Community Sports Development Officer

THE POSITION

The Council is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates with relevant experience for the position of Community Sports Development Officer. It is proposed to form a panel of qualified candidates from which vacancies will be filled during the lifetime of the panel.

The aim of the Community Sports Development Officer funding by Sport Ireland is to strengthen and enhance the capacity of the Local Sports Partnerships to further develop locally led plans and more long term sustainable physical activity programmes under the National Physical Activity Plan (Action 46).

Objectives:

Support the development of exciting and dynamic opportunities to increase participation for people who are sedentary

Capacity build smaller National Governing Bodies (NGBs) that do not currently have development officers and other stakeholders to deliver services to increase participation

Develop sustainable local leadership for sport within communities.

QUALIFICATIONS

1 Character

Candidates shall be of good character.

2 Health

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

3 Education, Experience, etc.

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

(a) (i) Have obtained at least Grade D (or a Pass), in Higher or Ordinary Level, in five subjects (or four subjects if Irish is included) from the approved list of subjects in the Department of Education Established Leaving Certificate Examination or Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme including Irish and/or English and one of the following: Mathematics, Accounting, Business Organisation or Economics, AND

(ii) 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

(iii) have obtained a comparable standard in an equivalent examination, OR

(iv) hold a third level qualification of at least degree standard.

(b) Have at least two years satisfactory relevant experience in a sports development environment

(c) Have experience working with sports clubs, community groups, and young people in a community setting.

(d) Have experience in planning, coordinating and delivering sustainable sporting and recreational programmes.

DUTIES

The following is a non-exhaustive list of key duties and responsibilities which may be assigned to a Community Sports Development Officer:

The Community Sports Development Officer (CSDO) will foster and encourage a culture of Active Participation, supporting opportunities for and access to sport and physical activity in local communities.

The CSDO will address barriers to participation and encourage access and increase opportunities for participation by those who experience disadvantage for any reason.

The CSDO will cover work in the below areas:

Research

• Establish a baseline in the communities chosen for interventions and conduct an audit of local clubs and update where this has already been completed

Community Activation

• Consult and work with local communities to identify the need and demand for new activities

• Provide guidance and support to develop sustainable community sports clubs

• Establish a sports forum that will enable clubs to work together

• Tackle local barriers to participation through targeted programmes and initiatives

• Support and maintain strong links between schools and community sports clubs

Planning

• Develop action plans in line with the needs of the community

Relationship Building

• Work with smaller national governing bodies that do not currently have development officers to increase opportunities for participation

Facilitation

• Support the continued roll out of Sport Ireland’s investment including Dormant Accounts Funded projects

• Coordinate and facilitate training and development opportunities

Evaluation

• Implement Wicklow Sports Partnerships monitoring and evaluation framework for all projects

Financial Management

• Implement Wicklow Sports Partnerships financial monitoring template for the operational budget

IT IS A REQUIREMENT FOR CANDIDATES TO POSSESS THE FOLLOWING:

• Experience of working in a sports development environment is essential (2 years or more)

• Experience of working with sports clubs, community groups, and young people in a community setting

• Experience in planning, co-ordinating and delivering sustainable sporting & recreational programmes

DESIRABLE FOR CANDIDATES TO POSSESS THE FOLLOWING:

• A recognised qualification at a minimum of certificate level or equivalent in sports development, leisure management or similar

• A minimum of 2 years’ experience in sports development or physical activity provision.

• Excellent communication skills

• Excellent organisational skills

• A good understanding of project-based programme delivery with measurable outcomes

• A good understanding of project evaluation

• Be motivated by and committed to sports development and increasing opportunities for participation, in particular among hard to reach groups in local communities

• Be self-motivated and able to work independently to meet or exceed goals

PRINCIPAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

A panel may be formed from which future Assistant Planner positions may be filled. The position will be fulltime and pensionable.

The successful candidate(s) may be assigned as required to any of the Municipal Districts/Directorates under the Chief Executive’s control or to any premises/location in use by the Council now or in the future.

Duties

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

(a) to such other local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive, for the purposes of the Local Government Acts 2001 – 2014, 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 officer as the Chief Executive may from time to time determine, such appropriate professional/technical and ancillary services of an advisory, supervisory or executive nature as may be required by any local authority or body hereinbefore mentioned in the exercise and performance of any of its powers, functions and duties, including the duty of servicing all committees that may be established by any such local authority or body. The holder of the office will, if required, act for an officer of a higher level.

Probation

Where persons who are not already permanent officers of a Local Authority are appointed, the following provisions shall apply;

(a) there shall be a period after such appointments take effect, during which such persons shall hold office on probation;

(b) such period shall be three months (temporary contract) and six months (permanent contract) this period may be extended at the Chief Executive discretion;

(c) such persons shall cease to hold such office at the end of the period of probation, unless during such period, the Chief Executive has certified that the service of such persons in satisfactory.

Salary: €35,613.00 - €54,911.00 per annum includes 2nd LSI EL 07/2025

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time in line with national policy.

The holder of the office shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than his/her inclusive salary) payable to and received by him/her by virtue of his/her office or in respect of services which he/she is required by or under any enactment to perform. Starting pay shall be determined in accordance with appropriate Departmental Circular letters. New Entrants will be placed on the minimum of salary scale.

Hours of Work

The person appointed will be required to work a 35 hour week Monday to Friday, which equates to a 7 hour day to be accounted for within attendance hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with one hour lunch between 1.00pm and 2.00pm. There may be a requirement to work additional hours from time to time for which Time in Lieu will apply. No overtime applies to this post.

A flexi system is also in operation.

Garda Vetting

Candidates may be subject to Garda Vetting. Appointment(s) will be considered having regard to receipt of satisfactory Garda Vetting, particularly to determine suitability to work with children/vulnerable adults.

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.

Work Permit

All non-EU/EEA citizens must hold a valid work permit prior to and for the duration of their contract. The work permit must allow you to work full time for Wicklow County Council. It is the responsibility of individual employees to ensure that you have a valid work permit. If at any stage during your contract you cease to hold a valid work permit you must immediately advise Wicklow County Council and your employment will cease with immediate effect.

Health

For the purposes of satisfying the requirements as to health it will be necessary for successful candidates, before they are appointed, to undergo at their expense a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by the local authority. On taking up appointment the expense of the medical examination will be refunded to candidates.

Residence

Holders of the office shall reside in the district in which their duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof.

Annual Leave

Annual leave entitlement will be 30 days per annum exclusive of public holidays and Good Friday.

Retirement Age

There is no mandatory retirement age for new entrants to the Public Service as defined in the Public Services Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004.

Persons who are NOT new entrants to the Public Service as defined in the Public Services Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004 and the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018, are subject to a compulsory retirement age of 70 years.

With effect from 1st January 2013, persons who are pensionable under the terms of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme will have a minimum retirement age of 66 years initially rising in line with the State Pension age changes. Members of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme have a compulsory retirement age of 70 years.