Creative Communities Engagement Officer

The Creative Ireland Programme is an all-of-government initiative committed to enhancing access to, engagement with, and enjoyment of Ireland’s culture and creativity. Within the broad range of available definitions, creativity is considered as a set of innate abilities and learned skills; the capacity of individuals and organisations to transcend accepted ideas and norms and by drawing on imagination to create new ideas that bring additional value to human activity.

The vision of the Creative Ireland Programme 2023 - 2027 is to mainstream creativity in the life of the nation so that individually and collectively, in our personal lives and in our institutions, we can realise our full creative potential thereby promoting individual, community and national wellbeing.

The Creative Ireland Programme delivers through collaboration and partnership. It promotes understanding of the value of creativity in all its forms – whether through the arts, culture, heritage, creative industries.

The Creative Communities Engagement Officer will be a key member of the Culture and Creativity team responsible for engaging proactively with relevant directorates and personnel, internal and external. The person will report to the Creative Ireland Coordinator in Louth County Council. The position may from time to time require work to be conducted/completed outside of normal office hours. The position will involve day-to-day administrative duties.

Louth County Council is currently inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the above competition. Louth County Council will, following the interview process, form a panel for the post, from which future relevant vacancies may be filled subject to sanction approval from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. This panel will exist for 12 months and may only be extended at the discretion of the Chief Executive.

Essential Criteria

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, EXPERIENCE

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

Have obtained a qualification at level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications.

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

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

Have obtained a comparable standard in an equivalent examination, or

Hold a third level qualification of at least degree standard.

The ideal candidate:

In order to demonstrate that they can deliver the key responsibilities of the post, each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms -

Have significant work experience working in a role relevant to this position in the public sector or independent creative sector. This may involve for example experience from the arts, heritage, libraries, community development, or sustainable economic development.

Have demonstrable knowledge of relevant national, regional and local policies and strategies of relevance to culture and creativity in local government, or ability to acquire same.

Satisfactory knowledge and understanding of County Louth and its socio-economic make up.

Leadership skills and experience in collaborating and working cross functionally with other teams and stakeholders and the ability to interact with staff at all levels in the organisation.

Have excellent interpersonal, communication, presentation and organisational skills

Have strong understanding of the importance of systems, process and structures in enabling efficient delivery of an effective team with the ability to prioritise and multi-task.

Be able to demonstrate competence in influencing and negotiating, delivering quality outcomes and the ability to work in direct contact with a diverse range of stakeholders including agencies/bodies, voluntary groups, creative/heritage organisations, libraries and artists.

Satisfactory ICT skills with comprehensive working knowledge of office productivity tools.

Experience of budget preparation and management.

Hold a current, full, unendorsed Class B Drivers Licence and have access to own car.

Assessment Procedure

Candidates will have to demonstrate from their application form to the satisfaction of a short-listing board that they possess sufficient skills and experience in the competencies listed below in order to be called for interview.

Relevant Knowledge and Experience

Delivering Results

Personal Effectiveness

Leading, motivating, and managing performance

Candidates short-listed for interview will then be assessed at the interview under the competencies listed above using some/all of the following indicators within each competency.

Relevant Knowledge and Experience

• Has knowledge and understanding of local government structure including service requirements.

• Understands key challenges facing the local government sector and Louth County Council

• Understands the role of a Creative Ireland Engagement Officer

• Knowledge & Experience of operating ICT systems.

• Good social media and communication skills

Delivering Results

• Plan and prioritise work and resources effectively.

• Establish high quality service and customer care standards, particularly with local communities.

• Make timely, informed and effective decisions and show good judgement and balance in making decisions or recommendations.

• Create opportunities or overcome obstacles by rethinking or reconceptualising practices or procedures e.g. ensuring harder to reach communities participate in programmed initiatives

Personal Effectiveness

• Takes initiative and seeks opportunity to exceed goals

• Manages time and workload effectively

• Maintains a positive, constructive and enthusiastic attitude to the role

Leading, motivating, and managing performance

• Lead, motivate and engage employees and local communities to achieve quality results and to deliver on operational plans.

• Effectively manage Team Performance.

• Lead by example demonstrating through your own behaviour a clear sense of quality service delivery.

