Digital Communications Officer

Essential Criteria

CHARACTER

Candidates shall be of good character.

HEALTH

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

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE Etc.

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

(a) 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

(b) 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

(ii) have obtained a comparable standard in equivalent examination, or

(iii) hold a third level qualification of at least degree standard, and

(iv) have satisfactory experience in administrative procedures, including adequate practical experience in work of an executive nature, office organisation and control of staff.

(v) hold a valid Irish/EU full driving licence for class B vehicles or a licence acceptable to NDLS for exchange, free from endorsement and disqualification

Desirable:

• Hold a third level qualification in the relevant area, journalism, communications, marketing, public relations or similar

• At least 2 years of relevant satisfactory professional experience in communications, media, web design or marketing

• Experience in digital content creation and management, including websites, visual graphics and social media

Candidates, if successful, will not be appointed to the post unless they:

• agree to undertake the duties attached to the post and accept the conditions under which the duties are, or may be required to be, performed.

• are fully competent, available to undertake, and fully capable of undertaking, the duties attached to the position.

• Hold a clean, current class B driving licence

Role, Duties & Responsibilities

Louth County Council is continually seeking to enhance its communications and engagement with the public, as well as increasing awareness and understanding of the Council’s work and services.

The overall aim of the Council is to ensure that there is clear, consistent and appropriate communications between the Council and relevant stakeholders both within and outside of the organisation.

The Digital Communications Officer will be part of the Communications Team, based within Corporate Services, to manage the delivery of the Council’s communications priorities.

The Digital Communications Officer will perform such duties as may be assigned from time to time which will involve the promotion of the work of Louth County Council and enhancing the communications work of the Council, internally and externally, generally.

The Digital Communications Officer will report to the Communications Officer, Corporate Services or any other officer as designated by the Chief Executive.

The Digital Communications Officer will oversee Louth County Council’s digital content and channels, with responsibility for ensuring accurate, accessible, and engaging information is consistently delivered to the public.

Such duties include inter alia:

Roles and responsibilities of the Digital Communications Officer:

• Support the Communications Officer to implement and drive the Council’s communications strategy and aligned communications plans.

• Assist with the enhancement, organisation and delivery of accurate and accessible audio-visual content across all Council digital platforms (website, social media, intranet, staff app, Customer Relationship Management systems and others).

• Contribute to maximising the value of the Council’s digital and online communication, e.g., assist in the creation of promotional videos relating to the work of the Organisation or development of project visualisations to assist with public engagements.

• Maintain and audit website content to ensure accuracy and quality, and support the development and application of website standards, including accessibility, plain language and data protection requirements.

• Assist in the development and implementation of internal communication plans to support the delivery of Organisational objectives.

• Provide support to ensure high-quality communications, which adhere to the Council’s brand guidelines, are embedded across the Organisation, and work with colleagues to identify and advance strategic priorities through PR and communications initiatives.

• Support the co-ordination of national media campaigns including My Council Day and LGMA initiatives.

• Monitor communications/media performance across various platforms and use reports and insights to improve clarity, reach and impact of messaging.

• Monitor consistency of tone, language and visual identity across all communications.

• Assist with public relations, maintain positive relationships with local and national media and handling media queries in a timely fashion.

• Support the delivery of the Irish Language scheme.

• Assist in the development of engagement strategies to successfully complete statutory and non-statutory consultation processes. This could include organising information sessions, focus groups, webinars, online content.

COMPETENCY INDICATORS

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.

Delivering Results

Performance through People

Personal Effectiveness

Candidates short-listed for interview will then be assessed at the interview stage under the three competencies listed above in addition to Local Government Knowledge and Understanding.

Delivering Results

• Demonstrates experience to identify problems and contribute to solutions.

• Demonstrates clerical/administrative ability with excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Demonstrates experience to plan and organise workloads in order to meet deadlines.

• Delivers quality work and customer service.

Performance through People

• Demonstrates ability to engage with staff and work as part of a team.

• Builds and maintains positive working relationships.

• Demonstrates ability to resolve conflict situations.

• Demonstrates ability to lead by example and show initiative.

• Demonstrates ability to persuade and influence others with excellent interpersonal skills.

Personal Effectiveness

• Demonstrates knowledge of the role of Assistant Staff Officer;

• Personal motivation;

• Takes initiative and is open to taking on new challenges or responsibilities;

• Manages time and workload effectively;

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

Salary

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 Digital Communications Officer – Grade IV is €36,113 - €55,460 (LSI 2).

Entry point to this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. 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

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 A 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 became pensionable officers of the 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.

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

The working hours at present provide for a five-day, thirty-five hour working week. A flexible working hours system is in operation and may be availed of subject to the terms and conditions of the Flexitime Policy.

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. 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.