonstrates flexibility and openness to change.

• Has knowledge and understanding in relation to statutory obligations of Health and Safety legislation and its application in the workplace.

Delivering Results / Communicating Effectively:

• Contributes to the development of operational plans and leads the development and implementation of team plans.

• Ability to develop and deliver programmes and projects and to work to strict deadlines.

• Plans and prioritises work and resources effectively.

• Establishes high quality service and customer care standards.

• Makes timely, informed and effective decisions and shows good judgement and balance in making decisions and recommendations.

Performance through People:

• Leads, motivates and engages employees and volunteers to achieve quality results and to deliver on operational plans.

• Ability to build and lead a positive, diverse and productive team effectively.

• Strong organisational skills including meeting facilitation and administration.

• Effectively manages performance.

• Effectively identifies and manages conflict.

• Demonstrates good interpersonal skills and effective verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to foster and maintain productive working relationships within the organisation and with relevant stakeholders externally.

Personal Effectiveness:

• Relevant management and administrative experience at a sufficiently high level.

• Understanding of the structures and environment within which the local authority sector operates and the role of the Civil Defence Officer in this context.

• Takes initiative and seeks opportunities to exceed goals.

• Manages time and workload effectively and remains calm under pressure.

• Maintains a positive, constructive and enthusiastic attitude to their role.

• Commitment to integrity and good public service values.

The Principal Terms and Conditions:

The position is whole-time, permanent and pensionable.

The duties of the office are to give to the local authority and

(a) Such other local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive, for the purposes of the Local Government Acts, is Chief Executive, and

(b) to any other local authority or body with which an agreement has been made by the local authority or by any of the authorities or bodies mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph, under the general direction and control of the Chief Executive or of such other officers as the Chief Executive may from time to time determine, such appropriate services of an administrative, supervisory and advisory nature as are required for the exercise and performance of any of its powers, duties and functions as may be delegated to him or her by the Chief Executive from time to time and shall include the duty of deputizing for other officers of the local authority.

The main duties and responsibilities of the Civil Defence Officer may include but are not limited to:

• To assist in the preparation and submission in a timely manner and in consultation with local authority management, of the three-year Civil Defence plan as required under Section 8 of the Civil Defence Act, 2023.

• To manage the day to day activities of the Civil Defence Unit, co-ordinating the arrangements necessary for the implementation of the Civil Defence plan and the safe completion of duties, including but not limited to risk assessment and appropriate resourcing of all duties, ensuring that duties are completed within the agreed standard operating guidelines and policies.

• Responsibility and upkeep of the Volunteer Equipment Management System (VEMS).

• Management of Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) requirements in relation to controlled Drugs.

• To represent Civil Defence on local emergency planning structures and to promote good relations with key personnel in the Principal Response Agencies.

• To provide support to the Principal Response Agencies (Local Authority, An Garda Siochana and Health Service Executive (HSE)) in emergency and non-emergency situations in accordance with the 2015 White Paper on Defence, the Towards 2030 policy document and the Framework for Major Emergency Management.

• Represent Civil Defence on the Crisis Management and Major Emergency Teams.

• To formulate, and periodically review, such Civil Defence Plans as are required to comply with its statutory responsibilities.

• Provision of support in relation to community, charitable and local authority events.

• To implement and comply with relevant policies, circulars and guidelines (including the Civil Defence Act (Code of Practice) Regulations 2023) as set out by the Civil Defence Branch of the Department of Defence, in consultation with their Line Manager.

• To liaise with the Civil Defence Branch of the Department of Defence on behalf of the local authority and to attend meetings for that purpose.

• To attend training provided by the Department of Defence and the local authority.

• To arrange for the recruitment, organisation and management of Civil Defence volunteers.

• To arrange and ensure that Civil Defence volunteers are appropriately trained including mandatory training, to facilitate progression of training for volunteers, including completing an annual training needs analysis,

• To carry out instructions issued by the Department of Defence in relation to the processing of the annual operational grant and any other grants that are provided.

• To carry out instructions issued by the local authority/Department of Defence for the purchase, care, maintenance, issue and control of Civil Defence uniforms, vehicles and equipment.

• To maintain adequate records, registers in the manner required and any other reporting requirements as may arise.

• To promote Civil Defence in the local authority area.

• Provision of relevant training as required.

• Such other duties appropriate to the office as the Chief Executive of the local authority and/or Department of Defence may assign, including emergency duties and duties in relation to the area of any other local authority.

• Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

The post holder may be required to perform duties appropriate to the post, other than those detailed above, and to take instructions from and report to an appropriate Officer or such duties as designated from time to time.

The salary scale for the post of Civil Defence Officer (analogous to Senior Staff Officer) (effective from the 1st of June 2026) is within the range:

€58,474 – €59,869 – €61,570 – €64,767 – €66,677 – €69,051 LSI1 – €71,437 LSI2

Entry point to this scale will be determined in accordance with relevant Departmental Circulars. Offers of appointment to persons who are not serving local authority employees will be based on the minimum of this scale.

The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government Policy. The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time.

Holders of the office 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.

The holder of the post shall reside in the district in which his or her duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof and will be required to serve in the Local Authority’s Offices, or wherever assigned by the Local Authority.

Leitrim County Council reserves the right to, at any time, re-assign an employee to any Department now or in the future.

Leitrim County Council reserves the right to, at any time, assign an employee to any base or to any premises in use by the Council now or in the future.