Education, Skills and Training Officer

The Position

Background

The Heritage Council is committed to promoting an awareness and appreciation of our heritage amongst young people, across all our programmes, especially our Heritage in Schools programme which was established in 2000. In 2023, and in alignment with Our Place in Time: Heritage Council Strategic Plan 2023-2028, The Heritage Council expanded its reach to include young people at post-primary level with the appointment of a Heritage in Education Policy Development Officer in October 2023.

Now, with significant progress made on the development of heritage in education policy, and the completion of a Transition Year pilot programme, The Heritage Council seeks a suitable candidate to continue this important policy work and to also expand its educational reach to include heritage skills and training.

The Role

The Education, Skills and Training Officer will be responsible for delivering and implementing heritage in education policy across national curricula at all levels, for post-primary heritage programming and for the development of the heritage skills landscape in Ireland.

The Education, Skills and Training Officer will be a member of the Research, Learning and Cultural Heritage Team and will work closely with the Heritage in Schools Programme Manager and other colleagues across the organisation who oversee training programmes in the heritage sector.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Heritage in Education Policy

• Deliver and implement the Heritage in Education Charter, currently under development by The Heritage Council with significant stakeholders from the education sector.

• Roll-out the full suite of post-primary options for heritage in education, including a national Transition Year programme, development of Junior Certificate modules and other off-the-shelf resources adapted for post-primary education.

• Engage with the education sector at all levels, ensuring heritage in education policy is reflected across curricula from primary to third level.

• Liaise with teachers' organisations to encourage interest in and commitment to heritage in education and wider heritage education issues.

• Collaborate with teacher educators and student teachers involved in initial teacher education.

• Evaluate and update Heritage in Schools programming in line with national curriculum changes.

• Engage with national curriculum consultations on behalf of The Heritage Council.

Skills, Training and Career Pathways into Heritage

• Assess the national landscape of heritage skills and accredited professional qualifications in heritage specialisms.

• Liaise with accrediting bodies in relation to the development of new heritage skills certifications.

• Examine and amplify career pathways into the heritage sector.

• Develop a framework for heritage apprenticeships in conjunction with relevant bodies.

• Develop CPD modules or micro-credentials, in conjunction with a higher education provider in, for example, general heritage management, conservation, climate change and heritage, heritage for planners, digital cultural heritage, etc.

• Develop initiatives to ensure a diverse and inclusive workforce in the heritage sector.

• Oversee any bursaries for education and training that are distributed by The Heritage Council and identify other areas where the provision of bursaries may progress policy and heritage skills uptake.

Team Collaboration and Support

• Coordinate a cross-organisational approach to skills programming and training for the heritage sector within The Heritage Council, working collaboratively with colleagues who oversee the Conservation Internship Scheme, All-Ireland Heritage Skills programme, and other existing Heritage Council training and skills initiatives.

• Identify new training opportunities for The Heritage Council to develop in all areas of The Heritage Council’s remit.

• Advise The Heritage Council on how it can strengthen its provision for education providers across all Heritage Council programmes and schemes.

• And other duties as may be assigned by the line manager or CEO.

The responsibilities outlined in this job description should not be regarded as comprehensive in scope and may be added to or altered as required, in line with the requirements of The Heritage Council.

Education, Training, Experience, etc.

Candidates must demonstrate in their cover letter and CV that they meet all the below essential criteria. Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms have:

(a) A degree qualification and qualified teacher status.

(b) Classroom experience.

(c) Substantial knowledge and understanding of current practice in secondary education, in particular learning and teaching, curriculum development.

(d) Knowledge of the policy landscape in which The Heritage Council operates.

(e) Experience of leading and contributing to whole school/service/island educational initiatives and/or developments.

(f) Experience of leading the development and managing the production of policy outputs (including managing external contractors) including research reports, briefings and consultation responses, with an eye for detail and accuracy.

(g) Advanced research skills.

(h) Advanced oral, communication and presentation skills.

(i) Excellent organisation, prioritisation, and project management skills.

(j) Excellent ICT skills including Word, Excel, Outlook etc.

(k) Ability to work well in a team environment, be self-motivated and able to manage own workload.

(l) A commitment to high standards of public service.

(m) Full unendorsed category B driving licence and full-time access to a car or for candidates who are unable to drive, full time access to transport.

It is also desirable, but not essential, that candidates will have:

• The ability to communicate through the Irish language, both verbal and written.

Citizenship Requirements

Eligible candidates must be, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:

(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.

Reporting

The Education, Skills and Training Officer will report to the Head of Research, Learning and Cultural Heritage or any other person as may be determined from time to time by the CEO.

Competencies for the Role

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate that they possess the requisite competencies required for this position. The required competencies are set out in Appendix 1.

Conditions of Service

Tenure

The post is whole-time, permanent, and pensionable. Secondment will be considered from serving public servants.

Salary

The position of Education, Skills and Training Officer is analogous to the Civil Service Grade of Higher Executive Officer. The (PPC) salary scale, including the required pension contribution, is set out below.

Point 1 €58,847

Point 2 €60,567

Point 3 €62,285

Point 4 €64,000

Point 5 €65,723

Point 6 €67,437

Point 7 €69,157

Long Service Increment 1: €71,637

Long Service Increment 2: €74,112

*After three years’ service at Point 7. *After three years’ service at Long Service Increment 1.

(Pay scale as of 1st August 2025)

Candidates should note that entry will be at the minimum of the salary scale and the rate of remuneration, including incremental progression, will not be subject to negotiation and may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy. Different terms and conditions may apply if you are currently a serving civil or public servant.

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. Holders of the post shall pay to The Heritage Council any fees or other monies (other than their inclusive salary) payable to or received by them by virtue of their employment or in respect of services which they are required by or under any enactment to perform. An allowance may also be payable in respect of travel expenses and subsistence.

It is the individual responsibility of former public or civil servant candidates to ensure their eligibility to apply. In particular, potential candidates who participated in a voluntary severance/redundancy or early retirement programs, received a redundancy payment or are in receipt of a public sector pension, should familiarize themselves with their individual conditions pertaining to public sector re-employment and declare same if applying.

Annual Leave

The annual leave entitlement for this role (based on a full-time role) is 29 days per year, rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service.

Place of Work

The place of work will be The Heritage Council headquarters, Áras na hOidhreachta, Church Lane, Kilkenny. However, the successful candidate may occasionally be requested to work remotely in line with Public Health Restrictions.

Please note: Subject to request and approval, successful candidates may be eligible for remote or blended working arrangements. Any such arrangements will be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the business needs of the organisation and in line with The Heritage Council’s Blended Working Policy. The Heritage Council reserves the right, at its discretion, to review and revise working arrangements at any time.

Hours of Attendance

Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time but will amount to not less than 43 hours 30 minutes gross per week. The standard working week is 37.5 hours, 09.00 – 17.30 Monday to Friday.

The successful candidate will be required to work additional hours from time to time as may be reasonable and necessary for the proper performance of his/her duties subject to the limits set down in the working time regulations.