Duties

The key responsibilities of the post include, but are not limited to:

• Working with Louth County Council Arts Office to deliver the strategic priorities in Louth County Council Culture and Creativity Strategy 2023-2027 and Cruinniú na nÓg, through an annual programme;

• Liaison with local creatives, artists, organisations and staff across relevant directorates within the local authority to manage the development and delivery of a programme of projects and events. The aim is to encourage increased participation in creative and cultural activities locally.

• Liaison with local creatives, artists, organisations and local authority staff involved in the delivery Cruinniú na nÓg, the national day of creativity for children and young people,;

• Support the Creative Ireland Coordinator and Culture and Creativity Team in their objectives including: broadening creative engagement locally; enhancing the strategic role of culture and creativity within local government; supporting collaborative actions and links to wider local authority policies of relevance to wellbeing, social cohesion and economic development;

• Support engagement between the local authority and the Creative Ireland Programme centrally including via the Creative Ireland portal;

• Arrange and manage yearly schedule of meetings for the Culture and Creativity Team;

• Attend relevant Creative Ireland Programme quarterly meetings and others as they arise;

• Provide data, briefing and updates to senior managers in [insert local authority] and the Creative Ireland Programme officials as requested;

• Local citizen engagement campaigns through marketing and social media platforms to ensure greater understanding of Creative Communities programme locally.

These duties are indicative rather than exhaustive and are carried out under general guidance. Persons employed will be required to work in any location within the Louth County Council administrative area.

Salary

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. 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.

The salary scale for the position of the Creative Communities Engagement Officer is: €51,722 - €61,865 (LSI 2) gross per annum.

Entry point to this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. In accordance with Departmental Circular Letter EL.02/2011, a person who is not a serving local authority employee on or after 1st January 2011; will enter the scale for the position at the minimum point.

Rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government Policy.

Location of post

The staff member will be based in the Arts Office, County Hall, Dundalk. Louth County Council reserves the right to assign the post holder to any council premises, now or in the future subject to reasonable notice. Changes in location of employment will not result in payment of disturbance money or other compensation. The person appointed will be required to provide him/herself at his/her own expense with the necessary mode of travel to and from work.

Superannuation

A. Officers joining the Public Service after the 1st January 2013 will be required to join the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. A Class rate of PRSI contribution will apply. A rate of 3% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the rate of State Pension Contributory (SPC). This includes a contribution to a Spouse’s and Children’s Scheme.

OR

B. Officers who became pensionable officers of the Public Service prior to 1st January 2013 and who are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of the net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the rate of State Pension Contributory (SPC). You will be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% of your pensionable remuneration to the Spouses & Children’s Pension Scheme.

OR

C. Officers who become pensionable officers of a Public Service prior to 5th April 1995 and who are liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required to contribute at a rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration. If an option to join a dependent scheme was made you will be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% to a Dependents Pension Scheme.

Retirement

Retirement is dependent on the superannuation scheme you become a member of and details will be made available to you upon appointment.

Health

For the purpose of satisfying the requirements as to health, it may be necessary for the successful candidate, before he/she is appointed, to undergo at his/her 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 the candidate.

Probation

Where a person is appointed to a City/ 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 nine months but the Chief Executive may, at his 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 weeks’ notice as per the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts;

e) there will be assessments during the probationary period.

Residence

The holder of the office shall reside in the district in which his/her duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance, thereof.

References

Applicants are required to advise the names of two responsible persons to whom they are well known but not related (at least one of the referees should be an existing or former employer).

In advance of any offer of employment, Louth County Council reserves the right to seek both written and verbal references from current and previous employers, educational institutions or any other organisations with which the candidate has been associated. The Council reserves the right to determine the merit, appropriateness and relevance of such references and referees.

Hours of work

Due to the nature of the role, the holder is expected to be flexible about evening and weekend work for which overtime will not be paid but time-off-in-lieu will be available.

Sick Leave

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

Annual Leave

Annual leave entitlement for the position will be 30 days per annum. Louth County Council’s leave year runs from 1st January to 31st December. 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, 1977 (as amended).

Start date

The successful candidate will commence on direction from Directors of Service and/or Chief Executive. Should they fail to take up the appointment on direction, the council at its discretion may not appoint them.